Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 640 - PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES › Appendix 407-640-B - Demand Based Fire Protection Charges

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Revised September 10, 1997
The "Demand Based Fire Protection" is a refinement of so
				  called Method "A" as recommended by the Fire Protection Task Force to the Maine
				  Public Utilities Commission on January 16, 1996. A number of water utilities
				  have attempted to implement Method "A" and have found the lack of available
				  data on actual sprinkler system fire flow demands to be impediment to its
				  implementation. This refinement is necessary to address these problems of
				  incomplete fire flow demand data for individual private sprinkler
				  systems.
The Method "A" is an allocation methodology for the equitable
				  apportionment of cost associated with providing Public and Private Fire
				  Protection. The allocation methodology relies on data from the actual design of
				  individual private fire protection systems (sprinklers). The demand required
				  for an individual sprinkler system in terms of flow design is in gpm (gallons
				  per minute).
Deficiencies in availability of fire flow data on sprinklers
				  have been found. The State Fire Marshal Office has minimal records of sprinkler
				  system designs.
Due to this deficiency, an alternative technique is proposed
				  to be used to provide an estimate of the Fire Flow Demand for sprinkler systems
				  where actual system design data is not available.
The following table titled "Water Sprinkler System Flows for
				  Fire Protection Rates" shall be used in the calculation of the "Fire Flow
				  Demand" when the design data for a sprinkler system is not available. Design
				  data must be completed by a Sprinkler System Engineer registered in the State
				  of Maine with the State Fire Marshal Office.
Occupancy Hazard
System Flow Rate*
Per NFPA 13
Wet System
Dry System
Light Hazard
175 gpm
230 gpm
Ordinary Hazard 1
260 gpm
340 gpm
Ordinary Hazard 2
350 gpm
460 gpm
Extra Hazard 1
875 gpm
1140 gpm
Extra Hazard 2
1150 gpm
1500 gpm
* For dry sprinkler systems the flow rates are 30% above the
				  requirement for a wet sprinkler per NFPA 13.
A-1-.7 Occupancy examples in the listings as shown in the
				  various hazard classifications are intended to represent the norm for those
				  occupancy types. Unusual or abnormal fuel loadings or combustible
				  characteristics and susceptibility for changes in these characteristics, for a
				  particular occupancy, are considerations that should be weighed in the
				  selection and classification.
The Light Hazard classification is intended to encompass
				  residential occupancies; however. this is not in preclude the use of listed
				  residential sprinklers in residential occupancies or residential portions of
				  other occupancies.
A-14.7.1 Light Hazard Occupancies include occupancies having
				  conditions similar to:
Churches
Clubs
Eaves and overhangs, if combustible construction with no
				  combustibles beneath
Educational
Hospitals
Institutional
Libraries, except large stack rooms
Museums
Nursing or convalescent homes
Office, including data processing
Residential
Restaurant seating areas
Theaters and Auditoriums excluding stages and
				  prosceniums
Unused attics
A-1-4.7.2.1 Ordinary Hazard Occupancies (Group 1) include
				  occupancies having conditions similar to:
Automobile parking and showrooms
Bakeries
Beverage manufacturing
Canneries
Dairy products manufacturing and processing
Electronic plants
Glass and glass products manufacturing
Laundries
Restaurant service areas.
MOVING AND STORAGE
STORAGE 20' / 21' BELOW EX (1)
STORAGE 22' ABOVE EX (2)
RACKS EX (2)
A-1-4.7.2.2 Ordinary Hazard Occupancies (Group 2) include
				  occupancies having conditions similar to:
Cereal mills
Chemical plants - ordinary
Confectionery products
Distilleries
Dry cleaners
Feed mills
Horse stables
Leather goods manufacturing
Libraries - large stack room areas
Machine shops
Metal working
Mercantile
Paper and pulp mills
Paper process plants
Piers and wharves
Post offices
Printing and publishing
Repair garages
Stages
Textile manufacturing
Tire manufacturing
Tobacco products manufacturing
Wood machining
Wood product assembly.
A-1-4.7.3.1 Extra Hazard Occupancies (Group 1) include
				  occupancies having conditions similar to:
Aircraft hangars (except as governed by NFPA-409) Combustible
				  hydraulic fluid use areas
Die casting
Metal extruding
Plywood and particle board manufacturing
Printing [using inks having flash points below 100º F
				  (37.9º C)]
Rubber reclaiming, compounding, drying, milling,
				  vulcanizing
Saw mills
Textile picking; opening. blending. garnetting, carding,
				  combining of cotton, synthetics, wool shoddy, or burlap
Upholstering with plastic foams.
Extra Hazard Occupancies (Group 2) include occupancies having
				  conditions similar to:
Asphalt saturating
Flammable liquids spraying
Flow coating
Manufactured home or modular building assemblies (where
				  finished enclosure is present and has combustible interiors)
Open oil quenching
Plastics processing
Solvent cleaning
Varnish and paint dipping.