Sprinkler System
199 Church Street, New York, NYOverview
An existing 21-story office building needed to upgrade its fire suppression system to comply with NYC fire codes. The building only had an older standpipe riser system in place, and it required sprinklers on each floor.
MEP designed a combined sprinkler standpipe system so that the building could upgrade its system efficiently. We recommended a loop system with sprinkler control valve stations at each floor, which could be easily balanced and conformed to NYC building codes.
Facility Description
This existing 21 story office building is composed of approximately 200,000 sf of office space. Located in Manhattan, the building required its fire suppression system to be updated to current standards and all applicable NYC building codes.
Project Origin and Goals
The building was originally designed with only a standpipe riser/system in place. The building program required the entire building to be sprinklered. This project called for the design of a complete new fire suppression sprinkler system.
Site Findings
A site visit determined that the water feed had to be upgraded to the current standards required for a combined sprinkler standpipe system. Once the existing reports, drawings, documents and existing conditions were reviewed, a final report detailing findings was issued to the client. There was an existing fire standpipe riser(s) and existing standpipe systems for this building which could be reused.
Solutions
A loop system was recommended for this project as it is easily balanced and once installed, branch piping can be accomplished at a later date. Sprinkler floor control valve stations were provided at each floor. The design of the system was in conformance with the NYC Building Code, NYC Fire Code, and NFPA-13 Sprinkler Code. As part of the design a flow test letter from the NYC department of Environmental Protection was obtained.
Summary
MEP’s staff completed the design and specifications within schedule and the client approved the proposed design in the first submission. The design was filed and approved by New York City Building Department.