Sprinklered Records Storage Facility (Chicago, Illinois - October 29, 1996) » Building Codes

The City of Chicago developed and utilizes its own building code which contains all the provisions for the construction, alteration, and operation of a building. The Chicago Building Code includes chapters on fire protection, electrical systems, mechanical systems, plumbing systems, and means of egress for new construction and the operation of existing buildings. Some chapters reference other national consensus standards such as NFPA, UL and ASTM. However, it is rare that adoption of the entire referenced document is made by the Code. Rather, sections or some of the details on installation might be referenced.

The City of Chicago Building Code would define the storage of records as a Class H-2, Moderate Hazard Storage. A code complying “Standard Sprinkler System” (as defined by the Code) would have been required. These requirements would most likely have specified an ordinary hazard automatic sprinkler system that would have roughly complied with a pre-1990 edition of NFPA Standard No. 13. The Code does not clearly address the need for automatic sprinklers within the storage racks nor under the open grate style catwalks in this occupancy. The Chicago Building Code does not explicitly reference other NFPA Standards on rack storage or other storage methods exceeding the heights provided within NFPA Standard No. 13, which is 12 feet.

NFPA No. 232A, Guide for Fire Protection for Archives and Records Centers, provides information on the protection of large collections of semicurrent records and specifically includes record centers such as this one. The scope of this document does not include the storage of important documents that need to be in vaults or special containers or the storage of cellulose nitrate film. All other types of record media are within the scope of NFPA No. 232A. In a records center, almost all of the records and their common storage containers are combustible and will contribute to fire spread and fire duration. Fire severity is estimated at approximately 1 hour for each 10 pounds per square foot of combustibles stored (records and containers).

The guide provides a review and comparison of several fire detection and extinguishing systems. It cautions against the dependence on all forms of fire detection with manual suppression because of the typical fire development time. Testing with open shelf storage, fourteen feet high, suggests that in about three minutes the fire can exceed possible control by portable fire extinguishers. Automatic sprinklers are described as the most effective and economical fire control measure. NFPA Standard No. 13 is used as the reference document for installation. The height and method of storage in this case exceeded the scope of this standard and would suggest the use of other automatic sprinkler standards.

In addition to automatic sprinklers, NFPA No. 232A describes the use of high expansion foam, Halon 1301, and carbon dioxide extinguishing systems. The use of high expansion foam may be effective based on testing done in 1966 and referenced in NFPA No. 232A. Protection of records centers by Halon would have been very expensive and this agent is no longer available because of environmental problems. There are limitations and personnel hazards associated with the use of carbon dioxide. Neither Halon nor carbon dioxide will always extinguish a deep seated fire within stored records. In addition both agents are expensive to install and maintain. Similar limitations exist for the Halon replacement agents.

The use of tall racks with grated intermediate walkways is not recommended by NFPA No. 232A. Rather, full floors with fire resistance ratings are recommended to limit the extension of fire travel and to reduce the number of records subject to destruction or damage in a single fire. Where tall storage racks are used, cautions on fire detection, complete automatic sprinkler protection, and fire department preplanning are provided. Preplanning should include how to gain access to the racks, smoke and heat venting from the fire area, reaching the fire in the upper area, and fighting the fire at its source.

The automatic sprinklers installed at the ceiling were inadequate for the hazard and did not comply with NFPA Standards. Because of the solid shelves, it is likely that sprinklers should have been provided at each shelf level. The narrow aisles may have justified the use of automatic sprinklers along the rack face to slow the fire spread on the face and between racks.

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