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I'm working on a church youth building in a rural area and trying not to sprinkler due to cost. Occupant load of each wing is under 300. Wings to be separated with a double fire wall between the lobby and the east wing. NFPA 221 (2018) Section 6.10.1 requires the length of openings not to exceed 25% of the fire wall length. Does that apply in this scenario? See image below for openings within the fire wall. (Note: There are other emergency exits for the west wing not shown in the image for use in case of fire.) Thank you for your help. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe 
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I’m working on a super high-rise scheme, five towers over a common 9-story podium. Towers are more than 12 m apart; no connection above podium level; transfer slab is 3-hour rated and sprinklered throughout.
Client is proposing 2 x 2,500 L diesel tanks at the lower technical floor of each tower plus a 900 L tank at each roof technical floor, so 5,900 L per tower and 29,500 L across the development. The issue is that IBC Section 605.4.2.2 sets the aggregate fuel oil quantity on a per-building basis, with a maximum of 3,000 gallons (11,350 L) where protected above-ground tanks to UL 2085 are used in a sprinklered building. Per tower, we are within that limit, but across the development as a single building, we are not, by a wide margin. If the podium is 3-hour separated from all towers above, can I take a separate fuel limit for each tower, or do I have to add up the fuel across all five towers on the basis that the development is a single building? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A building will partially be a data center as part of a Group B Occupancy in the IBC.
Is a fire-resistance-rated separation required between the data halls and the offices? The data center area has accessory rooms such as a sprinkler riser room and a fiber cable entry, which are rated, but I'm looking at the data hall versus office specifically. Table 509 of the IBC doesn't mention anything about data center areas specifically. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe In a highrise building with a sprinkler system designed under NFPA 13, are above-ceiling smoke detectors required?
There are limited combustible materials (wiring, steel pipe, steel ductwork) and in other areas PVC pipe. Are smoke detectors required for the above ceiling spaces? Should they be considered if not? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is a window allowed in the exterior wall of a fire rated egress stair enclosure?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are looking at designing a fire sprinkler system for a 3 story, 20k sqft per floor apartment which is requiring an NFPA 13 system per the code plan.
The code plan also gives the option of removing the dry system in the attic if draft stops are provided. I have not read or heard of this ever being an option before. Are attic sprinkler systems allowed to be omitted with draft stops per some standard or code? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Some AHJs require travel distance to be measured orthogonally, meaning all changes in direction are made at right angles. This does result in a worst-case travel distance, but the IBC specifically says it should be measured using the natural walking path.
Generally, walking occupants do not make turns at 90-degree angles. How do you work through this code/interpretation with AHJs? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What are the laws regarding an AHJ sharing plans and calculations?
This may vary by state. Does having a seal change anything? In CA, plans must have an Engineer's seal, but there is the "Industrial Exception" that says a Contractor can draw and submit his own plans as long as he also does the install. I had a city refuse to let me have a copy unless I had permission from the Contractor, but the Contractor went out of business a decade earlier. Are AHJs allowed to share prior plan submissions? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The project consists of storing Group A plastics, Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics, in an ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System).
The ESFR system has been designed accordingly. What type and size of fire extinguishers are required for the space? Any direction and guidance is appreciated. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our jurisdiction has received plans for an addition/remodel of two different occupancy types.
The larger I-1 Condition 2 occupancy will not be undergoing remodeling and currently has a full NFPA 13 system; however, the R-4 occupancy will undergo a complete overhaul. The R-4 will also be added to accommodate a new activities room and additional sleeping units; it will remain an R-4 based on the number of occupants. The design team has drawn an independent 2-hour fire barrier between the two occupancies in the corridor connecting the two buildings. My question is, does the entire building (I-1 and R-4) now have to be served by an NFPA 13 system since they are connected regardless of the fire wall, or would they be allowed to install an NFPA 13R system in the R-4 occupancy? Also, does this now make the entire building an I-Occupancy regardless of the fire wall/barrier? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Do gas-burning boilers require gas detection above them?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I've got a high-rise project in a seismic zone higher than category C. We are required by IBC to have a secondary water supply other than the city supply (IBC 403.3.3). The structural team is pushing to not put the tank on the roof, and our site is extremely limited, so there is discussion about trying to bury the tank.
What pump/tank configurations are available for this situation? I am aware of either a concrete or fiberglass tank with a vertical turbine pump, but can you tie in the city supply to a vertical turbine submerged in a tank? Is there a way to appease this rule other than a secondary fire tank that I'm not thinking of? Thank you in advance for any help. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I represent an AHJ in Massachusetts and have a potential tenant who reached out to my office about what sprinkler work might need to be done during an upfit, I don't have all the information on their plans or level of alterations.
My question includes MA 780 CMR (Mass building code) and MGL 148 S26G (sprinklers in buildings over 7500 sqft). The building is all business occupancies and is a 1892 build with 12,952 sqft. No current fire protection in the building. The size brings into question 148 S26G, my question is would a level 2 alteration or level 3 alteration trigger 26g as "major renovation" and trigger the entire building needing sprinklers? The shop in question might only account for 10% of the square footage, so would that be major in the context of the building? If that doesn't trigger it, would the level 2 or 3 for B use group in the retail space that is smaller than 12,000 sqft itself, but part of a building that is 12,000+ trigger sprinklers in the renovated space? Thanks for your insights. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I appreciate this community and thank you in advance. I'm new to the fire protection industry, having been in other building engineering disciplines for many years.
For multiple buildings on a campus using the IBC. "IBC 905.3.2 Building Area Amendment In buildings exceeding 10,000 square feet (929 m2) in area per story, Class I automatic wet or manual wet standpipes shall be provided where any portion of the building's interior area is more than 200 feet (60,960 mm) of travel, vertically and horizontally, from the nearest point of fire department vehicle access. Exceptions: 1. Buildings equipped throughout with automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. 2. Group A-4, A-5, F-2, R-2, S-2 or U occupancies." Is there any reason not to eliminate the standpipes if the height and occupancy thresholds aren't exceeded? One of the buildings is a two-story, 60,000 SF building. The path of travel plans shows a 150+ foot range. Does this cause any concern? I know the standpipes are to assist in manual firefighting ops, but is eliminating them increasing future risks to the occupants? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe As an AHJ, how do we respond to someone that wants to use new technology that is not recognized by Code / Standard?
Such as Sonic Fire Tech? https://www.sonicfiretech.com/ Do we recognize it or require UL / FM / "Approval" before allowing it as an approved system? In other words, what would be the basis for saying "no" at this stage? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a consultant showing a 6" wet sprinkler riser routing through the 1st floor of a building, supplying sprinklers, then heading to a stairwell to supply a wet manual standpipe. I am confident that supplying a standpipe downstream of a sprinkler system is not allowed, as there would be no way to fight the fire with hoses without the ability to shut off the sprinkler system, but keep the standpipe live.
Can someone shed some light on the code referring to this in either NFPA 13, 14, or even FM Global that details standpipes can feed sprinkler systems in a combination setup, but a sprinkler system cannot feed a standpipe? Thanks in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a warehouse that is 408,240 SF with a ceiling height of 39 feet. I want to fill the warehouse with pallet racking for Class III commodities. Pallet racking will be back-to-back with a 10 foot for reach trucks.
IFC table 3206.2 calls out the max pile dimension and the max pile volume. How do these limits affect how long my racking aisle can be, and if I'm limited on continuously racking out the warehouse? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The International Residential Code (IRC 2021) Section 310.1 states: "Basements, habitable attics and every sleeping room shall have not less than one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, an emergency escape and rescue opening shall be required in each sleeping room. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall open directly into a public way, or to a yard or court having a minimum width of 36 inches (914 mm) that opens to a public way."
My building code official is reading this as sleeping rooms in attics and basements need an escape window. I am reading "Basements, habitable attics and every sleeping room " as a list of 3 without the use of an Oxford comma. Any sleeping room needs an escape window, right? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a project under the 2015 International Codes that is building onto an existing fitness center/gym. The existing building has an A-3 occupancy under 12,000 SF, but an occupant load over 300 people. The total fire area of this existing building is 22,300 SF. Also, the building is not sprinklered.
There is a new building going directly next to the existing building that will connect the two (they share a wall). The new building is an aquatic center (pool and splashpad) with an A-3 occupancy under 12,000 SF, but an occupant load over 300 people. The total fire area of this new building is 13,000 SF. The architect was originally trying to see if sprinklers could be removed from the scope (since there are none in the existing building), but based on the occupancy and square footage of the new building, sprinklers will be required (IBC 903.2.1.3). Since sprinklers are required in the new building, the architect is trying to determine what type of separation is required at the two buildings (fire partition, fire barrier, or fire wall) to avoid requiring retrofitting sprinklers in the existing building. My take on it was to provide a "Fire Wall" to completely separate the buildings and not calling the existing plus new spaces a "single building" which could push us into requiring sprinklers throughout the existing building. In addition, IBC 903.2.1 indicates that sprinklers "shall be provided throughout buildings and portions thereof used as Group A occupancies provided in this section" and sprinklers "shall be provided throughout the story where the fire area containing Group A-1, A-2, A-3, or A-4 is located and throughout all stories from the Group A occupancy to, and including, the levels of exit discharge serving the Group A occupancy." I then looked at the commentary on Group A-3 occupancies (903.2.1.3) which stated "an automatic sprinkler system is required throughout the fire area containing the Group A-3 occupancy, including the entire story where the Group A-3 occupancy is located..." Based on 903.2.1 and the commentary on 903.2.1.3 it sounds like anything less than a "fire wall" used to completely separate the buildings, we would need to sprinkler the entire floor that the A-3 occupancy exists including the adjacent building since the are connected and share a wall. The architect's code consultant said I was wrong and that sprinklers are only required within the "fire area" and a "fire barrier" is sufficient. In addition, IBC 903.1.1 indicates that if the code requires a building to be sprinklered then they are to be provided throughout. NFPA 13 (2019) also indicates that if a building is protected by a sprinkler system, then sprinklers are to be provided in all areas except for omissions indicated in the standard. I brought up this NFPA requirement and the code consultant said I was also wrong with this and that sprinklers are only limited to fire areas and aren't required to be installed throughout the building. I would appreciate any thoughts on this, thank you. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I’m working on a fire protection assessment for a facility that stores multiple oxygen cylinders, and I need to verify whether the stored quantity exceeds the Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) per control area per the IBC/IFC.
The facility has a mix of oxygen cylinders in different sizes, and I’m trying to determine the correct method to calculate the aggregate oxidizing gas quantity. My main question is: When calculating total oxygen gas quantity, is it correct to standardize the volume to NTP (Normal Temperature and Pressure) before comparing with IFC/IBC MAQ limits? Or should the calculation simply use the manufacturer’s stated gas content (e.g., cubic meters or SCF at normal conditions)? The reason I’m asking is that if I convert pressurized gas to NTP volume, even a single “standard” 40-liter cylinder at 140 bar would exceed the MAQ for oxidizing gases and potentially classify the space as a High-Hazard Occupancy (H-2/H-3). I want to confirm whether this interpretation is correct, or if the code expects the use of the manufacturer’s rated gas quantity instead of a full expansion-to-NTP calculation. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe There is a seemingly willful gap in information in scoping code (IBC) for small group R structures: those on the threshold of IRC/IBC: I am working on an existing 4 unit building where we do not have verified assembly information so the construction is assumed to be V-B.
The owner would like to renovate the existing basement, which is ~50% above grade, into an apartment with a new exterior exit. Three of the units share a common interior exit stairway & the upper ones are served by a fire escape. The 4th unit is built like a townhouse on the rear of the building and does not share any exit components. If an existing 4-unit residential building (currently not sprinkler protected) adds a 5th unit in the basement — and that unit does not share exit components — is there a code path that allows the project to proceed without installing sprinklers throughout the entire building? Or, a way to construct the new unit in an existing fire area in a way that does not increase risk (ie: 2-hour separation)? While the group is a trigger for requiring a system, looking at Chapter 5 as a scoping reference, the total fire area is below the threshold for a sprinkler system in group R-2 with V-B construction. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe My fire department is requesting that a new large development in our district install a more robust water storage tank (20,000 gallons more than required by code, along with a wet hydrant adjacent to the tank).
We will use the extra water for fires in the area. My question is - how can the fire department refill the tank after the nearby fire is under control? Can we require a FDC adjacent to the tank (5"storz connection) so we can refill the water storage tank quickly from FD tankers? There is no public water supply in area-wells only. Thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a client who has created a spray finishing area in the back of a semi-trailer. The spray booth area is noncombustible construction, but the surrounding area is typical semi-construction (combustible plywood). Are there any fire-related code requirements regarding spray finishing in a semi-trailer? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe  I'm seeking clarification on where in code it dictates the need for a strobe device in the bathroom of a R-1 occupancy type (for the number of sleeping units required to have visual devices from IFC Table 907.5.2.3.2).
IFC 2024 Section 907.5.2.3.2 states "Habitable spaces in dwelling units and sleeping units" ... shall be provided with visible alarm notification. The definition of "habitable space" from Chapter 3 is "A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces, and similar areas are NOT considered habitable spaces". The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Section 702.1, states that alarms in guest rooms required to provide communication features shall comply with Sections 4-3 and 4-4 of NFPA 72 (1999 edition) or Sections 7.4 and 7.5 of NFPA 72 (2002 edition). Neither of these sections mandates a strobe in the bathroom. I would like some context on when this became an industry standard (if it has) and where the code reference driving it comes from. Thanks in advance!!! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Clarification on Use of Passive Natural Smoke Relief Openings in Walls Below ESFR Sprinkler Elevation
I am requesting clarification regarding the compatibility of 'passive natural smoke relief openings located in exterior walls' of buildings protected by ESFR systems. NFPA 13 prohibits the use of automatic roof-mounted heat or smoke vents unless they use high-temperature, standard-response sprinklers, due to possible premature venting interfering with sprinkler operation. Does NFPA 13 or NFPA 92 prohibit or restrict the use of passive, fixed, natural smoke relief openings located in exterior walls (not roofs), which are positioned below the elevation of the ESFR sprinklers and have no operating mechanism (neither automatic nor manual)? These openings are permanently open (fixed, non-operable), not connected to any fire detection or alarm system, intended solely to allow natural smoke movement during fire events, and located entirely below the sprinkler deflector level. Looking to see if these openings are acceptable and whether they otherwise would introduce any related concerns on sprinkler performance or smoke control strategy. Much appreciated. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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