Correspondence (692) FIRE San Diego
���� Detroit
SECURITY - Atlanta
LIFE SAFETY 6x,3;3 ( New Jersey
•
December 10, 1998
Mr. Robert Poskin, C.B.O., Senior Plans Examiner
City of Tigard Building Department •
13125 SW Hall Boulevard •
Tigard, OR 97223
Re: Eagle Hardware & Garden ( #425) •
. Tigard; OR
. Subj: Building and Fire Department Meeting Action Items
•
Dear. Mr. Poskin: •
This letter and the enclosed technical reports are being provided to address the outstanding actions items from
the subject meeting. I am also enclosing the minutes from that meeting for your review and comment. With
regards to the outstanding action items, please accept this as. Ea gle Hardware & Garden's formal request for
decision on the following. issues:
Alternative Materials and Methods request for variance of the Uniform Fire Code (UFC) and Uniform Building
, 1 Code requirements for draft curtains (UFC Section 8102.7 and UBC Section 906.6). The proposed alternative is
installation of smoke and heat vents at a vent to floor area ratio of 1 :75. •
2) Alternative Materials and Methods request for variance of the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC)
j requirements for duct smoke. detectors (UMC Section 608). Proposed alternative is using sprinkler
system flow switches to initiate shutdown of the units.
3) Justification of compliance for sprinkler protection under the retractable shadescreen material in the garden
center (NFPA 13, Section 4- 13.7:1) based on the permeable nature 'of the material. •
• Technical reports addressing each of these requests have been enclosed. These reports review the applicable code
requirements and detail the justifications for accepting each of the request. Calculations and test data have been included
when appropriate. The test data includes a copy of the final report for the recently completed International Fire Sprinkler
Smoke & Heat Vent — Draft Curtain Fire Test Project. We are also providing a sample of the shadescreen material so
that you can better understand the permeable nature of this product.
If you have any questions or comments about the information provided; please do not hesitate to call. We look forward .
to your response on these request and the continued opportunity to work with you on this project.
Sincerely,
•
Charles W. Siegmann III, P.E.
Fire Protection Engineer •
cc: Al Stancikas - SHA
•
LLR/File -.TVA • •
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• Enclosures p: \eagle \con \Tigrdbd 1.doc
2820 CAMINO dEl Rio SOUTIi • SUiTE 200 • SAN DiEgo, CA 92108 • TEl (619) 296 -5666 • FAX (619) 296 -5656
•
FIRE San Diego
Detroit
• SECURITY Atlanta
•
LIFE. SAFETY New Jersey
EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN
' TIGARD, OREGON
GARDEN CENTER SHADESCREEN APPEAL
The purpose of this report is to address the requirements for automatic sprinkler protection under the retractable
shadescreen material in the exterior garden department. Please accept this as Eagle Hardware & Garden's
formal request and justification for not providing sprinklers under this permeable, retractable shadescreen, as the
open mesh nature of the material will prevent accumulation of the products of combustion and therefore
sprinklers will not operate.
There is approximately 3600 sq. ft. of the outside garden center display area covered by the "Enduro Shade
Cloth" material. The primary purpose of this material is to partially shade the plants in this area from the sun.
The fire exposure presented by the outside garden center storage consist of various types of plants displayed on
• metal tables, with storage and display being less than 6' ft. high. The shade cloth material is lashed at 12 to 15
inch intervals to steel pipe framing that is . located at approximately 10 foot intervals. Depending on the time of
year and the quantity and type of plants that are in season, the entire 3600 sq. ft. of display area may be covered,
or some of the panels may have been removed to allow display of plants requiring more. sun.
The "Enduro Shade Cloth" has been tested for flammability by Southwestern. Laboratories of Fort Worth,
Texas, and it was found not to support combustion. The material chars when exposed to flame and self
extinguishes. A fabric sample book and fire test results from Southwestern Labs have been enclosed for your
review.
Based on the descriptions provided above of the fire hazard associated with the storage and display under the
shade cloth material, the method of installation, and the fire testing that has been performed, we would submit
that sprinkler protection is not required beneath this material for the following reasons:
1. It is not required by NFPA Standard No. 13, 1996 Edition. This standard, in Section 4- 13.7.1 Exterior
Roofs or Canopies reads as follows. "Exceptions: Sprinklers are permitted to be omitted where
construction is noncombustible and areas under the roofs or canopies are not used for storage or
handling of combustibles.
•
The green plant storage and display is primarily on concrete flooring, concrete blocks and metal tables.
An insignificant amount, less than 10 %, is stored and displayed on individual' wood planks or blocks and
there are small number of wood trellis between some of the storage. Since the plants are continuously
watered, the small amount of wood that is present is wet or damp at all times. Based on this description,
we classify this occupancy use and the partial sun shield as non - combustible.
2820 CAMiNO dE[ Rio Sourh • SUITE 200 • SAN DiEeo, CA 92108 •'TEL (619) 296 -5666 • Fax (619) 296 -5656
Eagle Hardware & Garden, Tigard, OR •
Shadescreen Appeal
Page Two
2. This partial sun canopy does not create a "building " as defined by the Building Code. The definition of
a building as presented in the Building Code is:
"any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy" ,
There is no sheltering by this material other than the partial shading from the sun. The products
underneath the material are not sheltered from rain, wind, dust, etc.
3. The sprinkler heads will not operate properly, if at all, beneath this open mesh shade cloth material. The
heat will pass through the 37% clear space preventing the development of the ceiling smoke /gas layer
which is required to operate the fire sprinkler fusible links.
We trust you will agree with these justifications and grant our request to not install sprinklers underneath this.,
, material.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to call. We look forward to your response
at your earliest convenience.
•
•
•
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