Reason Not to Omit Standpipes if Code Allows?

4/15/2026

I appreciate this community and thank you in advance. I'm new to the fire protection industry, having been in other building engineering disciplines for many years.

For multiple buildings on a campus using the IBC.

"IBC 905.3.2 Building Area Amendment In buildings exceeding 10,000 square feet (929 m2) in area per story, Class I automatic wet or manual wet standpipes shall be provided where any portion of the building's interior area is more than 200 feet (60,960 mm) of travel, vertically and horizontally, from the nearest point of fire department vehicle access.

Exceptions:
1. Buildings equipped throughout with automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
2. Group A-4, A-5, F-2, R-2, S-2 or U occupancies."

Is there any reason not to eliminate the standpipes if the height and occupancy thresholds aren't exceeded?

One of the buildings is a two-story, 60,000 SF building. The path of travel plans shows a 150+ foot range. Does this cause any concern?

I know the standpipes are to assist in manual firefighting ops, but is eliminating them increasing future risks to the occupants?

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8 Comments

Pete H

4/15/2026 08:13:32 am

"Is there any reason not to eliminate the standpipes if the height and occupancy thresholds aren't exceeded?"

Generally, no. It's always going to be cheaper and easier to maintain something that never needed to be installed and wasn't installed.

But it's a world of infinite possibilities. So if you know that the building is going to be modified in the near future in a way would make standpipes required, it is easier to install those standpipes at initial construction.

As for the 150'-0" of travel distance, an AHJ might try to claim the path of travel plans are ending or starting at a point that he would disagree with (Start at corridor door instead of exit door), but that shouldn't be your problem unless you made that plan.

Todd E Wyatt

4/15/2026 08:38:11 am

The edition of the scoping Code (no amendments) for the cited 905.3.2 appears to be IBC-2021 (see below) with the localized amendment.

Per your question … Is there any reason NOT to eliminate the standpipes if the height and occupancy thresholds aren't exceeded? … my recommendation is to inform the Owner (the one who is paying for this Project) of the minimum Code requirements for standpipe “Required Installation” and your recommendation, as the Design Professional, of the proposed standpipe design that exceeds these minimum Code requirements.

As a Design Professional, it is our responsibility to provide a Code compliant design. The majority of what we design exceeds these Code minimums but we need to be cautious HOW FAR our designs exceed these Code minimums and how this will affect the cost of the Project. For instance, stairway clear widths are required to be 44-IN minimum but Architects will typically provide stairways that exceed this minimum width. A 48-IN wide stairway will cost more than a 44-IN wide stairway but Architects will typically not run this design decision by the Owner for approval.

If a Project does NOT require the installations of standpipes BUT the Design Professional feels their installation SHOULD be included, a discussion between the Owner and the Design Professional should occur. The Owner’s insurance company may offer a rebate with the installation of nonrequired standpipes that will pay for this standpipe installation after a few years. The Design Professional needs to be careful in adding nonrequired fire protection and life safety systems without the approval from the Owner.

4/15/2026 08:38:45 am

IBC-2021
Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
Section 905 Standpipe Systems

905.3 Required Installations
Standpipe systems shall be installed where required by Sections 905.3.1 through 905.3.8. Standpipe systems are allowed to be combined with automatic sprinkler systems.
Exception: Standpipe systems are not required in Group R-3 occupancies.
905.3.1 Height
Class III standpipe systems shall be installed throughout buildings where any of the following conditions exist:
1. Four or more stories are above or below grade plane.
2. The floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
3. The floor level of the lowest story is located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the highest level of fire department vehicle access.
Exceptions:
1. Class I standpipes are allowed in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
2. Class I standpipes are allowed in Group B and E occupancies.
3. Class I standpipes are allowed in parking garages.
4. Class I standpipes are allowed in basements equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
5. Class I standpipes are allowed in buildings where occupant-use hose lines will not be utilized by trained personnel or the fire department.
6. In determining the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, it shall not be required to consider either of the following:
a. Recessed loading docks for four vehicles or less.
b. Conditions where topography makes access from the fire department vehicle to the building impractical or impossible.

905.3.2 Group A
Class I automatic wet standpipes shall be provided in nonsprinklered Group A buildings having an occupant load exceeding 1,000 persons.
Exceptions:
1. Open-air-seating spaces without enclosed spaces.
2. Class I automatic dry and semiautomatic dry standpipes or manual wet standpipes are allowed in buildings that are not high-rise buildings.

905.3.3 Covered and Open Mall Buildings
905.3.4 Stages
905.3.5 Underground Buildings
905.3.6 Helistops and Heliports
905.3.7 Marinas and Boatyards
905.3.8 Landscaped Roofs

Anthony

4/15/2026 08:51:36 am

Adding to Tod's last paragraph

We need to examine these two questions:

What's the use case for this building?
Will the fire department actually use the standpipe.

I its a storage building with very few occupants I doubt the fire department is going in to the building to fight a fire. If its a hospital or building with probable people with mobility issues there's a case there. Also depends on how the AHJ plans to attack a fire for the building use case as you're putting in place a "nice to have" that is specifically for the fire department to be helped with manual fire fighting operations they should be part of the conversations. If the FD wont go into the building and use the standpipe then don't provide one.

I'd also add this is a MAJOR cost increase for dubious value with a high rise. All day a standpipe system is needed. For a single story building? eh, horizontal standpipes are hard to find in a cut up building with out pre fire planning and training.

Jesse

4/15/2026 10:04:21 am

I would absoslutely omit if I could. I'm in the AS business now, but I was a career firefighter for 19 years. That's well within the reach of a skid-load and eliminating SPs in a fully sprinklered building doesn't create any issues I can see.

Glenn Berger

4/15/2026 10:19:44 am

The question being asked today is: "Is there any reason not to eliminate the standpipes if the height and occupancy thresholds aren't exceeded?"

I am going to re-phrase the question to - Should one provide a system that is not required by code or other requirement?

Codes provide minimum requirements. Codes and standards cannot provide the requirement for every particular situation.

DOR/EOR need to provide systems that are proper for their specific project.

Providing systems that are truly not required cost money during construction and costs money to maintain.

In your specific case - to not install a standpipe system in one multi-story building with the other multi-story buildings having standpipes is a tough call. I probably will provide the standpipe system since the omission is the based upon just being below the maximum travel distance from the vehicle to the most remote point in a facility.

Jack G

4/15/2026 06:09:39 pm

Exceeding code with standpipes could be costly .
A manual wet standpipe could just add the standpipe and valves cost with the fire department providing the flow and pressure. Usually a hydrant is installed within 100 ft of the fdc for a M W SP.
A 100 psi NFPA 14 standpipe would most assuredly add a fire pump, if the water supply would support one.
If it does not then a tank or break tank would add to the costs.
Most owners only want what code requires.

Conrad

4/16/2026 01:51:35 pm

If the path of travel is close to the maximum allowed, consideration should be given to future improvements that modify or extend the path of travel. Examples include adding rows of racking/shelves, new rooms/walls, or large equipment.

Reason Not to Omit Standpipes if Code Allows?

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