32A-124 FD Letter BBRS Appeal 57 King StNorthampton Fire Department
26 Carlon Drive, Northampton, Massachusetts 01060-2373
Telephone: (413) 587-1032 Fax: (413) 587-1034
Assistant Chief: Duane A. Nichols
Deputy Chiefs: Stephen Vanasse, David Gagne,
Jon Davine and Timothy McQueston
Deputy Chief in charge of EMS: Christopher W. Norris
Website: Http//: www.Northamptonfire.org
July 31, 2013
Board of Building Regulations and Standards
One Ashburton Place, room 1301
Boston, MA 02108-1618
Re: Docket # 13-1274 57 King St Northampton, MA
Dear Board;
I would like to inform the board that the Northampton Fire Department does not support the appeal to install a NFPA 13D sprinkler system in the mixed use building at 57 King St.
We feel that a NFPA 13D sprinkler system for this building would not adequately supply sufficient fire flow to control a fire. As this is a mixed use building, a NFPA 13D system would
be overwhelmed due to the fire load of the building. The design for a NFPA 13D system is for one and two family residential homes, not a mixed use building. An inadequate size of the
water main is not grounds to lessen the fire protection for the building. Furthermore, our interpretation of the building code table 903.2 is that only buildings of residential use
shall have the ability to install a NFPA 13D sprinkler system, not a mixed use building.
We are in agreement with the local Building Commissioner of granting a code modification to allow a NFPA 13R sprinkler system throughout the residential portion of the building
as an alternative to the NFPA 13 required only in the area of new construction.
If you have any questions or need to contact me, I can be reached at (413)-587-1109.
Thank you,
Duane Nichols
Assistant Fire Chief