Electric heat above ceiling?

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nietzj

Senior Member
Location
St. Paul, Minnesota
Occupation
Electrician
I have a situation in a vestibule that has had issues with the exterior getting stuck open and the cold weather freezes the sprinkler pipe in the ceiling. The occupant wants to add electric heat with a small space heater. I told them they cannot install an outlet above the ceiling. Question, if they hardwire the heater and make sure there is clearance for fire hazards is this allowed? My thoughts are why not just use heat-tape and insulate the pipe but they are really pushing the heater idea.
 
The one made to recess in a wall are direct wired. Like this one or a standard baseboard heater

39K912_AS02
 
Can something like these be installed above a ceiling? The idea is not to heat the vestibule but the area above the ceiling. This is in Minnesota and when it's 40 below an open door lowers the interior temp fast.
 
Self-regulating heat tape and insulation is a much better idea. Also a temperature alarm that gets hooked up to the fire alarm panel and sends a supervisory signal if the temperature goes below 40°F. The switch is available from Potter.

The problem isn't so much when the pipes freeze, it's when they thaw after they split. My last company always knew that the sprinkler emergency calls came a few days after the freeze and the pipes opened up.
 
gadfly56 said:
Self-regulating heat tape and insulation is a much better idea. Also a temperature alarm that gets hooked up to the fire alarm panel and sends a supervisory signal if the temperature goes below 40°F. The switch is available from Potter.

The problem isn't so much when the pipes freeze, it's when they thaw after they split. My last company always knew that the sprinkler emergency calls came a few days after the freeze and the pipes opened up.
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NFPA 13 requires that heat tracing used for freeze protection of fire sprinkler piping must be specifically listed for the purpose.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
NFPA 13 requires that heat tracing used for freeze protection of fire sprinkler piping must be specifically listed for the purpose.
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I'm not sure about your intent regarding "listing", but I don't believe appendix note A.7.6 means that the heat tracing be listed for sprinkler systems per se, only that it be listed for the purpose of freeze protection for pipes. Interestingly, UL last year released a standard specifically for heat tracing sprinkler systems. However, the requirement has been in NFPA 13 for some time now so it would have been more general. The next edition will be 2022 and I would guess that there will be reference made to the specific UL standard at that time.
 
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