Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: augie47, Location: Tennessee
Asked on: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 6:03 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 3:31 am EDT
Question: Lets discuss drip pans and sprinkler pipes, please.I have two concerns.110.26(F)(1)(c) states:(c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler protection shall be permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section.Other piping discussed in that section requires drip pans. Does the second part of (c), where the piping complies with this section, mean that the sprinkler piping must also have drip pans ? Would a pan under a sprinkler head not deflect heat and delay operation ?Secondly, in my particular application I have piping (various) over a 12kv/480 unit substation (transformers/breakers/monitoring etc all in one cabinet). Since a portion of this is > 600v I checked 110.34(F) which addresses foreign piping.The following wording appears:............Protection shall be provided where necessary to avoid damage from condensation leaks and breaks in such foreign systems. Piping and other facilities shall not be considered foreign if provided for fire protection of the electrical installation.so, in that section, it appears the sprinkler piping is not " foreign" and requires no protection.I am confused in that one Code section applicable to my install seems to indicate drip pans under my sprinkler pipes whereas another does not.Input appreciated.
Drip Pans for Sprinkler Piping110.26(F)(1)(c) requires drip pans for piping located in dedicated spaces, where the piping complies with the requirements of that section. However, this requirement does not apply to sprinkler piping.The second part of 110.26(F)(1)(c), "where the piping complies with this section," refers to the requirements for drip pans in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b). These paragraphs specify the materials, construction, and installation requirements for drip pans.Sprinkler piping is specifically excluded from the requirement for drip pans in 110.26(F)(1)(c) because drip pans would interfere with the operation of the sprinkler system. Drip pans would deflect the heat from the fire and delay the activation of the sprinkler heads.
Protection from Foreign Piping110.34(F) addresses the protection of electrical equipment from condensation leaks and breaks in foreign piping systems. However, sprinkler piping is not considered "foreign" if it is provided for the fire protection of the electrical installation.In other words, sprinkler piping is not subject to the protection requirements of 110.34(F) because it is an integral part of the electrical installation and is essential for safety.
Conclusion
Based on the above analysis, it is not necessary to install drip pans under sprinkler piping in your particular application. However, it is important to ensure that the sprinkler piping is installed in accordance with the requirements of 110.26(F)(1)(c) to prevent condensation leaks and breaks. Flag for review