PE Problem #5

6/7/2018

Which of the following would not require a fire alarm system?
a. A new second-floor tenant insurance sales office of 60 people
b. An existing four-story fraternity house of 70 people
c. A single-story 80,000 sqft high-hazard warehouse of 90 people
d. A new single-story 35,000 sqft Class A department store

Solution | Posted 06/08/18

12 Comments

Donovan Schmidt

6/7/2018 09:04:05 am

John Higgins

6/7/2018 09:22:08 am

Given limited information answer is A. Assuming 2 story structure with less than 100 above level of exit discharge.

Rob

6/7/2018 10:09:04 am

A

NFPA 101 - 36.3.5.1(1) less than 3 stories and if less than 12,000 SF

using the 2018 version

Colleen

6/15/2018 04:18:30 pm

I believe we should be going off the 2015 edition of 101, that's the edition under the suggested references for the 2018 PE as published on the SFPE website.

Ryan

6/7/2018 10:21:22 am

Jim L.

6/7/2018 10:28:27 am

101 ¶39.3.4.1. Therefore, the answer is A.

jakes

6/7/2018 04:45:35 pm

Obviously answer D
per LSC 4.5.4 all are required to have one but a department store has a AFSS so it does not require the fire alarm system

Shafeeq

6/8/2018 04:35:09 am

C.
NFPA 101 (2018), 42.3.4.1.2: Storage occupancies with ordinary or high hazard contents not exceeding 100,000 sq feet shall not be require to have fire alarm system

jakes

6/8/2018 10:20:43 am

Any pointers on how to navigate efficiently to find such code compliance issues?

Randy

6/12/2018 09:50:14 am

To start, the answers including "new" and "existing" tell you it's probably an NFPA 101 question

When you're dealing with NFPA 101 in this manner, always check the occupancy chapter first, it will refer you back to the general sections if need be

Then it's just a matter of finding the Detection requirements. You'll find the occupancy chapters are similarly formatted, notice all the section numbers in the answer. Keep doing these questions and you will learn the format of the codes, with time

Diaa

6/12/2018 11:52:28 am

C) warehouse less than 100,000 ft2

Colleen

6/15/2018 04:17:06 pm

c). A single-story 80,000 sqft high-hazard warehouse of 90 people

For a)., treating the space as new business, per 38.3.4.1(2) a fire alarm system must be provided for business occupancies where the criteria is met of having 50 or more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge (I think we can assume the second level of the building is above the level of exit discharge). This rules out a).

For b)., treating the space as existing dormitory, prt 29.3.4.1, a fire alarm system is required "other than those where each guest room has exterior exit access AND the building is 3 or fewer stories in height"; the house is 4 stories, which rules out b).

For c)., treating the space as existing storage, per 42.3.4.1.2, "storage occupancies with ordinary or high hazard contents NOT EXCEEDING...100,000 ft^2 shall NOT be required to have a fire alarm system", which means c). is the right answer.

For d)., treating the space as new mercantile, per 36.3.4.1, "Class A mercantile occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system..." which rules out d).

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