I have a building being renovated into a (A-2) restaurant for a total of three floors with a basement level. All levels are classified an A-2 occupancy. The building is going to be sprinklered and have a fire alarm system.

Now that the project is about 75% to completion, the owner has resubmitted plans to have the roof top used as a A-2 also with an occupant load of about 30 people. The ground floor to the roof is 29-ft.

The building is not over 30-ft to require a standpipes, but can it be required now due to the rooftop being used as a occupied floor?

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I have an exterior stair that connects two different surface parking lots. There is about 12-ft of elevation difference between the two surface lots.

The stair is not a means of egress for either of the adjacent buildings, and is not part of the accessible route/entrance to either site.

Would any of the stair requirements in IBC or A117.1 apply?

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Requirements and guidance around Fire Service Access Elevators came into the IBC after 9/11.

​Do any fire department or other code officials have experience in seeing these be helpful or lead to increased fire fighting capabilities?

I have not heard of any fire incidents where they've been beneficial and they're going in more often now - just would love to hear if they've been in use.

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IBC Section 909.12 and 909.3 requires weekly smoke control tests for smoke control systems.

Can this test suffice for positive confirmation of power to the smoke control system?

Or, is a monitor module required on the power source to the smoke control fan to confirm power to the system?

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We have a military project (UFC 3-600-01 and NFPA 101 criteria) with 1/2-hour fire-resistance-rated fire barriers between each sleeping unit.

Each 1/2-hour wall consists of gypsum on each side of a metal-studded wall. The gypsum runs within about an inch of the floor in each room (not touching the floor, intentionally, to avoid soaking up moisture/water) where it has metal stud on the backside. 

Is firestop required along the base of the gypsum to maintain the 1/2-hour rating?

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Does code allow the drilling of load-bearing beam in multi-family residential buildings, for the purpose of running sprinkler pipe through it?

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I have a 20-ft x 30-ft exterior projection that was initially supposed to be open to the sky. The builder made it open on two sides at the bottom with a 12-ft lid. The construction above goes to the roof and is concealed with no access from inside or outside, and it all is of non-combustible steel beams and joists with metal siding.

The million dollar question - sprinklers above and/or below? Or nothing at all?

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NFPA 13 Section 20.6.6.3:
"Early suppression fast-response (ESFR) sprinklers shall not be used in buildings with automatic heat or smoke vents unless the vents use a high-temperature rated, standard-response operating mechanism."

ESFR sprinklers are designed to act fast and suppress the fire, the inclusion of a roof vent that opens up before the sprinkler activates could severely impact sprinkler activation both in terms of timing and location (as the moving smoke could activate a more remote sprinkler). If automatic roof vents are present, they should have a high-temperature rated standard-response operating mechanism to ensure that the sprinkler activates before the vent opens up.

Based on the above, am I correct to interpret smoke venting is not required with ESFR systems?

How do I go about handling smoke or heat vents with ESFR, or are they not necessary to begin with?

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For a smoke control stair pressurization system designed in accordance with IBC 909 and IMC 513, does the code require a duct smoke detector on the supply fan?

Does the installation of a smoke damper at the stairway boundary factor into this requirement? (i.e. IBC 717.3.3.2 requires a detector within 5 feet of a smoke damper). Normally this motorized smoke damper is closed and then automatically opens upon activation of a specific fire alarm signal.

NFPA 92 6.4.6.2 does require a duct detector on the stair pressurization supply fan; however, I'm unaware of a similar requirement in IBC/IMC. NFPA's intent is to detect smoke on the air supply and shut down the unit before smoke compromises the stairway.

For elevator hoistways that require smoke control, IBC 909.21.4.2 states to provide a detector. I would have expected a general statement in IBC 909.12 with the same intention as NFPA 92; however, I do not see a similar requirement in the IBC/IMC for stairways.

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Is a two way communication system required when an elevator is installed (only for convenience) but is NOT required or designed to be part of the accessible means of egress - assuming none of the exceptions in 1009.8 apply?

Refer to CBC 1009.8: "A two-way communication system complying with Sections 1009.8.1 and 1009.8.2 shall be provided at the landing serving each elevator or bank of elevators on each accessible floor that is one or more stories above or below the level of exit discharge."

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I have inherited a totally fun project, a R-2 III-B multifamily residential building at 27,300 sqft per story, three stories total. I'm on the architect side. 

Our mechanical engineer did a 61G (Florida fire suppression analysis) and designed the central lobby to be under NFPA 13 and the rest of the building NFPA 13R. I immediately thought where are the area separation firewalls, because we are over our allowable area for a III-B. The building is in construction, trusses have been set.

I was told that you can do an area increase in the hydraulic calculations, one with the NFPA 13 portion of the building and one with NFPA 13R add them together and get your increase. I'm calling BS because I cannot find this in the code anywhere, but supposedly this is coming from a FP consultant.

Any clues on the location of this allowance in code?

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​Does anyone have experience with auditory testing booths?

We have a 6-ft x6-ft audiology testing booth with a fully enclosed ceiling. It is about 7-ft tall and has been installed in a school for over seven years. Recently on an inspection, it was noted that it was required to have a sprinkler. I have dug through the code and can't see where it would not be required.

The only thing I found was in IBC 903.3.1.1.2 that it is "A room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents, where approved by the fire code official." In that case, it looks like we could add a smoke detector in there if it was approved by the code official.

They are very similar to office pods or even walk-in coolers and they are required in those situations. Because of the nature of the booth, I'm getting a lot of pushback from the users of the booth.

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Do large LED screens in auditorium/lecture hall setting need to achieve particular flame spread/smoke development performance?

Are these considered part of the wall interior finish?

Thanks in advance.

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While working in a MEP/FP firm, we are expanding to do projects in other states and learning to understand the different state requirements for Fire Protection / Fire Alarm.

What is the best way to go about obtaining each state's requirements for what is required in an upfront submittal?

For example some states accept design drawings that only require denoting the hazard level whereas other require full design, calculations, and a written narrative. I understand and agree providing more detail is typically better; however, budgets can be significantly affected (negatively/positively) if only a hazard classification is required compared to a full design.

Besides prior knowledge from working in a different state or jurisdiction, what is the best approach in determining what is required?

Typically I start with searching what is required from the building code, but that does not always tell you what you need to submit for drawings, permit documentation, etc. It would be great to have a website that gives an example of what is an acceptable layout/design for each state.

Hoping to hear any suggestions / methods that others use to determine what is required.

Moderator Note: If there is significant interest in this topic, we'd be happy to open up a survey for areas that do require "full design" as an upfront submittal.

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What are your recommendations for fire safety of single height storage of Lithium-ion vehicle batteries?

Currently in our warehouse, in a sprinklered covered area, we are storing 3 to 5 of these lithium-ion batteries before they are sent to dealerships. We have security guards take 1-hour temperature readings throughout the day and night but little else has been put in place and a proper fire risk assessment has not been performed. Thanks in advance.
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If a building has an NFPA 13R system and the building is now being converted to a commercial building and does not require a sprinkler system for new construction, can you remove the system?

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I'm looking at requirements for hose valves (FHV) at exit passageways and I'm a little confused.

The code states that a hose connection is required: "in every exit passageway at the entrance from the exit passageway to the other areas of a building.

Exception: Where floor areas adjacent to an exit passageway are reachable from exit stairway hose connections by a 30-foot (9144 mm) hose stream from a nozzle attached to 100 feet (30 480 mm) of hose, a hose connection shall not be required at the entrance from the exit passageway to other areas of the building."

What is the rationale behind locating a hose valve at the entry of the exit passageway?

Is this for fighting fires outside?

I have been told it is so that the fire department can quickly locate the hose valve, but I can't imagine they would want to run their hose 130-feet in the passageway just to then have another connection in the stairwell. My passageway is about 100-feet long and it connects to a stairwell that does have a fire hose valve located at the main landing.

Why would I need a fire hose valve at the entry of the exit passageway also, which is 100-ft away?

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I have a fire hydrant in a planter curb, and we will have some trash enclosures nearby.

What is the required minimum clearance for a trash enclosure wall from the hydrant itself?

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We have a Type II-B construction mostly light-hazard building with drop ceilings throughout. The plenum is not sprinkler protected. Walls go to either the ceiling or roof deck, depending upon the use of the space (ie: conference rooms have full-height walls for acoustics).

There is a closet which does not have a ceiling, and its' walls do not go to deck.

Does this opening invalidate the elimination of sprinklers in the plenum from NFPA 13 (2013/2016) Section 8.15.1.2.2 for non-combustible and limited-combustible spaces?

Would posting signage saying no combustible storage is permitted in lieu of extending the walls work instead of installing a ceiling?

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We are designing a clean agent system for electrical rooms located within a high-rise building. We are proposing having dedicated clean agent releasing control panels for the electrical rooms, and a separate building Fire Alarm Control Panel.

Is it mandatory to connect fire/smoke dampers (and other shutdown devices) in the electrical room with the clean agent releasing panel, or can these be connected to the building fire alarm system?

Thanks in advance.

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I am building out a space that has been vacant for multiple years. The space has a hydraulic elevator that travels 1 floor. There is a sub that is ushering the elevator contractor through the certificate milestone with all the adjacent trades.

He has proposed to change out the Class III-B hydraulic fluid with a Hydro-Safe or equivalent non-combustible fluid in order to work around the NFPA 13 requirement for a pit sprinkler and pit detection to be installed.

My question is, does swapping the petrol-based fluid to a bio-equivalent have any long-term effects on the pump, pistol, seals, gaskets, etc.?

Also, how do I make sure this is the fluid that remains in use for the life of the certificate?

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We have a building that used to be a business occupancy but the new occupant wants to now use the occupancy as a church (assembly).

The building is not sprinklered and has no fire alarm system. The new occupant load is 279 people.

The problem is the main entrance is on ground level but the second rear exit is below ground level to exit the building. Is the second rear exit below ground level acceptable?

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I have an exhaust system serving a welding and metal fabrication lab at a school. They will utilize 70% ferrous metal and the remaining will be a mixture of stainless steel, coated steel and aluminum.

The largest duct diameter at the building exit is 30" round. The dust collector will be located on the exterior of the building and in a freezing environment.

Will I need to provide fire suppression within the ductwork both inside and outside as well as within the dust collector?

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​I am currently working on an existing high rise building that requires a fully automatic sprinkler system to be added and the AHJ is requiring a water tank to be added on the property to serve as a secondary supply.

There is no room for a secondary supply.

Can a pool be used to substitute a water storage tank that will supply the building through fire pumps?

What codes could back up this option?

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