We have a 4-story apartment building with commercial units on the first floor, residential on all floors above.
The architect is providing a 2-hour separation at the 2nd floor deck (concrete on a metal deck), and is requesting NFPA 13 for the 1st floor and NFPA 13R for the units above. The AHJ came back and requested NFPA 13 for the corridors and elevator lobbies on floors 2-4 to avoid separation of elevator lobbies from corridors, but still keep the draft/smoke control doors at the hoistways. Can NFPA 13 and 13R be mixed on the upper levels? Is this approach valid from a code-standpoint? Is there validation or different approaches that would need to take place to make this happen? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
9 Comments
Dan Wilder
11/10/2023 08:00:10 am
Short answer - No. Cherry picking sections of two different standards is not allowed. However, there is enough crossover that complying with 13R does also match with 13 within those specific sections for the areas described.
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Todd Wyatt
11/10/2023 08:43:00 am
The scoping Code (e.g. IBC-2021) determines WHERE an automatic sprinkler system (ASPS) is required to be provide based on either the Occupancy Classification(s) (OC) (Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.10) and/or "Specific Building Areas and Hazards" (903.2.11).
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Jesse
11/10/2023 09:40:23 am
The short answer is "no". Certainly Full 13 is applicable on the first floor for the commercial occupancy. But 1R would apply above.
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Conrad
11/10/2023 11:26:31 am
NFPA 13 would be required throughout the entire building without proper separation between the first floor and the rest of the building. Look up Podium in the IBC which I believe is a three hour separation with independent egress. Dwelling floors would probably qualify for NFPA 13R. Attic and exterior covered egress would need to be evaluated for sprinkler protection to NFPA 13.
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Anthony
11/13/2023 02:13:47 pm
This, I think its Ch 5.10 in ICC 2018
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Bjørn Braathen
11/10/2023 01:03:11 pm
Agree with Conrad (on Norwegian basis). The corridors have to be separate fire cells with fire rated walls, floor and ceiling / suspended ceiling. I.e. ''no fire load'' in the corridors, but plenty of fire load in the dwellings, so what is the reason for not using residetial sprinklers in the corridors. (You may use QR ''standard'' sprinklers, but we primarily use res. sprinklers for saving lives, and standard sprinklers for saving the building).
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Jack G
11/10/2023 02:36:47 pm
Please check your Meyer fire cheat sheets,
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sean
11/12/2023 08:39:08 pm
AHJ doesn't know their stuff one standard only
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sean
12/31/2023 11:26:27 pm
2 hour seperation is not enough to consider them two different buildings. 13R is some very specific limitations on outside the dwelling units. ir is not considered mixing of the stds as nfpaa 13r directs you to nfpa 13 in specific circunstances
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