fire rating of electrical room

[bwyllie]

Is there a code requiring the fire rating of an electrical room. 480Y/277V max equipment. NFPA says if there is no sprinkler it needs to be 2hr. In MA, a emergency electric room needs to be 2hr, but what about a normal power electric room?

 

[jtester]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

The requirement will depend on the applicable code, usually building code. Table 302.1.1 in the International Building Code for example, specifies fire wall ratings for incidental use areas. The IBC is used in my part of the country. It lists no requirement for electrical rooms, but does cover storage rooms, furnace rooms, and boiler rooms. They all require a 1 hr rating.
Jim T

 

[ryan_618]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

It typically wouldn't be required. If you have a transformer larger than 112.5KVA and class 155 temparture rise or greater, you will need a one hour room, as per article 450.

Jim: Most of those ratings you list are eliminated if the building is sprinklered though.

 

[jtester]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

Ryan is correct, if the rooms are sprinkled, the fire walls aren't required.
Jim T

 

[bwyllie]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

thanks everybody

 

[sandsnow]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

Originally posted by jtester:
Ryan is correct, if the rooms are sprinkled, the fire walls aren't required.
Jim T

Beware the general statement. Fire sprinklers are NOT ALWAYS an equal trade off for fire resistive construction.

 

[ryan_618]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

Larry: I don't think it was intended to be a general statement. We were refering to incidental use areas, those listed in the chapter three table.

 

[jtester]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

Ryan is correct again, but Larry's caution is well taken. I was referring to Table 302.1.1 in the 2003 IBC.
Jim T

 

[jryancey]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

If a building is to be considered as fully sprinklered by code the electrical room must be sprinklered or separated by fire rated walls. The rating will depend upon the type of construction and occupancy of the building.


jryancey-ncdoi
engineering,code consultant

 

[ryan_618]

Re: fire rating of electrical room

Originally posted by jryancey:
If a building is to be considered as fully sprinklered by code the electrical room must be sprinklered or separated by fire rated walls. The rating will depend upon the type of construction and occupancy of the building.


jryancey-ncdoi
engineering,code consultant

No, if the building is fully sprinklered, the electrical room must be sprinklered. There is no trade off for fire resistance rated construction when you are using an NFPA 13 system. See 903.3.1.1.1 of the IBC, which states that:

...Sprinklers shall not be omitted from any room merely becasue it is damp, of fire-resistance rated construction or contains electrical equipment.