Sanitary piping exposed an electrical room

[pepelui]

Hello all,

In one of our buildings we have a gang bathroom right above the electrical room that contains transformers, switchgear, ATS switches, and panelboards. Above all the equipment the Plumbing contractor installed all the sanitary piping coming out of that bathroom and that electrical room does not have a ceiling.

I know it is a code violation and according to NEC 110.26 F, any foreign system needs to be protected for leaks. We are planning to either put a gutter system that covers every piece of pipe, a drain pan that covers the whole room, or a gypboard ceiling.

My MEP superintendent says that the drain pan or the gutter system would require a leak detection system that would tie into the BAS system. So a sensor would need to be placed in that gutter or drain pan in case any of the pipes leaked and he also said this was a code requirement. I can not find any electrical code requirement that specifies this. Is this true?

If a leak detection system is required, we would use the gypboard alternative, but if it is not required we would consider the drain pan or the gutter system. The only other problem is that there is no drain in that room so the drain pan or gutter system would need to be tied into a sanitary line somewhere. The CMU and all the equipment is already installed in this room.

Please help advise for the best approach.

Thanks

 

[cadpoint]

So a sensor would need to be placed in that gutter or drain pan in case any of the pipes leaked and he also said this was a code requirement. I can not find any electrical code requirement that specifies this. Is this true?

The Sensor is a mechanical code requirement with the use of a drain or area-cover pan.

 

[Gregg Harris]

The Sensor is a mechanical code requirement with the use of a drain or area-cover pan.

The IMC 307.2.3 is specific to condensation from condensing equipment such as AC and furnaces.

 

[GoldDigger]

The IMC 307.2.3 is specific to condensation from condensing equipment such as AC and furnaces.

+1
The difference between a system that has to actively drain all the time during normal use and which, if plugged, guarantees an overflow in a bad place versus a system that is hoped never to have to drain anything during normal operation.
I would wonder whether a leak which the pan can handle will be noticed before it gets to big to handle, but that is again a design, not a regulatory issue.

 

[JDBrown]

I know it is a code violation and according to NEC 110.26 F, any foreign system needs to be protected for leaks. We are planning to either put a gutter system that covers every piece of pipe, a drain pan that covers the whole room, or a gypboard ceiling.
...
If a leak detection system is required, we would use the gypboard alternative, but if it is not required we would consider the drain pan or the gutter system.
...

Not to throw a monkey wrench into the works or anything, but take a look at 110.26(E)(1)(d) (that's NEC 2011 - I think it's 110.26(F)(1)(d) in previous editions):

110.26(E)(1)(d) Suspended Ceilings
A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does not add strength to the building structure shall not be considered a structural ceiling.

Twice in the past two or three years, we have had Inspectors inform our design team that adding a gyp board ceiling to an electrical room that is steel and concrete construction "does not add strength to the building structure." The Architects keep trying to get away with it, but so far they keep getting shot down.

Of course, I don't know anything about your building - maybe adding a gyp board ceiling will add strength to the structure in your case. But you may want to check with the Inspector before making a final decision. I'd hate to have you get the ceiling installed only to find out that he won't accept it.

 

[pepelui]

Thank you for all the input. We have been able to get with the design team and look at all our possibilities. The responses have been very helpful for this process. I will keep you posted in the results.