Closely-Spaced Sprinklers for Floor Openings?

4/24/2019

NFPA 13 requires closely spaced sprinklers with a draft curtain around unenclosed moving stairways, staircases, or similar unenclosed floor openings which are not large (20 feet or more across and 1000 sqft or greater), as an alternative to the enclosure of the vertical opening (NFPA 13 8.15.4.1 in 2016 and 9.3.5.1 in 2019).

This seems to jive with NFPA 101, but where does it come into play with the International Building Code?

As a sprinkler designer I want to be cognizant of situations where closely spaced sprinklers and draft curtains are necessary, but would they only surface as an AHJ-approved code alternative by IBC 104.11 (Alternative materials, design and methods)?

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2 Comments

PETE

4/24/2019 10:20:20 am

NFPA 13 also calls for closely spaced sprinklers when putting water curtain sprinklers on windows to fire rate the partition.
IFC/IBC adopts the National Fire Codes up to the date of the IFC release. It will never repeat everything that is in the codes or replace them. The main difference between the 2 is the occupancy classifications. Those in the IFC are meant to align with the IBC, not the NFC. Generally, the IFC will make requirements for life safety provisions such as smoke curtains and smoke ventilation systems based on the IFC/IBC occupancy classification. The section on alarms, for example, spells out the level of notification required for each type of occupancy. The IFC may point out some details that are necessary as they relate to an installation, but for the most part it points back to the NFCs for the details. For example, it may say that a certain situation requires a UL300 listed wet chemical automatic extinguishing system installed per the requirements of NFPA 17A. As always, in the end the AHJ has the final say so.

COLIN L. link

4/24/2019 12:01:53 pm

IBC (2015) addresses this situation specifically in section 712 - VERTICAL OPENINGS, and references the protection methods of NFPA 13:

712.1.3 Escalator openings. Where a building is
equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in
accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, vertical openings for
escalators shall be permitted where protected in accordance
with Section 712.1.3.1 or 712.1.3.2.

712.1.3.1 Opening size. Protection by a draft curtain
and closely spaced sprinklers in accordance with NFPA
13 shall be permitted where the area of the vertical
opening between stories does not exceed twice the horizontal
projected area of the escalator. In other than
Groups B and M, this application is limited to openings
that do not connect more than four stories.

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