Mechanical Room Sprinkler Temperature?

[klabkebash]

I ran into a problem yesterday where one of our service techs opened an access door to the supply plenum to look at the fire damper which had shut so we can install a new one. When the door open the heat escaped from the duct and set off the fire sprinkler soaking the mechanical room, and causing water damage to the ceiling below.

This is in an apartment building and the room is in the hallways. The fire department came and took the sprinkler head with them to make a report. I was told that they most likely had an ordinary sprinkler head which went off less than 175 deg F. I'm not too familiar with the sprinkler ratings, but for a 2HR fire rated enclosure which the room was made as, shouldn't the sprinkler be a higher temp, over 200 deg F maybe? after we got the furnace started again we used a thermometer which read 169 deg.

The building superintendent is filing an insurance claim that we were responsible. Does anyone know if mechanical rooms are suppose to have a higher temp sprinkler than an hallway would? I pretty sure it should for most local codes.

[slimwoodie]

there's no way your supply air was 175 degrees ..

fan bearings won't take that

[teckster]

If you are measuring that high a temp shouldnt the high limit be shutting of the unit. Are you sure you tech did not hit the sprinkler head with the door? Is the fan blowing air through the heat exchanger?? sounds like there is a air flow issue that needs to be found.

[supertek65]

I think they just hit it.
169 deg are you in a plenum or in a fire box?

[snipe70e]

I
This is in an apartment building and the room is in the hallways. The fire department came and took the sprinkler head with them to make a report. I was told that they most likely had an ordinary sprinkler head which went off less than 175 deg F. deg.


I believe most open area sprinkler heads are 130 degrees. I would expect a machine room to be atleast 165 degree. A room with a boiler or other heating equuipment could have a 180 or 210 degree head. Can you find the blue prints for the sprinkler system?

[Control Man]

Have come across years back some sprinkler heads that work on RATE of RISE ( temperature span ) and if the temperature around it changes quickly it will trip the head.

[supertek65]

they hit it

[Control Man]

I would look at the fact that It was a rate of CHANGE temperature head and that the rise in temperature surrounding the head when they opened up the unit set it off .

Have had heat detectors go off in mech room areas that are near air handlers as well as hotel rooms when located near the bathroom , occupant has a hot steamy shower opens the door and off it goes for the same reason , temperature rise.