b'Technical ArticleAbove or Under Sprinklers?Does it matter?YES!By Greg Magri, Fire Prevention Officer, Nusens Niche Contracting (Ret. Acting Fire CaptainGTA)R egardlessofwhichroof- property,equipment,inventorydensitypolyethylene(LDPE)protection should be installed bythe sprinkler heads are to the roof ingsystemisinstalledonand the overall health and safetyfilm. Other types with anti-statica provider who has high technicaldeck, the more involved the in-a building, the time inevi- of employees and customers. Theand anti-microbial properties andexperience and is accountable tostallation will be and the longer tably comes for that system to beprimary role of a protective ceil- othermaterialswithspecificin- the highest standard. theinstallationwilltakewhen removedandreplaced.Duringingcontainmentsystem(CCS),tendedfunctionsarealsoused;Regardless of ones familiarityinstalling CCS above sprinklers. the re-roofing operation, there areistocollectthisforeignobjecthowever, this article will focus pri- with CCS, it is easy to tell at aObviously,greaterrequiredla-a number of building interior risksdebris (FOD) and safely retain it.marily on the LDPE barrier type,glance whether a system has beenbour time means increased costs. such as small objects, dust/debrisCCS is a barrier with variousdue to its inherent compositioninstalled with technical merit, se- No one wants increased costs.and other small particles enteringdifferent types, though the mostandapplicationasaCCS.Thecurely and with a high degree ofHowever, the grey area quickly thebuilding,posingathreattocommon include a form of low- LDPE variant is the most cost ef- overall fit. Apperance aside, un- becomes black and white once a fective if it is approved by the firederstanding the fire implicationsfire prevention officer or a mem-authorities that have jurisdiction.of installing such a system is ofber of the fire authority appears Other U.S.-based systems do existutmostimportance.Foralongon site. They may have been do-but are cost prohibitive and donttime,thecodeaspectsofCCSing a routine check, or just shop-offer any advantage over LDPE,when installed in buildings with aping in that store and happened whichhasbeencertifiedforin- fire suppression (sprinkler) systemtolookupandseethesystem stallation. (More on that shortly.) were deemed to be a grey issue forinstallation.Perhapsacustomer We all know that overall liabil- the commercial roofing industry. concernedaboutthesprinklers Commercial and Residential Roofing ity and health and safety risks areapparentlybeingblockedcalled Trinity Roofing Ltd. specializes in a variety of roofing applications and becoming more prevalent acrossHeres a Practicalthe authorities. Either way, in this waterproofing for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. allindustriesandsectors,andExample example, we now have a signifi-roofingisnoexception.CCScant problem. The authorities ei-Phone: 416-630-9213URL: www.trinitycanada.comisaninvaluablesafetyrequire- Letsconsideranexampletother force the immediate removal Fax: 416-630-1722 Email: info@trinitycanada.comment and a must-have in a vari- help illustrate the point. Supposeof the CCS within 24 hours, or etyofsettings,includingfood/ your local grocery store is aboutthe store must be shut down to bottlingfacilities,retailstores,to have its flat roof replaced. Inthe general public.grocerystoresandICI(institu- advance of the re-roofing opera-tional,commercial,industrial)tion, CCS is installed throughoutWhy Did this Happen? Can buildings, as well as in specialtythe store by a contractor who al-applications such as pharmaceu- legestospecializeindoingso,We Do Something About It?tical facilities, server rooms, dataand the installation is neat, tidyLets revisit the above example centres and other highly sensitiveandfunctional.Thesystemwasunderadifferentsetofcircum-environments.Insuchenviron- installedatafairmarketrate.stances to illustrate how the pre-ments, even the smallest particlesThesystemisinstalledbelowviousgreyarea,whichisquite of any FOD could become a sig- sprinklers, since doing so usuallyblack to the fire authorities, can nificant liability for everyone in- involves less labour time than go- actually become clearly white and volved, and thats why all CCSingabovesprinklers.Theclosernot an issue at all. 12ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSISSUE 2 2022 THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN'