I have a question that I have been pondering for a while. As an AHJ we have some strip malls (or similar construction where there are multiple businesses in different suites), and in a few instances I have come across a single suite that is sprinklered due to the occupancy type within that suite.
For example an older strip mall gets a casino to move into a single suite changing it to a Group A occupancy, which now requires sprinklers. They have been allowed to sprinkler just that suite as long as there is a 2-3 hour rated fire separation between the neighboring suites. Is this in alignment with the code? Are they considered “separate buildings” due to the fire separation provided between suites? If so, how do we avoid confusion when our crews respond for a fire? They see a PIV and FDC and connect, only to realize when they go inside that there aren’t even sprinklers in the suite on fire. It just doesn’t seem operationally sound to me. Do you have any thoughts on this? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
17 Comments
M.Newell
6/13/2022 08:30:12 am
This happens a lot in my opinion.
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Pete H
6/13/2022 08:35:00 am
Depends if the single suite protection was done in conjunction with an agreement with the local AHJ. As AHJ can supersede code (as is outlined in code).
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Joe
6/13/2022 08:38:07 am
In short, there are three ways to categorize Mixed-Occupancy buildings, under the IBC. There's Accessory (where there's only really one occupancy, but a secondary occupancy type makes up less than 10% of the building), there is Mixed-Occupancy Non-Separated, and there is Mixed-Occupancy Separated.
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DW
6/13/2022 08:39:40 am
Well from an AHJ standpoint if the occupancy goes through a change of use, then that space should be brought up to the applicable codes adopted by your area. As far as confusion goes from an emergency response standpoint, spaces like that probably needs to be pre-planned by the fire department to a heavy extent. I would recommend you place signage on the FDC stating something like "Casino Only", or what space the FDC is supplying. If good pre-plans are in place, and Company Officers/firefighters know these "abnormal" places exist in their first due, it should reduce the amount of confusion they should encounter during an emergency response. I think hooking up to the FDC and charging it would still be a good practice in the event there is an unprotected penetration through a firewall and fire enters into the sprinklered space it could probably controlled better. Just my thoughts on this, and something I would want to see or know about if it was in my first due response area.
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Todd E Wyatt
6/13/2022 08:41:06 am
Depending on the applicable, adopted Code(s), these are the (2) ways a building is separated into "separate" buildings :
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Dan Wilder
6/13/2022 08:48:50 am
I have been apart of several of these types of retrofit conditions in both strip malls and multi suite offices from the contractor side. Others have provided the code sections above, my experience with these below. Most were based on 7 or 10 year agreements with the city about bringing properties up to current standards, mostly out of an event within the building.
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Chris
6/13/2022 08:53:47 am
In my experience (I am an installing contractor), these situations happen more to get sprinklers inside of existing buildings rather than follow a specific code. I once sprinkled 1 tenant space with the intent of allowing the system to expand into other spaces so that it could be added with each tenant turnover.
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Julie
6/13/2022 10:41:48 am
Thanks for the feedback! I’m curious, if the intent is to eventually expand the system to the rest of the building, how do you size the pipes? If you’re not sure of what the future build outs will be, how can you determine the size of the main for example or whether or not a fire pump will be required? In areas with low pressure, I could see this being an issue down the road with a trickier business type moving in.
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Pete H
6/13/2022 11:07:46 am
Depends on a number of things.
Eric R
6/13/2022 09:42:27 am
This is a pretty great topic!
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Robert Hughes
6/13/2022 10:15:35 am
Sadly, money talks, so safety walks.
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Jesse
6/13/2022 10:17:20 am
Unfortunately, we see this a lot. Its not all that uncommon when IBC occupancy is the driver for protecting a space. Ideally, everything should be sprinkler protected.
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Julie
6/13/2022 10:48:15 am
Thanks for your responses everyone, they’re quite helpful. Especially from different trades and areas of expertise. I’m the one who asked this question and I was curious because I came from one fire department where they wouldn’t allow this at all. My new department does allow it however and it seems odd to me. I agree it would be ideal to sprinkler the entire building. If you’re having to tear up the street and parking lot to add a main anyways, would the cost rise so much to sprinkler the entire thing? Perhaps it would, I’m not sure. I think I will be looking closer at our FDCs and their labeling. I don’t see the special requirements on new building plans. It just shows the FDC. Perhaps specific verbiage for the partially sprinklered building could be added to our local amendments. But…if there’s a 2 hour fire separation…is it really a “partially sprinklered building”? I think some will argue they’re actually separate buildings. Just a thought. Thanks everyone!
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Eric R
6/13/2022 11:44:52 am
Just remember that a 2-hour 'fire barrier' separation is not the same as either a Fire Wall(Party Wall) or the special horizontal building separation allowance per IBC 510.2 that would allow a single structure to be considered multiple distinct buildings. Both of which require 3-hour rated assemblies, and have additional requirements beyond just the hour rating.
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Julie
6/13/2022 02:20:33 pm
Oh ok, thank you for the clarification!
Todd Wyatt
6/15/2022 08:12:37 am
Per 2021 IBC, the required fire-resistance rating (FRR) of Fire Walls (FW) are based on the Occupancy Classification(s) that are being separated as identified in Table 706.4. The FRR of FWs are either :
Ian Willson
5/24/2024 10:41:50 am
I have a 4 story block with 4 apartments on each floor with a central corridor, floor area = 8,900 ft2. Each apartment is a fire compartment, and the corridor has central fire doors.
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