Need a solution

[David Saulque]

Last year one of my fine industrial food service units built a new 3 level building. After the general design they decided to add a cafeteria, thus the builder built multi horizontal runs going all over the place sealed and fire coded. The builder put all the access door on the bottom of the horz. Before the unit was signed off I showed my customer the obvious problem. The builder just took a short cut and I made him look like a fool among other things.

Cleaning time came up and the doors leak big time. We plan to put in 6 fire doors on the side before the next cleaning in 180 days. The building for what ever reason is not making a issue with the builder, thus any ideas on how to seal the doors??????????

The builder and the Air people state that this complies with the Mechanical Code and they could care less about NFPA97. But common sense must win and some point.

Thanks

David

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[Richard]

Hey David
Maybe you can install spring loaded 2 piece doors and then install the new ones in the new locations. Or maybe clean around the faulty doors as good as possible than weld em up if possible, then install the new ones in the poper places. Or maybe cut a new piece of sheet metal an inch larger than the access hole, use some high temp (copper) RTV to make a gasket than use sheet metal screws or pop rivets to fasten it to the duct. I've got some customers who have the "out of sight out of mind" mantality, BTW I've got to pick up some more beads on tuesday and I'll for sure find out what the cost is.

Richard

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[Douglas Hicks]

David, I am sure you mean NFPA 96-1998. If you use pop rivits, use stainless steel, not aluminum, and put a bit of sealer in the hole left by the pin. you should also know that I have seen the silicone sealer degrade from the normal heat and grease in the duct. In case of a fire (temps of 3,000 degrees are possible) the silicone will melt/burn out. I don't know of any sealer that will do a good job of sealing duct work in a kitchen.
douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

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[David Saulque]

Hi Doug

How was Landa? This system is the first cleaning and the unit is one year with low volume. I told them that it would leak if the builder didn't fix the problem and he refered to the Mechanical Code and we had several heated verbal events. Bto leak after just the first cleaning-concerns me.

I plan to put in the new doors on the side, but the leaking is not my problem. However as the wheel of life turns, it will become a A 1 Air Vent Issue. This is why I am being very proactive.

Lets say I work on the old doors on the bottom of the horizontal, now I have altered and now it is my problem. What I think I should do is advise and refer to a metal fab outfit that build hoods.

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[Douglas Hicks]

David, I like the idea of putting the responsibilty back to the installer. If the building inspector had known his job better, there would not be a problem. I have some ducts that leak because of the non-compliant access doors. I had pans made to catch the drip, writing on the invoice that I was not responsible for the non-compliant access doors.

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