Section 503.1.2 of the IBC seems pretty clear that the intention that two buildings on the same lot can be considered 1 building if the comply with the height and aggregate areas comply with the height/area limitations.
However, does that also apply to Chapter 9 requirements? For example, if Building A requires a sprinkler system based on its size/occupancy, does Building B need one even if its size and occupancy wouldn't require it? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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Is fire-rated construction ever enough to not warrant sprinkler protection?
Is there a NFPA 13 section that would validate this one way or another? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am designing a community tornado storm shelter and per ICC 500, Section 309.1, any penetration of the shelter envelope by a liquid line is to be provided with an automatic shutoff.
How is this being achieved with sprinkler pipe penetration? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe As many/most of us know, there's an internationally standardized pictogram (symbol) for exit signs that's common in many countries worldwide. However, it's not yet common in the US, likely due to what appears to be a misconception that the IBC/IFC only allows "EXIT" lettering.
IBC/IFC Section 1013.5 requires internally illuminated exit signs to be listed to UL 924. (There's a different section on externally-illuminated exit signs, 1013.6.1, that specifies "EXIT" lettering, however, the vast majority of exit signs are internally-illuminated and therefore not subject to anything under 1013.6 due to that section's scope clause.) UL 924 was revised a while back to allow the internationally standardized pictogram, including in lieu of "EXIT" lettering. (see section 42 of UL 924) Therefore, my impression is that a UL-listed internally-illuminated exit sign that uses the internationally-standardized pictogram complies with the IBC/IFC. (There are such products currently on the market.) Are UL-listed internally-illuminated exit signs using the pictogram in compliance with IBC/IFC? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does anyone know the historical context of why a 90-minute door is permitted on a 2-hour barrier?
Why the 30-minute difference? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This is a corner exit stair in a 2-story Type II-B building. There is 2-hr fire separation per client request (only 1-hr by code).
There's one column in the corner that only supports exterior precast walls and roof structure. Does it need to be fireproofed? I would assume it doesn't. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The 2018 IBC, Section 1009.7 for Exterior Area for Assisted Rescue (EAAR) requires exterior walls within 10 feet to be rated 1-hour for exposure to fire from the inside.
When a window is located within 10 feet of the EAAR, can it be protected with a window sprinkler system? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What occupancy would you classify two sleeping rooms in an office building (otherwise B Occupancy)?
The area of the two rooms is 400 sf, and the area of the offices is 6,870 sf. Will the rooms be R-2? Does the building need sprinklers as a result? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I understand the definition of the "Common Path" from Section 3.3.49 in NFPA 101, but within the examples it is up to the point when you reach a corridor and have the two exit alternatives.
In a case like the one in the image shown below, the orange area is very wide, or open space, up to where they would measure the common travel distance. At what point does the path of common travel stop in a scenario like this? What is that threshold? Do OSHA safety regulations apply to RPZ and DCDA backflow preventers?
OSHA requires 30 inches to the face off a side wall for maintenance for horizontal installations. My contention is that if the drain to the RPZ runs to that wall, you will have an obstruction and trip hazard, and it will not be accessible for maintenance. I've also installed the RPZs 4 feet above the tight pump room floors for access. It's never been a problem. Please advise. IBC says to install backflow preventers according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does a sprinkled tenant space Group M with an occupant load of 51 and sprinklers separated by fire-rated walls from the rest of the mall need automatic fire detection?
I think a pull station or the flow switch to active the notification would be enough. The existing plans show detection in the main sales area, in the electrical room and where the power supply for the NAC is located. According to my analysis the only mandatory detector should be the one in the power supply room. Wouldn't you agree? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Has anyone here ever done a green points calculation for the benefit of having a flow meter on a fire pump and rat racing back to suction rather than waste?
I’ve heard many talk of this and how conscious they are of our effort to save water, but I’m wondering if anyone has ever submitted applications, calculated savings, or presented evidence. I’d also be interested in local or regional purveyor requirements on waste, reclamation, and disposal, if there are any. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Tire Storage without Sprinklers Whenever the storage of tires is brought up, I often see people focusing on the area, volume, and storage height requirements that necessitate sprinklers.
Looking through IFC requirements to fully understand these triggering design factors, I found the Section “3206.10.1.2 Nonsprinklered Buildings: Aisles in nonsprinklered buildings shall be not less than 96 inches (2438 mm) wide.” Am I correct in understanding that this would require all aisles in between tire racks, as well as a clear walkway around tire rack to be at least 8’ wide? This is something I have never seen in an unsprinklered tire storage setting and would effectively require sprinklers for any efficient for of rack tire storage. Am I understanding this section correctly or am I missing something? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a mass timber building. It's Type III-A construction with an NFPA 13 system.
The building has a large exterior roof canopy (more than 4-ft wide) primarily used as a pedestrian walkway and building entrance. For these types of roof projections, overhangs, canopies, etc., IBC Section 705.2.3 allows the following options:
However, in the NFPA 13 standard (Section 9.2.3), it seems to only allow the following options for omitting sprinklers from these locations:
These two codes seem to be at odds with each other and it’s not clear to me which one governs. The IBC clearly allows the use of a 1-hr rating or heavy timber, both of which would allow this particular project to omit sprinklers from the exterior roof canopy. However, NFPA 13 seems to require the use of sprinklers at these locations. Does the IBC allowance overrule NFPA 13 here? Or does NFPA 13's requirements overrule the IBC? What's the code basis that would support priority of one or the other? Appreciate any insight or how you've seen these situations handled on other projects. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our high-rise facility consists of apartments, condominiums, retail on the bottom floor, restaurant tenants on the top floor, and (3) levels of underground parking. We are 9 stories tall out of the ground.
They have great water pressure at the site with 140 static and 118 residual, flowing about 1,900 GPM, but with our floor-to-floor distances, I cannot get 100 PSI at the top of my standpipes. The building footprint is spread out, so I will need (8) standpipes to cover the hose lay inside the building (fully sprinklered). I'm assuming one 1,000 gpm pump will cover all the standpipe demand. To complicate matters, this is in a seismic area D classification, and with it being a high rise, I am required to have a secondary on-site water supply. The intent was to install an underground tank to supply the fire pump or pumps, if necessary. My thought was to supply water directly from the city main to the tank, and if there is ever a break in the city supply line, the pump would be served from water in the tank, which would have enough capacity to serve the facility for 30 minutes. Is 30 minutes the duration I need? What do you think about how I plan to serve the building? Would that meet the requirement for a secondary water supply? Do I consider the standpipe demand when sizing the underground tank, or just the most demanding area of my sprinklers? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Imagine you have a 6-unit, true townhouse-construction building covered by the 2018 IRC under construction. It has an NFPA 13D sprinkler and a one-hour separation between units, but there is one common closet for the sprinkler riser and domestic water main. This closet is accessed only through a door on the exterior and is under the control of the landlord, not the tenant.
What is the code path to require any fire separation between that closet and the dwelling units? There is no dog house off the side. The IRC only seems to call out separation between units, and even if you go into the IBC, it is not apparent. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe How have people been addressing the IFC (2021) Section 907.5.2.1.3.2 requiring 520Hz single/multiple station smoke alarms in residential units being addressed?
It sounds like there are no 520 Hz smoke alarms available on the on the market meet these requirements. We have a roughly 300-unit building and the AHJ is pushing us to put smoke detectors with sounder bases in each unit instead of 120v smoke alarms. We know this could be done, but the cost impacts would be substantial and the future maintenance and inspections in the building would be very difficult. This is the first time we've seen this be pushed by an AHJ, so looking for information on how others have handled this. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a 5-story building going up with 4-story residential over 1-story parking.
Can the residential portion be NFPA 13R? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can an elevator hoistway connecting two adjacent stories be considered a "convenience opening" and avoid a fire resistance rating altogether based on NFPA 5000?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Are sprinklers required for an H-3 Occupancy, retail fireworks (1.4g class) if less than 125lb?
IBC Section 415.1 states only need a automatic sprinkler if in excess of 125lb (25% of net weight of package fireworks). But, in Chapter 10 Table 1006.2.1, regarding means of egress, it says Not Permitted regarding H-3 units with no sprinkler system. Any help here is appreciated. Thank you! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a sprinkler protected facility where we have a corridor that exceeds 50-ft in length.
At the end of the corridor is a door that leads to the apparatus bay. It's not a means of egress leading to an exit (higher hazard on the other side). The required means of egress are at other locations in the facility. Is this considered a dead end corridor under NFPA 101? In all the examples I've found on the topic, the end is truly dead-end with no means of exiting. What's your take on this? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have an airline opening a training facility in our jurisdiction. The building is fully sprinklered and has a fire alarm.
They wish to install a static airplane fuselage for training airplane cabin personnel. This would be a functioning fuselage with standard airplane doors with ramps. Has anyone had an experience with this? This is a fully sprinklered building so our thinking is the fuselage needs sprinkler coverage inside. Is this correct? This building has a fire alarm system so our thinking is the fuselage needs notification devices. Is this correct? The fuselage doors do not meet the code requirement for egress doors (locks, swing, etc), how is this addressed? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe From the 2023 Edition of NFPA 855, Section 14.6.4 "Outdoor storage areas with an aggregate area greater than 400 sqft (37.1 sqm) shall be provided with a fire alarm system activated by a radiant-energy detection system with occupant notification installed in accordance with NFPA 72."
How do you interpret this requirement if there is outdoor storage of Li-Ion batteries without any sort of structure and 300' from any building, and there are no occupants to notify? Thanks for your help! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe How do you size a water storage tank for fire flow when the city supply is significant, but not sufficient for Fire Flow?
For instance, if I have 1,500 gpm available from the city at 20 psi, but I need 2,000 gpm for Fire Flow, is the water storage tank sized for 500gpm for the required duration? Or do I need to size the tank for the entire 2,000 gpm minus reliable refill? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a canopy that is completely detached from a building (school) and is an entirely a separate structure. The canopy has no walls and is not in an egress pathway. The canopy is used for bicycle storage and bicycles are not stored overnight.
Is there any code path to require sprinklers underneath this canopy? If not, what is the code path to omit fire sprinkler protection? Thanks for your help! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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