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2015 Silver Bell Rd - Email Baer Supply re: Fire Sprinkler ProtectionDarrin Bramwell c- From: Ryan Bierwerth [STP] [rbierwerth@SummitFire.com] O S� l UE �2 P_->e. ( I Sen: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 9:59 AM � l To: Darrin Bramwell 0 Cc: Peter Zinni; Weld Ransom; Kevin Karnes Subject: Baer Supply Tenant Space - 2015 Silver Bell Drive Attachments: SFC_Letter_Baer_093010.pdf; P4_10- 04- 10_BAER -30x42 pdf P4 REV 2_01-10-11 _BAER- 30x42.pdf Darrin- (5k61 SL`-���`� ` l of 062- Thanks for chatting with me on the phone this morning regarding the above project. We have spoken a few times over the last month or so. As we discussed, this e-mail (dated January 11, 2011) essentially replaces the e -mail message that I sent to you on December 17, 2010. It is my understanding that you are filling in for Dale Wegleitner on this issue. QUESTIONS We have two questions: 1. Is it acceptable to provide 6 rows of racking in the eastern half of our racking layout...as opposed to the 4 rows that were shown on the original permit drawings for this area? 2. Is it acceptable to provide 7 racks in each row of racking...as opposed to the 6 racks that were shown on the original permit drawings? BACKGROUND As I mentioned on the phone, we (Summit Fire Consulting —SFC) were originally involved during the front end of this project in working with the City of Eagan to resolve some occupancy classification issues and some fire protection issues. The attached letter (dated September 30, 2010) was submitted to Dale Wegleitner and approved. The September 30 letter confirmed that the existing ESFR fire sprinkler protection in the building was acceptable for Baer's proposed use, with some conditions regarding storage heights of flammable /combustible liquids, etc. Based on these agreements, drawings were submitted for a building permit in early October, including the second attachment to this message. As you can see from the second attachment, a total of 8 racks were proposed. I am under the assumption that a building permit was issued by the City of Eagan based on this drawing, so I am assuming that this racking layout was therefore "approved" by the City of Eagan. CURRENT ISSUE Since the issuance of the building permit, Baer is exploring the possibility of modifying the racking from that which is shown on the permit drawings provided by WCL (i.e. the second attachment to this message). Please note the following. A. The permit drawing sent to the City of Eagan showed 11' aisles throughout the entire racking area. The aisle widths were part of a package of fire protection features that were submitted to the City of Eagan for consideration of the overall code compliance plan. This plan was approved. B. Baer has since clarified that they intend to use the 4 western-most rows for storage of flammable and combustible liquids. Per SFC's September 30 letter, the maximum storage height for flammable and combustible liquids is 4' AFF. Ordinary combustibles can be stored above the flammable and combustible liquids for an additional 4'. Therefore, the maximum overall storage height for 4 western- most rows is 8' AFF. a. 11' aisles are required in this area, per SFC's September 30 letter. C. Baer would like to modify the racking layout to include 2 more rows in the eastern half of the racking (i.e. east of the column line). The original permit plan showed 4 rows of racking in this location, but Baer would like to investigate the possibility of having 6 rows of racking in this area. It is SFC's opinion that this is acceptable (per MSFC 2306.9.1.11 with the following conditions: a. No flammable and combustible liquids are to be stored in the 6 eastern-most rows. 1 b. Only ordinary combustibles are allowed in the 6 eastern-most rows. Here, "ordinary combustibles" means metals, wood, paper, and limited plastics —i.e. Class I -IV commodities. [Plastics must be <15% by weight of the overall commodity mix in this area and <25% by volume of the overall commodity mix in this area.] See section 5.6.3.4.1 of NFPA 13 Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2002 edition). c. The maximum storage height in these 6 eastern-most rows is 25'. See Attachment One of SFC's September 30 letter. d. See the third attachment to this e -mail message for a revised drawing from WCL that shows these new conditions. D. In all cases, the minimum longitudinal flue space (measured "back -to- back") is 0 "; and, the minimum transverse flue space (measured from product -to- product and from rack upright -to- product) is 6 ". See MSFC Table 2308.3 and section 12.3.1.13 of NFPA 13. E. The approved permit plan showed 6 sections of racking in each row. Baer would like to explore the possibility of having 7 sections of racking in each row. a. In doing so, the "high -piled storage area" is increased. However, per MSFC Table 2306.2, the next threshold at which additional special fire protection features would be required (assuming Class I -V commodities) is 12,000 ft By adding a 7th section of racking, the high -piled storage area is still well below 12,000 ft b. Therefore, it is acceptable to add a 7th section of racking to the south end of each row —in both halves of the racking area. No additional fire protection features are required as a result of this modification. Darrin, thanks again for your time in reviewing this matter. Please Reply to this message with your thoughts or call me to discuss. Ryan J. Bierwerth, PE, CFPS Senior Fire Protection Engineer Summit Fire Consulting 575 Minnehaha Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55103 651 - 251 -1855 (direct) 651 -251 -1880 (main) 651- 251 -1879 (fax) rbierwerth@summitfire.com www.summitfire.com/fire_consulting 2 SUMMIT FIRE CONSULTING CODES, FIRE, LIFE SAFETY September 30, 2010 Mr. Dale Wegleitner Fire Marshal City of Eagan 3795 Pilot Knob Road Eagan, MN 55122 RE: PROPOSED FIRE SPRINKLER PROTECTION Dear Dale, BAER SUPPLY COMPANY TENANT SPACE SILVER BELL COMMONS 2015 SILVER BELL DRIVE EAGAN, MINNESOTA © 2010 Summit Fire Protection Co. 575 Minnehaha Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55103 651- 251 -1880 [P] 651- 251 -1879 [F] www.summitfu Thank you for speaking with me yesterday on the telephone to discuss the above project. This letter is in response to that telephone conversation. The purpose of this letter is to document Summit Fire Consulting's research and recommendations regarding fire sprinkler protection at the proposed Baer Supply Company tenant space at Silver Bell Commons in Eagan, Minnesota. It is important to note that this letter pertains solely to the proposed fire sprinkler protection within the tenant space. [Summit Fire Consulting previously assisted the project team in determining a code compliance strategy related to the allowed occupancy classification of the tenant space.] The applicable fire code is the 2007 Minnesota State Fire Code (MSFC) and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) includes the City of Eagan. BACKGROUND Baer Supply Company is a wholesale supplier to the woodworking industry; and, the proposed Baer Supply Company tenant space at Silver Bell Commons will provide custom - tinted paints and stains to customers. As such, this space will include rack storage and shelf storage of products in containers up to 5 gal. Many of these products are classified as either flammable liquids or combustible liquids; while, many of these products can be considered "ordinary combustibles " —i.e. wood, paper, metal, plastics, etc. The proposed Baer The 2007 Minnesota State Fire Code includes the 2006 International Fire Code (IFC) with Minnesota amendments SUMMIT F I.R @ 9 N 3' W CTlNG. Gti Yfea, L�viz 9arflV FIRE SPRINKLER PROTECTION Baer Tenant Space September 30, 2010 Page 2 Supply Company tenant space will also include limited mixing of paints and stains in small containers, as well as a single 4 ft by 5 ft spray area used to manually sample products after mixing. FIRE SPRINKLER PROTECTION RESEARCH According to Duke Realty, the existing fire sprinkler protection at the proposed Baer Supply Company tenant space is as follows. o Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinklers at the roof o K- factor: 14.0 o Minimum design pressure: 50 psi o Minimum flowing sprinklers: 12 o No in -rack sprinklers It should be noted that the existing tenant space does not currently have smoke and heat removal. When protecting flammable liquids and combustible liquids, test data and prescriptively - compliant fire sprinkler designs are limited. In order to determine if the existing fire sprinkler protection is adequate for Baer Supply Company's proposed use, Summit Fire Consulting researched the following codes and standards: • 2007 Minnesota State Fire Code (MSFC) • NFPA 13 Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2002 ed.) • NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (2003 ed.) • FM Global Data Sheet 7 -29 Flammable Liquid Storage in Portable Containers (Last updated June 2009) Attachment One of this letter includes a table that provides a summary of the fire sprinkler requirements from each of these references, corresponding to the proposed storage parameters of the Baer Supply Company tenant space. As shown in Attachment One, because a mix of both flammable /combustible liquids as well as ordinary combustible are stored, Baer Supply Company's proposed storage parameters do not prescriptively meet all of the requirements of the MSFC, NFPA 30, or FM Data Sheet 7 -29. However, the prescriptive fire sprinkler specifications shown in Attachment One are applicable to storage of flammable and combustible liquids to significantly higher heights —i.e. 14 ft, 20 ft, and 25 ft —than the maximum storage height for their flammable and combustible liquids that is desired by Baer Supply Company. As proposed by this letter, Baer Supply Company will limit the storage of flammable and combustible liquids to a maximum height of 4 ft (AFF), with storage of ordinary combustibles stacked above the flammable and combustible liquids to an overall maximum storage height of 8 ft (AFF). As such, Summit Fire Consulting is proposing that the existing fire sprinkler protection 2 Baer Supply Company would like to avoid in -rack sprinklers as well. © 2010 Summit Fire Protection Co. SUMMIT FIRE CONSULTING Coosa, Fist. EWE SAFETY within the proposed Baer Supply Company tenant space be accepted as an engineered design, at the discretion of the AHJ. This proposed engineered design requires that the storage arrangements for flammable and combustible liquids and ordinary combustibles remain in compliance with the parameters described in Attachment One. SMOKE AND HEAT REMOVAL Because the proposed Baer Supply Company tenant space is equipped throughout with ESFR sprinkler protection, smoke and heat removal is not required, per Footnote J of MSFC Table 2306.2. Please contact our office if you have any questions. Thank you. Reviewed by: SUMMIT FIRE CONSULTING Ryan J. Bierwerth, PE, CFPS Senior Fire Protection Engineer Division Manager I hereby certify that this plan, specification, or report ams prepared by me or under my direct supervision and that I am a duly Licensed Professional Engineer under the laws of the State of Minnesota. Date: • 3a -,D Attachment (1) License #43114 C. 2010 Summit Fire Protection Co. FIRE SPRINKLER PROTECTION Baer Tenant Space September 30, 2010 Page 3 ATTACHMENT ONE Comparison of Automatic Fire Sprinkler Protection Schemes N N a w 0 U 4' 0 5 0 U W 0 O 0 0 z M N 0 00 z 0 a a d o oo a. 0 a, 4, 00 00 00 N 0 re 4 a, o o. 0 ¢ z 4� 00 z 0' 0 z a z 0 0 z 0 0 0 U a) 0 v 0 0 0 0 U