Would a mechanical penthouse be considered a “story” in terms of the 30-ft. standpipe threshold?

If the mechanical penthouse is not occupied, does it still apply for the 30-ft limit? Although that would be logical, I can’t the word “occupied” used anywhere except related to high-rise.  I suppose a mechanical penthouse could be considered a mezzanine, I see some commentary that a mezzanine should be no more than 1/3 of the related floor.

The project has three floors where the top classroom floor is 28 feet above fire department access.  But, there’s a mechanical level above that is much higher. It’s accessible, is it a “story” in terms of standpipe?  It would seem logical that this penthouse doesn’t count.  But I’m not 100% sure code backs me up on this.

Of course the thing that bites us, is whether or not the standpipe is manual or automatic – we have fond this to be totally up to the discretion (sometimes whim), of the AHJ.  Sometimes based on good reasoning, sometimes it has causes the unnecessary (IMHO) requirement for a fire pump.

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Have a project that is a large ESFR warehouse with many storage bays and many zoned systems. About every 150 to 200 feet is a 1-1/2 inch hose valve that is tied to the overhead system with 1-inch pipe drops.

What is the purpose for these? Where is the code basis?

We may be modifying some of these areas with new work and I want to be sure we're upkeeping code, but I'm not familiar with the purpose of these hose valves. Thanks in advance.

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When is the auto ball-drip required on the hookup (dry) side of the check valve for a Fire Department Connection?

In areas prone to freezing, there is the FDC, then a dry portion of pipe, then the check valve. If the check valve is located higher than the FDC (as is typical for our FDCs near risers), can't the connection itself drain the dry portion?

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Does anyone have any code references for the use of traffic spikes?

Does anyone allow it (with a manual override)?

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I'm working on an exercise studio with one big open room and dealing with a plan examiner who insists travel distance is measured along walls leading to an exit, rather than diagonally across the space. To me this is absurd. Thoughts?

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Working on a fire house that is fully-sprinklered, non-separated construction type V-B, wood construction, R-2, S-1 & S-2 classifications, with R-2 being the most restrictive. We have 83 total occupants. IBC 2015.

We have a full- sprinklered attic with a nitrogen generator. We have gas-fired mechanical equipment in the attic.

My question is that the contractor is suggesting to VE the attic sprinkler by installing fire treated roof sheathing. IBC 903.2.8.3.2 "Attics not used for living purposes, storage or fuel-fired equipment." tells me that we are required to have them. Am I incorrect?

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Does anyone have any literature on the installation of face sprinklers (the sprinkler along the first row of a rack on the "face" of the rack)?

I have an AHJ who is saying that the height of the pipes serving the face sprinklers must not meet the definition of "hindrance" or "obstruction" in the building code. 

The face sprinklers in my situation are placed on first row of a rack system with the face sprinklers of the upright type. (2015 NFPA-30 16.5.1.10 (6)).  The sprinkler line is located parallel with the face of the rack. The bottom of the pipe is 4"-6" below the bottom of the rack. 

I have checked for the definition of what he mentioned and I can't find anything in the building codes. Building code is 2015 IBC/IFC.  Also checked the NFPA-13 handbooks but the installation requirements are concerned with sprinkler deflector versus the piping itself.  Thanks in advance!

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Do underground gate valves for fire main water supplies have to be monitored and supervised?

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I have a question that a architect brought up to me.  He is saying that on a highrise (11 stories) it is a fire code requirement to have floor control valves on both stairwells. I cannot find anything that states this in any of the NFPA books. The square foot of each floor is small and is NOT separated into zones.

Does an 11-story high-rise require floor control valves on both stairwells?

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What occupancy type would you consider a building being used for powder coating of metal chassis?

The IBC lists F-2 (Low-Hazard Factory Industrial) as the occupancy for metal fabrication and assembly and basically the fabrication or manufacturing of non-combustible materials in which the processes do not involve a significant fire hazard.

Anything not listed as F-2 would be considered F-1 (Moderate-Hazard Factory Industrial).

In this building they bring in the metal chassis, send them through an oven to warm them up, then send them through another booth to standblast them. Then the chassis are powder-coated before going through a final oven to be cured.

In my opinion and past exeprience with powder coating it can be a pretty hazardous activity with explosive hazard and with finely divided particles. I do know the booth is pretty large for powder coating will need to have fire suppression. The big question is would be consider this building F-1 or F-2 requiring fire suppression throughout, as the building is well over 12,000 sqft in area. 

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Where exactly in the International Fire Code or International Building Code (or NFPA standards) does it state that a standpipe riser must be visible or unobstructed? 

Is there anything that prohibits me from sheetrocking the standpipe riser os installing it inside a wall? Of course the hose outlets will be exposed - but what about the riser?

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We have a non-conforming fraternity building that wants to build a new two-story covered entrance canopy that ties into the existing roof. It is a heavy timber construction and has no concealed spaces. The fire area is already too large, so our interpretation is this would trigger a sprinkler system in the whole building.

A more lenient interpretation might be to only sprinkler the new portion, and potentially add some rated separation between the existing non-sprinklered building and the new sprinklered entry canopy, but I am not aware and I can't find anything about separation between sprinklered and unsprinklered portions of a building. Would this arrangement be permissible by code?

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Do all rated walls (fire partition, fire barrier, fire wall) need to run to the floor deck or roof to the next story above? 

Is there any scenario where we can put a rated lid and not continue the rated partition or fire barrier up to the deck above? 

This project is under IBC 2015, but I'm just looking for guidance on where I can get this answered in the future. Thanks in advance.

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I am currently dealing with a fire station that was constructed in 1965, prior to any adopted building codes in Indiana.

The fire station suffered structural and roof damage during a storm from a tree fall. My question is an exterior exit staircase from the second floor was damaged. A structural engineer assessed the staircase and addressed the items needing repaired, which is quite extensive and will need to be removed for repair. The staircase is far from meeting current code.

The insurance company does not want to pay for a new exterior stairway that would meet code, they want to have it repaired.

Is there any code requirement in the 2012 IBC that would require this stairway to be brought up to the 2012 IBC on an existing building?

The stairway is the original. I cannot for the life of me find a code section that would require this stairway to be code compliant if removed and repaired. If we can cite a code requirement for this to be code compliant the insurance will pay for a brand new stairway, which is our goal.

Any recommendations or prior experience with this type of situation would be greatly appreciated! (You would think the insurance would want a code compliant exit component, but I know its all about the $$$)

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A building owner has bought a large old warehouse and in about 6-8 months will convert it into educational spaces. They've asked if over the winter they could drain down the large wet sprinkler system as they aren't planning on heating the space or occupying the building during that time. 

I recommended against it since they'd be without protection during that entire time and a fire could result in a total loss of the building. 

I also suggested they speak with their property insurer, couldn't store anything in the building, and would need to talk with the fire department as it would be a system impairment.

Aside from that, what other barriers would they come across? What would you have recommended?

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The 2015 Edition of the International Fire Code added some clarity for water supply for buildings with automatic sprinkler systems.

The Annex B material (not enforceable unless adopted) states:

B105.3 Water supply for buildings equipped with an automatic sprinkler system. For buildings equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system, the water supply shall be capable of providing the greater of:
1. The automatic sprinkler system demand, including hose stream allowance.
2. The required fire-flow.

In the past I've heard several people say that only inside hose allowances are included when determining the total volume required (which sizes the water storage tank). Would you interpret this section of IFC to include both the inside and outside hose allowance?

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For years on my code calls I have asked the Authority Having Jurisdiction what the maximum distance the nearest hydrant is allowed to be away from a building's fire department connection. I get answers that range from 50 feet to 400 feet or even more.

I was looking into the code basis behind this question, and the only applicable section that I found is the International Fire Code, Section 507.5.1.1 that addresses hydrant locations for standpipe systems:

"Buildings equipped with a standpipe system installed in accordance with Section 905 shall have a fire hydrant within 100 feet (30 480 mm) of the fire department connections. Exception: the distance shall be permitted to exceed 100 feet (30 480 mm) where approved by the fire code official."

Is there any relevant requirement for hydrants near fire department connections for sprinkler-only systems?

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A dormitory has 1/2-hour fire barriers separating each residential unit. On each side of the 1/2-hour wall, penetrating the 5/8" gypsum, are shower valves that serve showers within bathrooms on each side.

The shower valves have the valve assembly itself and an opening that's covered with a metal escutcheon. These would qualify as a membrane penetration under the International Building Code.

For back-to-back vales in the wall, how is this commonly addressed to still maintain the 1/2-hour fire resistance rating?

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Concerning fire flow, you mentioned that the IFC is based on the ISO Method, how close are they and can you provide any more background on that?

If a building meets IFC, would you expect it score very well under an ISO evaluation?

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I was needing a little help validating the methodology for fire flow requirements in my city. They do not allow you to verify fire flow per a fire hydrant flow test.

Our city always uses hydraulic calculations (a hydraulic model) to determine acceptable flow in an area. However, in their hydraulic model they always assume that the water usage that day is 19,000,000 million gallons which was established by taking the highest usage in the history of our community of all time, which occurred in 2012 when we had 30 plus days of 100 degree weather of 18M gallons and adding a 1 Million to that. Our average daily usage in our community is around 10 to 11 million gallons per day.

Anyway, the local engineers say that methodology is consistent with the International Fire code. What are your thoughts? I would love to understand what the IFC requires.

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