Which item defines the limit for how far a soffit can project from the wall?

• A. Elevation View
• B. Distance of Deflector
• C. Obstruction Height
• D. Max Projection from Wall

Answer: (D)

The limit for how far a soffit can project from the wall is defined by the maximum projection from the wall. This is the controlling dimension because obstructions close to a sprinkler can shadow the discharge and reduce coverage, so the code sets a specific distance the soffit cannot exceed to ensure proper sprinkler performance. An elevation view is simply a drawing perspective used to show vertical relationships, not the actual permitted distance. The distance of the deflector describes how far the sprinkler head’s deflector is from surfaces, affecting the spray pattern but not setting the wall-projection limit. Obstruction height matters for clearance around sprinklers, but it does not establish the maximum allowed projection of a wall-mounted soffit.