Protection for Covered Play Area at a School?

3/21/2019

I have a 4,000 sq. ft. covered play area at an elementary school. The covered play is non-combustible / no storage.

Should sprinklers be required here? I am being told by the city that code requires sprinklers because of it being a group E occupancy (Educational) but I can’t find anything in IBC, IFC, or NFPA to support that.

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6 Comments

Craig Joyner

3/21/2019 10:52:30 am

Is this outside and detached from the building?

Matthew Fields

3/21/2019 11:53:16 am

It is outside and it is attached to the building.

Laura Henning

3/21/2019 10:54:07 am

First, ask (nicely) to have them cite you the code to make sure it's not a city zoning or add code.

Technically under IBC Section 5 a non combustible building is not required to have a sprinkler based on area/height until it is larger the 14,500 SF if it is an independent structure 10 feet away from another non combustible structure. However, if the canopy is attached to a building as part of that structure, it defaults to that buildings requirements.

Next question, what's the legal occupant load? At 4000 SF, it has more then 50 kids and might be ruled an Assembly load of 15 SF per person under NFPA 101 Section 7 (267 people). If it has no play ground equip, no defined use areas, just a big open play area for multipurpose use where you can have chairs, a picnic table, stage a play, ect.., that is a dense load of 7 SF under the NFPA 101, section 7 (572 people). The Assembly occupant load cut off for sprinkling a structure is 300 people.

Had the same issue with an open air Agro-business program barn (100 x 60 pole building, no sides), on school property for basically the 4H shows and equipment demonstrations. It can seat 400 people in chairs and 20 cows in a show ring. Had to sprinkler it.

Franck

3/21/2019 11:54:42 am

It all depends on the AHJ requirements.

NFPA is clear on that topic: if the construction is non combustible and if you have non combustible storage and/or non hazardous activity underneath, there is no need for sprinkler protection.
Reference in NFPA 13 (Edition 2016) are:
8.15.7 (Exterior Projections) and in your specific case 8.15.7.2.

If you plan to store things underneath, even for temporary situations, then it might be required to sprinkler protect it.

Note that pupils and teachers are not considered as combustible load :)

Laura Henning

3/21/2019 12:17:53 pm

If the AHJ enforces Life Safety NFPA 101, an occupant load can require a structure to be to be sprinkled, regardless of the construction or size of the building. I would look at the extinguishing requirements based on occupancy type in both the IFC and the NFPA 101,since that was the reason given for requiring it to be sprinkled.

Mark Harris

3/21/2019 04:35:45 pm

I had to do this about 15 years ago at a child development center. Was about the time codes were going from BOCA to IBC. Had a narrow canopy attached to one entire side of building and easiest option was dry sidewalls. Was actually a deck under it but not sure if that was part of the reason. I don't remember the code reference but as noted above being attached verses detached was important..

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