New RFP Open, Due October 14, for FPRF Project: Smoke Detector Spacing on High Ceilings – Phase II
The Fire Protection Research Foundation is seeking proposals to identify a project contractor for a new project aiming to develop guidance for the installation of smoke detectors on smooth ceilings over 10 ft (3 m) in height that can be used as the technical basis for any changes to applicable codes and standards.
As background, there has been confusion in design and code enforcement communities on what to do when smoke detectors are installed on ceilings higher than 10 ft (3 m). While NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®, contains a table that allows for reduction of spacing for heat detection, it does not address spacing considerations for smoke detection based on ceiling heights.
A previous literature review and gap analysis study on smoke detectors in high ceiling spaces was published by the Research Foundation in 2017. The outcomes of this study indicated that there was limited context and significant knowledge gaps that preclude the formulation of scientifically justified prescriptive requirements regarding smoke detector spacing relative to ceiling height. This study outlined a path forward to better characterize smoke detector spacing in high ceilings, such as by establishing a performance metric for smoke detectors that can be applied to high ceilings.
Since the fire protection industry still needs additional information on the impact of ceiling height and detector spacing on smoke detection performance, the Research Foundation has initiated a project to address this issue through a literature review, data collection, modeling, and validation testing effort. The overarching objective of this study is to develop prescriptive guidance on the spacing of smoke detectors on ceiling heights greater than 10 ft (3 m) and specify the height at which performance-based strategies should be leveraged.
The open RFP seeking a contractor for the “Smoke Detector Spacing on High Ceilings – Phase II” project is available here or on the Foundation’s website. Instructions on how to respond are included in the RFP.
Please submit your proposals to Victoria Hutchison by October 14, 2022, at 5 p.m. ET.
