Preaction Sprinkler Pipe over Electrical Equipment

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In an electrical room, protected by a Preaction sprinkler system, there is a sprinkler pipe that crosses over the top of some of the gear. The pipe is located more that 6ft above the top of the equipment. My question, since the pipe contains air unless both a sprinkler head activates & smoke detector activates, would this pipe require drip pan? Or would the Preaction system be considered the leak protection as required by 110.26(F)(1)(b)?

Since I caught this in a shop drawing review, I will make the FP contractor relocated the pipe as a matter of good practice. But I?m curious what other think.
 
You say your sprinkler pipe is more than 6 feet above the equipment--- if that's the case you are not in dedicated electrical space and nothing is needed.
 
Good question. I think it is reasonable to request a drip pan. I'm not sure you should or can require the pipe to be relocated if it is above the required equipment space.
 
What protection is needed for a dry system? I think a dry system would be protection enough. Maybe thats why it's dry.
 
If there are sprinkler heads on that section of pipe, I would want to make sure the panel has power removed before the sprinklers went off. Depending on location sometimes the dry system is to prevent freezing.
 
As stated in the OP a preaction system contains no water and cannot be activated unless there is a triggered smoke detector and a sprinkler head. This provides an added measure of safety from an accidental release of the fire protection water. A broken sprinkler pipe or sprinkler head will not allow the water to flow until after the activation of a smoke detector. These systems are typically used in rooms that have electronic equipment where a sprinkler head activation or leak can cause large amounts of equipment damage. Since the system is dry and located outside of the required 6' zone IMO a drip pan is not required because it would serve no purpose since the system contains no water.
 
infinity said:
As stated in the OP a preaction system contains no water and cannot be activated unless there is a triggered smoke detector and a sprinkler head. This provides an added measure of safety from an accidental release of the fire protection water. A broken sprinkler pipe or sprinkler head will not allow the water to flow until after the activation of a smoke detector. These systems are typically used in rooms that have electronic equipment where a sprinkler head activation or leak can cause large amounts of equipment damage. Since the system is dry and located outside of the required 6' zone IMO a drip pan is not required because it would serve no purpose since the system contains no water.
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I agree with you------- I think that is why it's a dry system to begin with.
 
Educate me, please. Do these sprinkler heads have to be replaced once activated? Reason for question: if they do it would seem to me that you could have sprinkler head activated without enough smoke to set off smoke detector. In which case the next time you might not have any heat but enough smoke to activate smoke detector; which would flood the area for no reason.
 
dlhoule said:
Educate me, please. Do these sprinkler heads have to be replaced once activated? Reason for question: if they do it would seem to me that you could have sprinkler head activated without enough smoke to set off smoke detector. In which case the next time you might not have any heat but enough smoke to activate smoke detector; which would flood the area for no reason.
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I would say yes. The system is filled with compressed air and the pressure is monitored by the preaction system. A drop in pressure would tell the system that either a head has opened or that a pipe is leaking. Under normal operation the piping is pressurized. This wouldn't be possible if a head were open.
 
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