The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet.This chapter specifies where fire protection systems are required and how they must apply to the design, installation, and operation of fire protection systems. I have included definitions exclusive to this chapter subject. Installation, repair, operation, and maintenance of fire protection systems must be in accordance with this code and the International Fire Code. This includes modifications which are required to follow this code and the International Fire Code; you must also get approval from the building official—there are no exceptions to this rule.
If you are using or installed a fire protection system or part of one that is not required by this code, it also must meet the requirements of this code. When you are installing threads that are provided for fire department connections to sprinkler systems, standpipes, yard hydrants, or any other fire hose connections you must make certain that they are compatible with the connections that are used by the local fire department. A simple phone call or visit to the fire department can save time and money or even a code decision by ensuring that you’ve made sure that these connections are a match.
All fire protection systems must be tested in accordance with the requirements of this code and the International Fire Code. If testing is required it is your responsibility that it is conducted in the presence of the code official. It is not enough to have the test(s) done; the building official must see the tests from start to finish. The costs of these tests are at the expense of the owner or a person representing the owner. It is very important that you realize that it is illegal to occupy a structure or even a portion of the structure if the proper testing has not been done and/or approved by the building official.
Fire protection systems must be monitored (where required) by an approved supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72. All automatic sprinkler systems must also be monitored by an approved supervising station with the exception of automatic sprinkler systems protecting one- and two-family housing units and limited area systems that serve fewer than 20 sprinklers.
Fire alarm systems require similar monitoring with an approved supervising station with the exception of single- and multiple-station smoke alarms and smoke detectors in Group I-3 occupancies. Manual fire alarms, automatic fire-extinguishing, and emergency alarm systems in Group H occupancies must be monitored by an approved supervising station as well.
When approved by the building official, on-site monitoring at a constantly attended location can be permitted. This is true only if the owner provides that notifications to the fire department will be equal to those provided by an approved supervising station.
Below you will find definitions that pertain to this chapter; I have also scattered them throughout the chapter. These words and terms, for the purpose of this chapter, will have the meanings shown.
!Definition alert |
Alarm notification appliance: A fire alarm system component such as a bell, horn, speaker, light, or text display that provides audible, tactile, or visible outputs or any combination of these. |
Alarm verification feature: A feature of automatic fire detection and alarm systems to reduce unwanted alarms where smoke detectors report alarm conditions for a minimum period of time, or confirm alarm conditions within a given time period, after being automatically reset, in order to be accepted as a valid alarm-initiation signal. |
All automatic sprinkler systems installed in a structure must follow the rules or codes of this section. If you plan on or are using alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems complying with this chapter, they must be recognized by the applicable standard and approved by the fire code official and all new buildings and structures must be provided with approved automatic sprinkler systems and comply with this code. This chapter covers classifications of buildings by group and informs you of what the code specifies for these group classifications.
Group A requires an automatic sprinkler system for Group A-1 occupancies where one or more of the following conditions exist:
The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet.
The fire area has an occupant load of more than 300 people.
!Definition alert |
Audible alarm notification appliance: A notification appliance that alerts by the sense of hearing. |
The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit doors.
The fire area contains a multi-theater complex.
The following list pertains to Group A-2 occupancies and the following conditions in which automatic sprinkler systems are mandatory by this code:
The fire area exceeds 5000 square feet.
The fire area has an occupant load of 100 or more.
The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit doors.
An automatic sprinkler system must be provided for Group A-3 and Group A-4 occupancies as the following conditions exist:
The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet.
The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
The fire area is located on a floor other that the level of exit doors.
Group A-3 and A-4 have the same exception to these rules: any areas used exclusively as participant sport areas where the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit of the main entrance and exit.
Group A-5 occupancies must be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in the following areas:
CODE UPDATE |
A heat detector is a fire detector that senses heat that has an abnormally high temperature or a rate of rise, or both. |
Retail areas
Press boxes
Other accessory use areas in excess of 1000 square feet.
Group E occupancies require automatic sprinklers throughout all areas that are greater than 20,000 square feet in area and throughout every portion below the level of exit discharge of buildings used for educational purposes. The exception being that an automatic sprinkler system is not required in any fire area or area below the level of exit discharge where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.
In Group F-1 occupancies automatic sprinkler systems must be provided throughout all buildings where one of the following conditions exists:
Where a Group F-1 fire area is more than 12,000 square feet
Where a Group F-1 fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane
Where the combined area of all Group F-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, is more than 24,000 square feet.
Also Group F-1 occupancies such as those which contain woodworking operations in excess of 2500 square feet in area that cause finely divided combustible waste or use finely divided combustible materials are required to have automatic sprinkler systems installed.
High hazard occupancies, such as Group H, must have an automatic sprinkler installed. The design of the sprinkler system cannot be less than that required by this code for the occupancy hazard classification. Where the design area of the sprinkler system consists of a corridor protected by one
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All Group R buildings are required to provide automatic sprinklers throughout. |
row of sprinklers, the maximum number of sprinklers required to be calculated is 13. Also keep in mind that buildings in which cellulose nitrate film or pyroxylin plastics are manufactured, stored, or handled in quantities of more than 100 pounds are required to be equipped with automatic sprinklers.
Institutional groups which are classified as Group I are required to install automatic sprinkler systems. Any automatic sprinkler systems that are of an NFPA 13R sprinkler system and installed in accordance to code are allowed to be installed in Group-I institutional groups. Group M occupancies which have one of the following conditions are required to have an automatic sprinkler system installed throughout the building. These conditions are:
Any Group M fire area that is more than 12,000 square feet
A Group M fire area that is located more than three stories above grade plane
Where the combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet.
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Buildings of Group M occupancies in which storage of merchandise is piled high or put into rack storage arrays are required to have an automatic sprinkler system which must be in accordance with the International Fire Code. |
Constant attended location: A location designated at a facility that is staffed on a continuous basis by trained personnel. Alarms and supervisory signals are monitored and facilities are provided for notification of the fire department or other emergency services. |
In Groups S-1 the entire building is required to be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system where one of the following conditions exists:
Any Group S-1 fire area that is more than 12,000 square feet.
A Group S-1 fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane.
The combined area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, is more than 24,000 square feet.
When speaking of fire safety and automatic sprinkler systems we must look at sprinkler system monitoring and alarms. All valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures, and water-flow switches on all sprinkler systems must be electrically supervised. Exceptions to this rule are:
Automatic sprinkler systems protecting one-and two-family dwellings
Limited area systems serving fewer than 20 sprinklers
Automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13R where a common supply main is used to supply both domestic water and the automatic sprinkler systems and a separate shutoff valve for the automatic sprinkler system is not provided
Jockey pump control valves that are sealed or locked in the open position
Control valves to commercial kitchen hoods, paint spray booths, or dip tanks that are sealed or locked in the open position
Valves controlling the fuel supply to fire pump engines that are sealed or locked in the open position
Trim valves to pressure switches in dry, pre-action, and deluge sprinkler systems that are sealed or locked in the open position.
Alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals must be distinctly different and automatically sent to an approved central station, remote supervising station, or proprietary supervising station as defined in NFPA 72 or, when approved by the fire code official, must sound an audible signal at a constantly attended location. There are two exceptions to this rule. The first exception states that underground key or hub valves in roadway boxes provided by the municipality or public utility are not required to be monitored.
The second exception states that backflow prevention device test valves located in limited area sprinkler system supply piping must be locked in the open position. In occupancies required to be equipped with a fire alarm system, the backflow preventer valves must be electrically supervised by a tamper switch installed in accordance with NFPA 72 and separately annunciated.
Alarm devices must be provided on the outside of the building in an approved location. Where a fire alarm system is installed, the motion of the automatic sprinkler system must set off the building fire alarm system. Don’t forget this very important detail: all sprinkler systems must be tested and maintained in accordance with the International Fire Code.
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Alarms, such as audible devices, must be approved and connected to every automatic sprinkler system. These sprinkler water-flow alarm devices must be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. |
A notification zone is an area within a building or facility covered by notification appliances which are activated simultaneously. |
If you plan on installing an alternative automatic fire-extinguishing system there are codes that also need to be obeyed. Any automatic fire-extinguishing systems, other than automatic sprinkler systems, must be designed, installed, inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the next section and the applicable referenced standards. Any automatic fire-extinguishing systems installed as an alternative to the required automatic sprinkler systems in this chapter must be approved by the fire code official. You may not use automatic fire-extinguishing systems as alternatives for the purpose of exceptions or reductions that are allowed by other requirements of this code. What this means is that a building owner cannot substitute with an alternate system in hopes of applying this to an exception to the code. It just doesn’t work in this manner.
Before conducting final acceptance tests, the following items must be inspected:
Hazard specification for consistency with design hazard
Type, location, and spacing of automatic-and manual-initiating devices
Size, placement and position of nozzles or discharge holes
Location and identification of audible and visible alarm devices
Identification of devices with proper designations
Operating instructions.
All notification appliances, connections to fire alarm systems, and connections to approved supervising stations must be tested in accordance with this chapter to verify proper operation. Also keep in mind that the audibility and visibility of notification appliances signaling agent discharge or system operation, where required, must be verified. These too need to be tested to verify proper identification and re-transmission of alarms from automatic fire-extinguishing systems.
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If you have installed wet-chemical, dry-chemical extinguishing systems, they must be installed, maintained, and periodically inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 17 and their listing. If you have installed foam-extinguishing systems they must be installed, maintained, periodically inspected, and tested in accordance with NFPA 11 and NFPA 16 and their listing. |
Occupancies that have commercial cooking systems must be of a type recognized for protection of commercial cooking equipment and exhaust systems of the type and arrangement protected. Pre-engineered automatic dry- and wet-chemical extinguishing systems must be tested in accordance with UL 300 and listed and labeled for the intended application.
Automatic fire-extinguishing systems of the following types must be installed in accordance with the referenced standard indicated, as follows:
Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems, NFPA 12
Automatic sprinkler systems, NFPA 13
Foam-water sprinkler system or foam-water spray systems, NFPA 16
Dry-chemical extinguishing systems, NFPA 17
Wet-chemical extinguishing systems, NFPA 17A.
An exception to this code is factory-built commercial cooking re-circulating systems that are tested in accordance with UL 710B and listed, labeled, and installed in accordance with Section 304.1 of the International Mechanical Code.
Standpipe system: An arrangement of piping valves, hose connections, and allied equipment installed in a building or structure with the hose connections located in such a manner that water can be discharged in streams or spray patterns through attached hoses and nozzles. |
Commercial cooking systems must have a manual actuation device to be located at or near a means of exit from the cooking area a minimum of 10 feet and a maximum of 20 feet from the kitchen exhaust system. The manual actuation device must be installed not more than 48 inches or less than 42 inches above the floor and must clearly identify the hazard protected. The manual motion must require a maximum force of 40 pounds and a maximum movement of 14 inches to set the fire suppression system in motion.
Automatic sprinkler systems are not required to be equipped with manual movement means. This fire suppression system must automatically shut down the fuel or electrical power supply to the cooking equipment and the supply must be re-set manually. If and when carbon dioxide systems are used, there must be a nozzle at the top of the ventilating duct. Additional nozzles that are balanced to give uniform distribution must be installed within vertical ducts larger than 20 feet and horizontal ducts larger than 50 feet.
Dampers must be installed at either the top or the bottom of the duct and must be arranged to operate automatically upon activation of the fire-extinguishing system. If the damper is installed at the top of the duct, the top nozzle must be immediately below the damper.
CODE UPDATE |
Sprinkler protection is required for exterior balconies, decks, and ground floor patios of dwelling units where the building is of Type V construction, provided there is a roof or deck above. |
The sizing of an automatic carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system is extremely important to protect against all hazards venting through a common duct at the same time. If your cooking equipment is a commercial type, it must be arranged to shut off the ventilation system upon activation.
Standpipe systems must be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with this chapter. Fire hose threads used in connection with standpipe systems must be approved and must be compatible with fire department hose threads. The location of fire department hose connections must be approved as well. When it comes to standpipe systems, there are many code rules that must be followed.
All standpipe systems must be installed in accordance with this section and NFPA 14. Standpipe systems are allowed to be combined with automatic sprinkler systems, but are not required in Group R-3 occupancies.
There are various classes of standpipes to be aware of when it comes to installation of standpipes. Class III standpipe systems must be installed throughout buildings where the floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, or where the floor level of the lowest story is located more than 30 feet below the highest level of fire department vehicle access. There are exceptions to this rule.
Class I standpipes have many conditions associated with their use. The list below will begin our investigation into Class I systems:
Class I standpipes are allowed in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this chapter.
CODE UPDATE |
Cabinets that are used to house portable fire extinguishers shall not be locked. |
CODE UPDATE |
Portable fire extinguishers are not allowed to be concealed from view, unless suitable signage exists to show the location of the fire extinguishers. |
Class I manual standpipes are allowed in open parking garages where the highest floor is located not more than 150 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Class I manual dry standpipes are allowed in open parking garages that are subject to freezing temperatures, provided that the hose connections are located as required for Class II stand-pipes in accordance with this section.
Class I standpipes are allowed in basements equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
In determining the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, it must not be required to consider recessed loading docks for four vehicles or less or conditions where topography makes access from the fire department vehicle to the building impractical or impossible.
Class I automatic wet standpipes must be provided in non-sprinklered Group A buildings having an occupant load exceeding 1000 persons except for open-air-seating spaces that are without enclosed spaces or Class I automatic dry and semi-automatic dry standpipes or manual wet standpipes are allowed in buildings where the highest floor surface used for human occupancy is 75 feet or less above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Some groups have special requirements when it comes to standpipes such as covered mall buildings. The code clearly states that a building such as this must be equipped throughout with a standpipe system where required by this chapter.
As the owner or contractor of a building you must provide the following hose connections in the locations that it states:
Within the mall at the entrance to each exit passageway or corridor
At each floor-level landing within enclosed stairways opening directly on the mall
At exterior public entrances to the mall.
Stages are another classification that requires standpipes. Any stage that is greater than 1000 square felt in area must be equipped with a Class III wet standpipe system with 1.5 inch and 2.5 inch hose connections on each side of the stage. The exception to this is where the building or area is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system; the 1.5 inch hose connection must be installed in accordance with NFPA 13 or in accordance with NFPA 14 for Class II or III standpipes. The 1.5 inch hose connections must be equipped with sufficient lengths of 1.5 inch hose to provide fire protection for the stage area.
Hose connections must be equipped with an approved adjustable fog nozzle and be mounted in a cabinet or on a rack. Make yourself aware that all underground buildings must be equipped throughout with a Class I automatic wet or manual wet standpipe system.
Buildings that are equipped with a helistop or heliport that contain a standpipe must extend the standpipe to the roof level on which the helistop or heliport is located in accordance with Section 1107.5 of the International Fire Code. Marinas and boatyards must also be equipped throughout with standpipe systems in accordance with NFPA 303. The following list contains all locations that Class I standpipe hose connections must be provided:
In every required stairway, a hose connection must be provided for each floor level above or below grade.
Hose connections must be located at an intermediate floor level landing between floors, unless otherwise approved by the fire code official.
On each side of the wall adjacent to the exit opening of a horizontal exit, except where floor areas that are adjacent to a horizontal exit are reachable from exit stairway hose connections by a 30-foot hose stream from a nozzle attached to 100 feet of hose, a hose connection must not be required at the horizontal exit.
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All occupancies and locations must be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher as required by the International Fire Code. |
In every exit passageway at the entrance from the exit passageway to other areas of a building
In covered mall buildings, adjacent to each exterior public entrance to the mall and adjacent to each entrance from an exit passageway or exit corridor to the mall
Where the roof has a slope less than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal, each standpipe must be provided with a hose connection located either on the roof or at the highest landing of stairways with stair access to the roof. An additional hose connection must be provided at the top of the most hydraulically remote standpipe for testing purposes.
Where the most remote portion of a nonsprinklered floor or story is more than 200 feet from a hose connection, the fire code official is authorized to require that additional hose connections be provided in approved locations.
Class II standpipe hose connections must be accessible and located so that all portions of the buildings are within 30 feet of a nozzle attached to 100 feet of hose. Group A-1 and A-2 occupancies with occupant loads of more than 1000 hose connections must be located on each side of any stage, on each side of the rear of the auditorium, on each side of the balcony, and on each tier of dressing rooms. Fire-resistance-rated protection of riser and laterals of Class II standpipe systems is not required, but for Class II systems a minimum 1-inch hose is permitted to be used for hose stations in light-hazard occupancies where investigated and listed for this service and where approved by the fire code official. Location of Class III standpipe hose connections has the same requirements of those for Class I standpipes and must have Class II hose connections as required in this chapter. You must not forget that risers and laterals of Class III standpipe systems must be protected as required for Class I systems as well. In buildings where more than one Class III standpipe is provided, the standpipes must be interconnected at the bottom.
CODE UPDATE |
Smoke detectors installed in ducts shall be listed for the air, velocity, temperature, and humidity present in the duct. |
As with all code regulations you must contact your local building code official for any additional information or for any questions you may have. There is no such thing as a stupid question. This code is designed to protect everyone, so please be sure that you understand the code and question the code when needed.
Construction documents for fire alarm systems must be permitted for review and approval before you install any system. Construction documents must include, but are not be limited to, all of the following:
A floor plan which indicates the use of all rooms
Locations of alarm-initiating and notification appliances
Alarm control and trouble signaling equipment
Annunciation
Power connection
Battery calculation
Conductor type and sizes
Voltage drop calculation
Manufacturers, model numbers, and listing information for equipment, devices, and materials
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Don’t misinterpret this code for contents, restorations of operations, or for assistance in fire suppression or overhaul activities. Smoke control systems that are regulated by this section serve a different purpose than the smoke-and heat-venting provisions that I will get into later. Also keep in mind that mechanical smoke control systems must not be considered exhaust systems under the International Mechanical Code. |
Details of ceiling height and construction
The interface of fire safety control functions.
Systems and their components must be listed and approved for the purpose for which they are installed. An approved manual, automatic, or manual and automatic fire alarm system installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 72 must be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with this chapter, where applicable, and provide occupant notification unless other requirements are provided by another chapter or section of this code.
Automatic sprinkler protection that is installed in accordance with this section is provided and connected to the building fire alarm system; automatic heat detection required by this section is not required. The automatic fire detectors must be smoke detectors. Where ambient conditions prohibit installation of automatic smoke detection, other automatic fire detection must be allowed.
You must install and maintain smoke control systems. The simple issue with smoke control systems is to be able to control smoke during a fire incident so that the danger is contained and the building can be safely evacuated. This section applies to mechanical or passive smoke control systems when they are required by other provisions of this code. The purpose of this section is to establish the minimum requirements for the design, installation, and acceptance testing of smoke control systems that are intended to provide a tenable environment for the evacuation or relocation of occupants.
Buildings, structures, or parts thereof are required by this code to have a smoke control system(s) designed in accordance with the applicable requirements of this section and the generally accepted and well-established principles of engineering relevant to the design. All construction documents must include sufficient information and detail to adequately describe the elements of the design necessary for the proper implementation of the smoke control systems. These documents must be accompanied by sufficient information and analysis to demonstrate compliance with these provisions.
All buildings and structures are required to have ordinary inspections and test requirements, but smoke control systems are mandated to undergo special inspections and tests sufficient to verify the proper commissioning of the smoke control design in its final installed condition. You must include detail procedures and methods to be used and the items subject to these inspections and tests on the design submission documents. This commissioning must be in accordance with generally accepted engineering practice and, where possible, based on published standards for the particular testing that is involved.
The smoke control system must be supplied with two sources of power. Primary power must be from the normal building power system. Secondary power must be from an approved standby source complying with the ICC Electrical Code.
CODE UPDATE |
Where delayed egress locks are installed on means of egress doors an automatic smoke or heat detection system shall also be installed. |
The standby power source and its transfer switches must be in a separate room from the normal power transformers and switch gear. It must be enclosed in a room that is constructed of not less than one-hour fire barriers that is ventilated directly to and from the outside. All power distribution from the two sources must come from independent routes. The transfer to full standby power has to be automatic and within 60 seconds of failure of the primary power. This system is required to comply with this code or the ICC Electrical Code. It is imperative that control systems for mechanical smoke control systems include provisions for verification. A verification list follows:
Positive confirmation of actuation
Testing
Manual override
The presence of power downstream of all disconnects
A preprogrammed weekly test sequence
Report abnormal conditions audibly, visually, and by printed report.
Activation of smoke control systems must follow code regulations. Mechanical smoke control systems that use pressurization, airflow, or exhaust method must have completely automatic control. Passive smoke control systems actuated by approved spot-type detectors listed for releasing service are permitted. Where your smoke control system is completely automatic, the automatic-control sequence has to be initiated from an appropriately zoned automatic sprinkler system complying with this section, manual controls that are readily accessible to the fire department and any smoke detectors required by engineering analysis.
Don’t forget that any detection and control systems must be clearly marked at all junctions, accesses, and terminations and identical control diagrams showing all devices in the system and identifying their location and function must be maintained current and kept on file with the fire code official, the fire department, and in the fire command center in a format and manner that has been approved by the fire chief.
A fire-fighter’s smoke control panel for fire department emergency response purposes only must be provided and has to include manual control
The height of the lowest horizontal surface of the smoke layer interface shall be maintained at least 6 feet above any walking surface that forms a portion of a required egress system within the smoke zones. |
or override of automatic control for mechanical smoke control systems. The panel will be located in a fire command center in high-rise buildings or buildings with smoke-protected assembly seating. In all other buildings, the fire-fighter’s smoke control panel must be installed in an approved location adjacent to the fire alarm control panel. The fire-fighter’s smoke control panel must comply with the International Building Code book.
With all these fire and smoke alarm systems in place we cannot forget smoke and heat vents. Where smoke and heat vents are required by this code, or otherwise installed, smoke and heat vents, or mechanical smoke exhaust systems, and draft curtains must conform to the requirements of this section. There are two exceptions to this. Frozen food warehouses used solely for storage of Class I and II merchandise where protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system or areas of buildings that are equipped with early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers, automatic smoke and heat vents are not required.
Smoke and heat vents must be installed in the roofs of Group F-1 and S-1 buildings that have occupancy or more than 50,000 square feet, except for Group S-1 aircraft repair hangars.
