July 4, 2024

Project : WIC - DEVEX Warehouse

Subject : Fire Protection System (FPS) Design Recommendation

Location : Imus, Cavite

In line with preparation of the Fire Protection Design Development of the Project, the designer
has reviewed the minimum requirements as per RA 9514 Fire Code of the Philippines and its
reference code, NFPA 13, for the design of Fire Sprinkler System (FSS) of the Project as
summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 Project Summary
Particulars Description
A. Type of Occupancy Storage Occupancy
B. Types of Rooms/Spaces in the Building
a. Storage
b. Fabrication Area
c. Office
C. Type of Commodities to be Stored
a. Appliances
b. Construction Miscellaneous Items
c. Pipes
d. Formworks
e. Cement

D. Type of Hazard High Hazard

E. Ceiling Heights
a. GF - Storage Room 1 7.30 m
b. GF - Storage Room 2 12.58 m
c. 2F - Storage Room 3 7.00 m
d. GF - Fabrication Area 12.58 m
e. MF - Office 2.70 m
f. 2F - Office 2.70 m
F. Storage Rack Heights
a. Profile A 7.50 m
b. Profile B 7.50 m
c. Profile C 7.50 m
d. Pipe Rack 7.50 m

G. Types of FSS
a. GF - Storage Room 1 In-Rack Fire Sprinkler, and
Fire Hose Cabinet with Portable Fire
Extinguisher
b. GF - Storage Room 2 In-Rack Fire Sprinkler, and
Fire Hose Cabinet with Portable Fire
Extinguisher
c. 2F - Storage Room 3 In-Rack Fire Sprinkler, and
Fire Hose Cabinet with Portable Fire
Extinguisher
d. GF- Fabrication Area Fire Hose Cabinet with Portable Fire
Extinguisher
e. MF - Office On Ceiling Fire Sprinkler
f. 2F - Office On Ceiling Fire Sprinkler

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A. Recommended Fire Protection System

The Project houses different type of uses in the building such as storage, fabrication and
office use with storage area occupying majority of the building floor area, hence, the building
is categorized as Storage Occupancy with a total area of 4,586 square meters for storage.

The FPS proposed in the Project is a combination of Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Portable
Extinguishers, and Fire Hoses as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 (pages 5 to 6).

a. Fire Protection of Storage Areas

The storage areas will be provided with storage rack systems that is 7.50 meters high
(specification as provided by Owner), thus, as per NFPA 13 (4.3.1.4 & 4.3.1.5), the
storage areas will be considered as High Piled Storage where it requires an In–Rack
Sprinkler System if: (1) fireproofing/fire containment of the room is not provided, and
(2) rack height exceeds 4.60 meters height (20.18.1).

Figure 1 Storage Areas 1, 2 and 3 Cross-Section

Considering that the zoning of commodities in the storage areas is not clearly defined,
it is assumed that for Storage Areas 1 and 3, having both a space area of 1,345 square
meters each, will store a mix of consumable items, electrical fittings, plastic pipes,
cement and formworks. On the other hand, we assumed that the Storage Area 2, with
space area (occupied by racks only) of 1,896 square meters, is where the appliance
units and some plastic pipes will be stored mainly.

In this regard, the commodity class that will be stored is identified as Class 1
Commodity where it states that the items are: (1) placed directly on wood pallets, (2)
placed in single-layer corrugated cartons, (3) with or without single-thickness cardboard
dividers, (4) with or without pallets, and (5) shrink-wrapped or paper-wrapped as a unit
load with or without pallets. However, if it is a mixed class commodity, storage shall be
protected as per the requirements for the highest classified commodity and storage
arrangement.

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 b. In-Rack Fire Sprinkler

There are three (3) criteria that should be considered for the In-Rack Sprinkler. Shown
in Figure 2 and 3 is the layout that meets the requirement of the Project considering that
the rack is open shelving. Otherwise, if it is solid shelving, it would require a Multi
Sprinkler System as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 2 NFPA In-Rack Fire Sprinkler

Figure 3 In-Rack Sprinkler Schematic Section

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Figure 4 NFPA In-Rack Multi Sprinkler System

c. Aisle and Sprinkler Head Spacing

In reference to the aisle and longitudinal flue space requirements as per code, flue
space is not required since the maximum rack height did not exceed 7.6m. The aisle
widths should be ranging from minimum space 1.2m up to maximum space of 2.4m.
For 1.2m aisle, maximum spacing of sprinkler is 3.0m while if it’s equal or greater than
2.4m aisle the maximum sprinkler spacing is 3.7m as shown in Figure 2 (page 3).

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 Figure 5 Ground Floor Plan

Figure 6 Mezzanine Floor Plan

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Figure 7 Second Floor Plan