We are working on a 20-story apartment building where the corridors are open with parapet walls on either side. These serve as an exit access corridor. The project is under NFPA 101.

In Chapter 7 of NFPA 101, the exist access corridor is supposed to have a minimum fire resistance rating of 1-hour.  However, I can't seem to find any provision in the code regarding open corridors.

Will these corridors be required to have a fire resistance rating? What about the doors of the dwelling units?

I'm assuming if the corridor is not fire rated, then we wouldn't need opening protection through these partitions/walls. 

Thanks in advance.

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Is there a situation, other than a fire pump room, where a sprinkler riser room would be required to have direct access to the exterior?

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Are there any code requirements, or restrictions, to using spray-applied cementitious fireproofing on a steel structure in the space above the ceiling of a building when it is being used as a return air plenum?

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Can two electrical boxes be placed in the same stud cavity?

If so, are there restrictions by code?

Thanks in advance.

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In the base IBC/NFPA 101 are there any requirements for "interview rooms" in buildings that aren't I occupancies or detention centers?

I'm reviewing a building design that has a small police suite with 3 "interview" rooms; the designer said the intent is that each room is capable of holding one detainee who will be chained to the table at and in the company of at least one officer at all times.

This doesn't qualify as a Group I occupancy per IBC and NPFA 101 Ch 22 doesn't apply to non-sleeping areas. I feel like there is something I'm overlooking but I'm having trouble finding information.

Thanks in advance.

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​If NFPA 75 isn't an explicitly adopted code by the AHJ or not referenced by any of the other applicable codes is smoke detection required in a raised floor area?

NFPA 72 provides location guidance but other than that I can't find in NFPA 101/IBC where smoke detection would be required in the raise floor space. Not every jurisdiction/client adopts NFPA 75, I'm unsure what other code or standard would require below floor smoke detection.

Thanks in advance.

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What are you all seeing or specifying for firestop identification labels?

Masterspec calls for metal or plastic labels.

I found an FCIA (Firestop Contractors International Association) article that speaks to stamped metal tags or ceramic fiber tags (Google is failing on what that actually would look like).

It seems the firestop manufacturers all have stickers.

I have always specified the metal or plastic labels using the Masterspec language. If I get anything at all installed, it is the manufacturer stickers. I have concerns about the longevity of the stickers.

I’m curious what others are calling for, what your AHJs or clients ask for, and what is actually getting installed. Thanks in advance.

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How is it determined whether a steel structure will have spray-applied fire resistant materials?

I'm creating performance specification for a bid-set on a project, so I don't yet have input from a structural engineer. The project is a warehouse with large fire loads and exposed steel.

Recently, a project out for bid is a low-rise office building, 100% sprinklered with a wet-pipe system that is concealed by a suspended ceiling. On that project, all of the structural steel has spray-applied fire resistant materials.

What drives the issue of spray-applied fire resistive materials?

Thanks in advance.

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I have an existing business that is approximately 4,000 sqft. It's a single-story building being renovated into an infusion center with (14) IV patient rooms.

I would consider this type of occupancy to be an Ambulatory Care occupancy because of (4) or more care recipients to be incapable of self preservation at any time. Under Ambulatory Care, this building would need to be sprinkler protected under the International Fire Code.

Are these type of centers considered to fall under Ambulatory Care, or just a doctor's out patient Business occupancy?

​Thanks in advance.

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When would a parking garage require an occupant notification system?

NFPA 101 has some fairly clear guidelines but isn't applicable in my project, the 2015 ICC codes are.

I can't find anything in Section 907 for S occupancies and Section 406 doesn't really give much direction either. Open, enclosed, above or below grade, and above or below other occupancies; It doesn't seem super straight-forward.

Thanks in advance.

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The state of Vermont uses NFPA 101 as their code for renovation existing buildings. There is a building with two dwelling units above a mercantile drinking establishment of less than 50 persons.

I am being told that the building occupancy is existing apartment building, but there are only two dwelling units, not three as required by definition of apartment building.

Anyone have any suggestion for building occupancy and use from NFPA 101?

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When doing a flow test for a 5-year on an automatic wet standpipe system in a building which has had significant additions over the years, which design pressure applies?

The original 8-story building and pump are from the early 1980's and was required to have a minimum residual 65-psi at the roof, flowing 750 gpm.

Fast forward to the most recent building attachment to the existing fire pump, and the code now requires a minimum of 100-psi at 750 gpm at the roof. 

Would these additions be considered separate zones and therefore be tested individually at their specific design requirement, or would they all be tested at the original design requirements?

The building is a healthcare facility and is inspected to NFPA 25-2011 per the Joint Commission requirements.

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We have a fire barrier, with a fire-resistance rating of 1-hour, that has conduit passing through.

The conduit is not continuous from device to device, only used as a sleeve for the penetration.

How long (continuous) does the conduit need to be past the edge of the fire barrier to maintain a 1-hour rating?

My concern (however minor) is that the inside of the conduit is not firestopped, only the outside penetration. Smoke could pass through the inside of the conduit and effectively circumvent the fire barrier.

Thanks in advance, big fan of the forum.

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A firestop question from someone who doesn't venture much into that space - if we are using a firestop sealant around through-wall pipe and duct penetrations, and there is exposed structure in the room where everything is being painted black, can the sealant also be painted black?

The concern would be possibly compromising the sealant itself, or making future inspections more difficult.

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I am new to the fire engineering fraternity and I'm currently working with a small office building. It's a single-story, 5,800 sqft office use with a small battery room and small server room.

IBC (2021) Section 906 and IFC start with "where required". I cannot find where extinguishers are required for business occupancy.

What is the code path to determine if fire extinguishers are required?

Does the IBC/IFC not address where extinguishers are required?

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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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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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We have a high-rise building, with rated stair shafts. This project is under NFPA 101.

Under NFPA 101, Is is permissible to penetrate the wall of the stair enclosure (an exit enclosure) with duct that is not serving the staircase?

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I'm having trouble finding a definitive code section (in IFC or NFPA 101) about prohibiting open flames in biosafety (BSC) cabinets.

I have a position paper from the Institutional Biosafety Committee which references a lot of well-known organizations (such as WHO, NIH, CDC, etc.) and some manufacturers who strongly discourage the use of open flames in biosafety cabinets saying there are better alternatives to sanitize biological samples. 

I've also seen many college ESH references saying the same thing. 

The hazard is catching the HEPA filter on fire and in general I've read that an open flame is not good for maintaining the laminar air flow through the cabinet. However, finding something in code or selwhere prohibiting the use has proven elusive.

Anyone have any thoughts or references that would help here?

Unfortunately, it may take something directly from code to get the practice prohibited at my place of work.

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We have a project with a comment from the AHJ stating that the dryer vent cannot terminate to the exterior condominium wall, which is the egress wall for the condominium exit exterior breezeway on that floor.

We're under NFPA 101 (regarding Section 30-3.6.3 for Unprotected Openings).

Is a duct penetration considered an unprotected opening?

Dry vents cannot have fire/smoke dampers, so can it just be a metal duct?

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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 a question about protection of sprinklers in windows specifically for a connection of a basement parking garage and a first level mall commercial space.

NFPA 101 accepts that there is a connection between both occupancies, but there must be compartmentalization of 3-hours without automatic sprinklers and 2-hours with automatic sprinklers. In this case, we have an escalator from the basement up to level 1, as shown below:

Can we consider this to be compartmentalized with glass and sprinklers on both sides of the glass?

Do the access doors have to be 1-1/2 hour, our could they not have any fire resistance if I have sprinklers on both sides?

This project is under NFPA 101 (specifically Table 6.1.14.4.1 for separation between occupancies), NFPA 5000, and NFPA 13 (9.3.5/19.4.3 for sprinkler protection of windows).

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Who has dealt with the question of egress from the vault of a linear accelerator (used to treat patients)?

The vault can only be opened from the inside by a button which can be disabled from the outside! The only manual opener is a crank on the outside!

I realize the patient could be incapacitated but what about maintenance and cleaning crews? Any recommendations, especially from those with experience, would be appreciated.

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I have a double fire wall (two masonry walls next to each other with small air gap in-between). I need to have a door in each wall.

The doors would have to swing opposite directions, I think, which means a double Firewall could not be used in an egress condition where doors both have to open in the direction of travel to the exit.

It sounds like I need a tied or cantilevered Firewall instead of a double Firewall. Is this correct, or are there any other approaches to a door within a double Firewall?

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We have a project where the general contractor is stating that the vertical penetration in the stairwell landing, where the standpipes are located, need to be sealed.

They are not asking for it to be a fire-rated seal, but they say some sort of seal will be required. I know on past projects this typically was never a requirement. I have searched NFPA and the IBC with no luck on finding something that would insinuate that no seal is required for the vertical standpipes openings within the rated stair.

Is a seal required for these stair landing penetrations?

Any input is much appreciated.

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