Sprinklers Req'd Over Kitchen, Laundry in 13/13R?

3/3/2026

We have a 4-story motel that the architect of record stipulated the sprinkler system was to be designed in accordance with NFPA 13R. The building is wood construction with open wood joists. We have a kitchen and several laundry rooms that have suspended ceilings, which would be designed in accordance with NFPA 13 Ordinary Hazard Group I Occupancy.

What about the combustible area above the ceiling in the combustible area above the suspended ceiling in the laundry room?

Are sprinklers required in this space?

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7 Comments

Pete H

3/3/2026 06:27:54 am

The building is still 13R. The combustible ceiling above the kitchen is the same as a combustible ceiling in 13R. The use of NFPA 13 to design the common kitchen and other spaces does not apply to interstitial spaces outside of the kitchen or other accessible common rooms unless required by 13R.

Brett

3/3/2026 06:48:55 am

Is the entire building 13R?

If the whole building is 13R, just follow 13R's rules for putting sprinklers in ordinary hazard spaces. The combustible concealed spaces don't need to be covered unless you fall into one of the scenarios from IBC section 903.3.1.2.3 where sprinklers are required (example - the attic is used for storage).

Sometimes buildings are setup with NFPA 13R and NFPA 13 areas in the same building.

In low-rise residential buildings, sometimes non-residential occupancies are separated with fire barriers and floor/ceiling assemblies with those portions of the building being sprinklered per NFPA 13. Typically this is only done when those occupancies occupy more than 10% of the floor area and don't qualify as being accessory to the residential occupancy.

Laundry rooms are typically an incidental occupancy which is different than an accessory occupancy.

If you have this setup then you need to know where those fire rated assemblies are and then you can figure out how to deal with the combustible concealed spaces.

henry henchal

3/3/2026 08:08:04 am

Per the IBC the floor / ceiling assemblies will require a rating (drywall) so just suspended ceiling is probably not correct - unless they have the drywall on the bottom chords and the ACT below?

Glenn Berger

3/3/2026 08:43:12 am

Need to validate that the NFPA 13R is the correct standard to be used. (Not enough information is contained in the comments to confirm.)

From experience, the height of the facility has caused me issues in the past as it exceeded the limits of NFPA 13R.

Bobby

3/3/2026 09:42:41 am

Start with local building codes and ordinances to verify if the applicable standard is NFPA 13R.

2019 NFPA 13R, section 6.2.2.2(6), allows use of residential sprinklers in this area. This section also directs you to section 7.2.4.1. Under that section, the only mention of NFPA 13 design refers to “discharge densities.” Thus, I would say that no, sprinklers are not required above ceiling in this space. However, look at section 7.4 for requirements for fuel-fired equipment or if the space is used for storage.

Jack G

3/3/2026 09:43:02 am

As long as the building can be classified as 13 r. There are restrictions ( see MeyerFire 13-13r-13-d cheat sheet ) thing like area and or height increases, whether it has VA constriction etc. it then has to be an NFPA 13 system.

Dave L.

3/3/2026 10:47:58 am

Most architects I deal with are capable of determining the correct code path, but occasionally I have to remind them that 13R is Life Safety Only (thus does not provide 100% coverage), as Matt Klaus explains in this NFSA video. This video is several years old, but still applicable.
https://youtu.be/fQWLxjWsD68?si=mjczlN8T_BheJkhp

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Sprinklers Req'd Over Kitchen, Laundry in 13/13R?

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