Standpipes Required for Open Exterior Stair?

2/1/2023

Do open (exterior) stairs need standpipes?

If the stairs are more than 50% open, sprinkler protection is not required but what about standpipes?

This building has three stairways. Two are interior and one is open and on the exterior. Standpipes are provided in the two interior stairways.

Thanks in advance.

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7 Comments

Anthony

2/1/2023 08:00:56 am

IF the stair is considered a required exit you'll have to provide a standpipe and hose connections. This information can be found on your G series aka life safety or code compliance documents.

NFPA 14-16
7.4 Number of Standpipes. Separate standpipes shall be provided in each required exit stairway.

Chuck R

2/1/2023 08:24:55 am

The prescriptive locations and charging language (code requirement) comes from the adopted code within the jurisdiction of the project (i.e. IBC, IFC, NFPA 1, NFPA 5000, NFPA 101).
NFPA 14 is the standard that describes how standpipes are to be installed when the "code" indicates they are required.
For example: 2018 IBC 905.3 Required Installations. A Class III standpipe system shall be installed throughout buildings 4 or more stories above or below grade plane. Exception Class I standpipes are allowed in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system...
NFPA 14 7.3 will how and where Class I and Class III systems shall be installed.
FYI - IBC 102.4 Referenced codes and standards.
Where conflicts occur between provisions of this code and referenced codes and standards, the provisions of this code shall apply.
NFPA 14 section 7.4 is only applicable when the CODE requires a standpipe to be installed. 2 & 3 story buildings and their respective exit stairways will not require standpipe installations.

Todd E Wyatt

2/1/2023 08:29:29 am

ANSWER
Class I Standpipes are required in “every interior exit stairway” but are not required in “exterior exit stairways” by the scoping Code (e.g. 2021 IBC).

EXPLANATION
The adopted scoping Code (2021 IBC) is to be evaluated first ... Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, Section 905 Standpipe Systems ... to determine WHERE standpipes are required ...

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.
905.3.1 Height
905.3.2 Group A
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

We’ll assume based on one of these required applications (e.g. Height ... Four or more stories are above or below grade plane.) that a standpipe system IS required.

The next step is to determine the WHERE in the building the standpipe system is required ...

905.4 Location of Class I Standpipe Hose Connections
Class I standpipe hose connections shall be provided in all of the following locations:
1. In every required interior exit stairway ...
2. On each side of the wall adjacent to the exit opening of a horizontal exit ...
3. In every exit passageway, at the entrance from the exit passageway to other areas of a building ...
4. In covered mall buildings, adjacent to each exterior public entrance ...
5. Where the roof has a slope less than 4 units vertical in 12 units horizontal ...
6. Where the most remote portion of a nonsprinklered floor or story is more than 150 feet (45 720 mm) from a hose connection ...

#1 “interior exit stairway” (IES) is applicable to your question ... IES is italicized so this means it is defined :

INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY. An exit component that serves to meet one or more means of egress design requirements, such as required number of exits or exit access travel distance, and provides for a protected path of egress travel to the exit discharge or public way.

Section 905 Standpipe Systems does not reference “exterior exit stairways” (EES) ...

EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY. An exit component that serves to meet one or more means of egress design requirements, such as required number of exits or exit access travel distance, and is open to yards, courts or public ways.

... so a standpipe system is NOT required in EES. To determine IF this “EES” is actually a compliant EES, refer to Section 1027 Exterior Exit Stairways and Ramps :

1027.2 Use in a Means of Egress
1027.3 Open Side
Exterior exit stairways and ramps serving as an element of a required means of egress shall be open on not less than one side, except for required structural columns, beams, handrails and guards. An open side shall have not less than 35 square feet (3.3 m2) of aggregate open area adjacent to each floor level and the level of each intermediate landing. The required open area shall be located not less than 42 inches (1067 mm) above the adjacent floor or landing level.
1027.4 Side Yards
1027.5 Location
1027.6 Exterior Exit Stairway and Ramp Protection

Lastly, the scoping Code (2021 IBC) references the applicable standard (NFPA 14, 2019 edition) for the installation of Standpipe Systems ...

905.2 Installation Standard
Standpipe systems shall be installed in accordance with this section and NFPA 14.

... but this reference standard does not determine WHERE Standpipe Systems are to be installed, simply HOW.

Dan Wilder

2/1/2023 08:42:34 am

There will likely be some Building/Fire code reference that will help on this because I was on the side of "If it's an exit stairwell (typically shown on the Life Safety Sheets as an egress point with occupant load) then it's required to have a standpipe"....

but looking through the IBC/IFC, there is no mention of Exterior stairs and standpipe requirements in the 905 section....but if these are considered horizontal exits or the interior stair hose valves don't reach to that corner, an additional standpipe (or at least additional hose valves) would be required so it kind of defaults to being required in the end.....looks like a learning day

(IBC 2015/2018)905.4 Location of Class I standpipe hose connections.
Class I standpipe hose connections shall be provided in all of
the following locations:
1. In every required interior exit stairway, a hose connection
shall be provided for each story above and below
grade plane. Hose connections shall be located at an
intermediate landing between stories, unless otherwise
approved by the fire code official.

David Williams

2/1/2023 10:03:07 am

We have a historic building renovation job on Navy property where NAVFAC wants manual exterior dry standpipes (supervised with N2) on new exterior exit stairs, similar to what was there since the 50’s. Keeps the project from adding additional interior stairwells while providing Fire Service access to the upper floors.

Chuck R

2/1/2023 10:09:28 am

The last response quoting IBC/IFC905.4 is the correct iteration of that code section that indicates where CLASS I standpipes are to be located, but...
Prior to quoting section 905.4 the code has to require the installation of standpipes to begin with. And that beginning is section 905.3-Standpipe systems shall be installed where required by Sections 905.3.1 through 905.3.8, then you proceed into the remainder of Section 905 to determine where Class I, II, or III standpipe systems are to be located.

James Stever link

2/1/2023 12:35:34 pm

Recommend to contact local fire department to if having the standpipe in the open air stair would be a tactical advantage to fire ground operations. Interior stairwells can impede fire department access when both stairwells are used for exiting.

What code edition of the ICC are you using and it associated reference date of NFPA 14?

Standpipes Required for Open Exterior Stair?

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