Separate Fire Alarm for Connected Buildings?

12/22/2021

I'm working on a 4-story multifamily structure.

The structure has one common entrance, but is comprised of four separate buildings on four separate lots, all on the same city block.

There is a fire separation between each building.

I've been trying to find code language indicating that each building is required by code to have a separate fire alarm system, but have not found anything remotely definitive.

Would appreciate code reference/help here.

Most likely going to request a variance to use one system across all four buildings, but for my personal edification would really appreciate an appropriate IBC or NFPA 72 code reference.

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5 Comments

Todd Wyatt

12/22/2021 08:34:17 am

When you state that there is a "fire separation" between the (4) independent buildings, are these identified on the Code sheet as "Fire Walls" (FW) or as "Fire Barriers" (FB)?

Per the 2021 IBC, FWs "provide a complete separation" between (2) adjacent buildings." This is a strategy when a single building's allowable building area (Table 506.2) is exceeded based on the building's Occupancy Classification and/or Type of Construction or if a builing has different Types of Constrcution. While this is an acceptable strategy, the requirements of FWs (structural stability, horiz/vert continuity, openings, penetrations) can create limitations to the design.

FBs are less restrictive than FWs but do not create "separate" buildings.

2021 IBC Section 907 outlines the scoping requirements for the "application, installation, performance and maintenance of fire alarm systems and their components." While this section states that an approved fire alarm system shall be installed per NFPA 72, the IBC is the scoping Code and the NFPA 72 is the referenced standard. The fire alarm (FA) requirements are organized by Occupancy Classification (OC) in Chapter 9 so you will need verify the OCs for this/these buildings.

A search of Chapter 9 for "separate buildings" yielded no results.

Ryan Grant

12/22/2021 08:42:58 am

I have a similar building in my jurisdiction. They have one FACP with two annunciators. The building is mixed use business and residential. Each business occupancy has its own address. All apartments use one common address. Everything is just spelled out on the panel using addressable devices.

Mike L

12/22/2021 10:47:16 am

I don't believe the IBC, IFC, NFPA-72 or NFPA-101 have any specific language for this situation.

Ordinarily, I would think a FACP located in the common entrance with remote annunciators at each building would be sufficient.

However, since each building is on a separate lot and presumably has it's own physical address, the AHJ or Fire Marshal may weigh in on how best to annunciate an incident location and whether or not they want all buildings to evacuate or just the building in alarm.

Jack G

12/22/2021 11:36:29 am

Check your municipal codes. A lot of towns near me, if its a separate address, the life safety systems are required to be separate, but must communicate alarms with each other.

sean

12/31/2021 06:23:06 pm

look at the language for party walls in the IBC. party walls where a firewall is on a property line does not allow anything to pass through it. additionally as this would be a shared resource and require an agreement tied to the lot.

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Separate Fire Alarm for Connected Buildings?

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