Appendix B to Part 1234 - Alternative Certified Fire-Safety Detection and Suppression System(s)
36:3.0.10.2.22.4.5.4.22 : Appendix B
Appendix B to Part 1234 - Alternative Certified Fire-Safety
Detection and Suppression System(s)
1. General. This Appendix B contains information on the
Fire-safety Detection and Suppression System(s) tested by NARA
through independent live fire testing that are certified to meet
the requirement in § 1234.12(s) for storage of Federal Records. Use
of a system specified in this appendix is optional. A facility may
choose to have an alternate fire-safety detection and suppression
system approved under § 1234.32).
2. Specifications for NARA facilities using 15 foot high
records storage. NARA fire-safety systems that incorporate all
components specified in paragraphs 2.a. through n. of this appendix
have been tested and certified to meet the requirements in §
1234.12(s) for an acceptable fire-safety detection and suppression
system for storage of Federal records.
a. The records storage height must not exceed the nominal 15
feet (±3 inches) records storage height.
b. All records storage and adjoining areas must be protected by
automatic wet-pipe sprinklers. Automatic sprinklers are specified
herein because they provide the most effective fire protection for
high piled storage of paper records on open type shelving.
c. The sprinkler system must be rated at no higher than 285
degrees Fahrenheit utilizing quick response (QR) fire sprinkler
heads and designed by a licensed fire protection engineer to
provide the specified density for the most remote 1,500 square feet
of floor area at the most remote sprinkler head in accordance with
NFPA 13 (incorporated by reference, see § 1234.3). For facilities
with roofs rated at 15 minutes or greater, provide 1/2″ QR
sprinklers rated at no higher than 285 degrees Fahrenheit designed
to deliver a density of 0.30 gpm per square foot. For unrated
roofs, provide 0.64″ QR “large drop” sprinklers rated at no higher
than 285 degrees Fahrenheit. For facilities using 7 or 8 shelf
track files, use QR sprinklers rated at no higher than 285 degrees
Fahrenheit. For new construction and replacement sprinklers, NARA
recommends that the sprinklers be rated at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Installation of the sprinkler system must be in accordance with
NFPA 13 (incorporated by reference, see § 1234.3).
d. Maximum spacing of the sprinkler heads must be on a 10-foot
grid and the positioning of the heads must provide complete,
unobstructed coverage, with a clearance of not less than 18 inches
from the top of the highest stored materials.
e. The sprinkler system must be equipped with a water-flow alarm
connected to an audible alarm within the facility and to a
continuously staffed fire department or an Underwriters Laboratory
approved central monitoring station (see UL 827 (incorporated by
reference, see § 1234.3)) with responsibility for immediate
response.
f. A manual fire alarm system must be provided with a
Underwriters Laboratory approved (grade A) central monitoring
station service or other automatic means of notifying the municipal
fire department. A manual alarm pull station must be located
adjacent to each exit. Supplemental manual alarm stations are
permitted within the records storage areas.
g. All water cutoff valves in the sprinkler system must be
equipped with automatic closure alarm (tamper alarm) connected to a
continuously staffed station, with responsibility for immediate
response. If the sprinkler water cutoff valve is located in an area
used by the public, in addition to the tamper alarm, the valves
must be provided with frangible (easily broken) padlocks.
h. A dependable water supply free of interruption must be
provided including a continuous site fire loop connected to the
water main and sized to support the facility with only one portion
of the fire loop operational. This normally requires a backup
supply system having sufficient pressure and capacity to meet both
fire hose and sprinkler requirements for 2-hours. A fire pump
connected to an emergency power source must be provided in
accordance with NFPA 20 (incorporated by reference, see § 1234.3),
when adequate water pressure is not assured. In the event that
public water mains are not able to supply adequate volumes of water
to the site, on-site water storage must be provided.
i. Interior fire hose stations equipped with a 1 1/2 inch
diameter hose may be provided in the records storage areas if
required by the local fire department, enabling any point in the
records storage area to be reached by a 50-foot hose stream from a
100-foot hose lay. If provided, these cabinets must be marked “For
Fire Department Use Only.”
j. Where fire hose cabinets are not required, fire department
hose outlets must be provided at each floor landing in the building
core or stair shaft. Hose outlets must have an easily removable
adapter and cap. Threads and valves must be compatible with the
local fire department's equipment. Spacing must be so that any
point in the record storage area can be reached with a 50-foot hose
stream from a 100-foot hose lay.
k. In addition to the designed sprinkler flow demand, 500 gpm
must be provided for hose stream demand. The hose stream demand
must be calculated into the system at the base of the main
sprinkler riser.
l. Fire hydrants must be located within 250 feet of each
exterior entrance or other access to the records storage facility
that could be used by firefighters. Each required hydrant must
provide a minimum flow capacity of 500 gpm at 20 psi. All hydrants
must be at least 50 feet away from the building walls and adjacent
to a roadway usable by fire apparatus. Fire hydrants must have at
least two, 2 1/2 inch hose outlets and a pumper connection. All
threads must be compatible with local standards.
m. Portable water-type fire extinguishers (2 1/2 gallon stored
pressure type) must be provided at each fire alarm striking
station. The minimum number and locations of fire extinguishers
must be as required by NFPA 10 (incorporated by reference, see §
1234.3).
n. Single level catwalks without automatic sprinklers installed
underneath may be provided in the service aisles if the edges of
all files in the front boxes above the catwalks are stored
perpendicular to the aisle (to minimize files exfoliation in a
fire). Where provided, the walking surface of the catwalks must be
of expanded metal at least .09-inch thickness with a 2-inch mesh
length. The surface opening ratio must be equal or greater than
0.75. The sprinkler water demand for protection over bays with
catwalks where records above the catwalks are not perpendicular to
the aisles must be calculated hydraulically to give .30 gpm per
square foot for the most remote 2,000 square feet.