Omit Sprinklers At Entire Bottom Area of Stair?

4/27/2026

Under NFPA 13, 2022: in noncombustible stair shafts, can sprinklers be omitted at the entire bottom area of the stairs?

For example, if the first floor is the bottom of the stairs, can sprinklers be omitted under the second floor at the area where you enter the stairwell?

Section 9.3.4.2.3.1 states, "Sprinklers shall be permitted to be omitted from the bottom of the stairwell when the space under the stairs at the bottom is blocked off so that no storage can occur."

Is this only referring to under the intermediate landing and not the entire first floor area of the stairs?

I know that at the beginning of this Section 9.3.4.2.1 states in part "under the first accessible landing above the bottom of the shaft."

So does the omission apply in this case?

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7 Comments

Glenn Berger

4/27/2026 08:15:00 am

This clause can be used throughout the entire bottom of the stair enclosure as long as no space exists where storage can occur. (typically it is for "open space" below treads or landings above.

Dan Wilder

4/27/2026 08:15:41 am

Without the help of a visual, I'll do my best to describe....I have seen several variations of what was sprinklered.

Walking into the stairwell, you'll be under (likely) the main landing for the floor above, possibly an intermediate landing - That will need sprinklers.

If you walk underneath the treads that start from that second-floor landing (or intermediate) going downward, this area could be blocked off and would not require sprinklers (AHJ depending)

The intermediate landing (the first landing below the one you walked out under to the one closest to the floor you're standing on, same as previous.

The under the stairs from the intermediate landing to the 1st floor level, this is more common for omission of sprinklers location.

Also, the AHJ may have different expectations of "blocked". This could mean a simple rail, possible a fence, it may need to extend to the bottom of the structure above, or it may need to be framed.....

anthony

4/27/2026 09:35:17 am

I agree with Dan here. specifically the following:

9.3.4.2.1
In noncombustible stair shafts having noncombustible stairs with noncombustible or limited-combustible finishes, sprinklers shall be installed at the top of the shaft to protect the entire footprint of the shaft and under the first accessible landing above the bottom of the shaft.

Here we can see that the first accessible landing must have a sprinkler as Dan describes above. The sprinkler that can be omitted is the sprinkler under the next lower landing where every university lobs a cleaning cart under.

Blaine

4/27/2026 09:45:49 am

I’m running up against this as a reviewer. The problem I have is exactly what Dan describes- How do you regulate blocked. Our fire dept inspectors don’t think I a rail is sufficient to prevent storage. I agree and have stated that I was looking for something more substantial that actually prevents someone from stashing the snow blower or Christmas decorations under the stairs.

Mark Harris

4/27/2026 09:54:02 am

Well said on the cleaning carts Anthony. Lol. Blaine my background is the contractor side but if I was an AHJ to me to avoid a sprinkler you would need to block the under stair landing from any storage with a stud wall. Something permanent.

Chris Dorsey

4/27/2026 10:43:13 am

I tend to agree about the need for a sprinkler under the main landing for the floor above. What is causing me to question this is the commentary added to the Handbook (only version I have is 2016, and I realize the commentary is not considered part of the standard).
It states "The concept of eliminating the sprinkler at the bottom of the stairs has always been implied by NFPA 13, but the statement was never made explicitly in the text. Where the egress path is the only available space in the stairwell, sprinklers should not be necessary. This makes it very clear that when the area beneath the bottom landing is blocked off, sprinklers are not required in the bottom of the stairwell. In the past, many authorities having jurisdiction still required sprinklers to be provided under the 2nd floor main landing even when the space at the bottom was blocked off."
This seems to imply not needing a sprinkler at all if meeting the requirements. So, why not just put a sprinkler and be done with it? Because the ceiling in the stair, and solid structure above, are lower than the ceiling in the corridor leading to it. This corridor is part of an historic building in which the corridor construction must remain as is according to the National Park Service. No piping can be exposed or additional furr down/bulkhead can be added! The wall separating the 2 areas is solid brick construction, so no chance of dropping down in a wall and adding a sidewall sprinkler. So it would be easier to just leave it out rather than pursue other avenues.

Jack G

5/1/2026 07:12:56 am

Whether combustible or not FM global recommends a sprinkler at the floor landing.
Only if used for storage are you required to protect ( or combustible stair)
Heck I’ve even installed tanks in the bottom of the stair (nursing home) with vertical pumps , where pump houses were not wanted.

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Omit Sprinklers At Entire Bottom Area of Stair?

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