Building Expansion Joints in NON-seismic Areas

[Kyle.Montgomery]

The only reference to expansion joints I can find in NFPA 13 is within section 9.3 "Protection of piping WHERE SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES". So, if I'm not in an area that is subject to earthquakes, can I ignore the building expansion joints?

Usually I still add a flexible coupling just to be safe, since it isn't a huge impact. However, I've been questioned before about whether the flexible coupling can allow sufficient movement to accommodate the expansion joint. Is this something I should be losing sleep over?

Keep in mind, I'm talking about areas where seismic bracing is NOT required.

Thanks.

-Kyle M

[Steve Leyton]

In structural terms and by definition, an expansion joint is not a seismic joint. HOWEVER, they come in different flavors and may be subject to differential movement. Because we're in the heart of seismic country, we have to deal with seismic joints and bracing and flexibility and clearance requirements so those all generally supersede and we tend to ignore "expansion joints" in our designs. But I'd love to hear from some code-savvy people in other (not-so-seismically-active) parts of the country. Is John Drucker on the line?

SL

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Kyle.Montgomery
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2017 1:44 PM
To: '***@lists.firesprinkler.org'
Subject: Building Expansion Joints in NON-seismic Areas

The only reference to expansion joints I can find in NFPA 13 is within section 9.3 "Protection of piping WHERE SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES". So, if I'm not in an area that is subject to earthquakes, can I ignore the building expansion joints?

Usually I still add a flexible coupling just to be safe, since it isn't a huge impact. However, I've been questioned before about whether the flexible coupling can allow sufficient movement to accommodate the expansion joint. Is this something I should be losing sleep over?

Keep in mind, I'm talking about areas where seismic bracing is NOT required.

Thanks.

-Kyle M

[Don Casey]

Is there a structural PE on the project?

I have worked on projects (in non-seismic areas) where the structural PE did not allow for piping to cross expansion joints and others where they required a flexible joint. These issues were more prominent in tall industrial buildings. One job in particular was a 70ft high distribution centre where a slight movement at the ground level translated in something more than slight 70ft up.

Cheers
Don


From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Steve Leyton
Sent: 2017/08/09 4:48 PM
To: ***@lists.firesprinkler.org
Subject: RE: Building Expansion Joints in NON-seismic Areas

In structural terms and by definition, an expansion joint is not a seismic joint. HOWEVER, they come in different flavors and may be subject to differential movement. Because we're in the heart of seismic country, we have to deal with seismic joints and bracing and flexibility and clearance requirements so those all generally supersede and we tend to ignore "expansion joints" in our designs. But I'd love to hear from some code-savvy people in other (not-so-seismically-active) parts of the country. Is John Drucker on the line?

SL

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Kyle.Montgomery
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2017 1:44 PM
To: '***@lists.firesprinkler.org'
Subject: Building Expansion Joints in NON-seismic Areas

The only reference to expansion joints I can find in NFPA 13 is within section 9.3 "Protection of piping WHERE SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES". So, if I'm not in an area that is subject to earthquakes, can I ignore the building expansion joints?

Usually I still add a flexible coupling just to be safe, since it isn't a huge impact. However, I've been questioned before about whether the flexible coupling can allow sufficient movement to accommodate the expansion joint. Is this something I should be losing sleep over?

Keep in mind, I'm talking about areas where seismic bracing is NOT required.

Thanks.

-Kyle M

[Mark Phillips]

There is a informal interpretation on the AFSA website from 2010 I have used it before
The answer is nothing is required
Search for Expansion under the question contains box



From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Kyle.Montgomery
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2017 4:44 PM
To: '***@lists.firesprinkler.org'
Subject: Building Expansion Joints in NON-seismic Areas

The only reference to expansion joints I can find in NFPA 13 is within section 9.3 "Protection of piping WHERE SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES". So, if I'm not in an area that is subject to earthquakes, can I ignore the building expansion joints?

Usually I still add a flexible coupling just to be safe, since it isn't a huge impact. However, I've been questioned before about whether the flexible coupling can allow sufficient movement to accommodate the expansion joint. Is this something I should be losing sleep over?

Keep in mind, I'm talking about areas where seismic bracing is NOT required.

Thanks.

-Kyle M