International Building Code Sprinkler RequirementsMost fire sprinkler systems today are installed because they are required by code. Sprinkler requirements in the code are provided to protect certain Occupancy Classifications from becoming too large to protect certain building types of larger buildings, and to limit the size of buildings based on type of construction. The allowable areas for each occupancy and type of construction were listed in the Summer 1998 CodeWatch.
This edition will list the specific sprinkler requirements based on Occupancy Classification and Type of Buildings that are included in the Final Draft of the International Building Code. These requirements are subject to change during the 1999 code change cycle. You should notify your building and fire officials to vote for these requirements and oppose any changes to water them down. There are some groups out there who feel these requirements are too restrictive and may propose changes to modify or remove them.
Sprinkler Requirements Based on Occupancy Classifications
Group A Assembly Uses:
Group A-1: Throughout where the fire area containing a Group A exceeds 12,000 square feet or where the building has an occupant load greater than 300, or where more than one-story in height and in all floors between the Group A occupancy and the level of exit discharge.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in every building containing a multi-theatre complex. (903.2.1.1)Group A-2: Throughout where the fire area containing a Group A-2 exceeds 5,000 square feet, or where the building has an occupant load greater than 300, or where more than one-story in height and in all floors between the Group A occupancy and the level of exit discharge. 903.2.1.2
Group A-3: Throughout where the fire area containing a Group A-3 exceeds 12,000 square feet, or where the building has an occupant load greater than 300, or where more than one-story in height and in all floors between the Group A occupancy and the level of exit discharge. 903.2.1.3
Group A-4: Throughout where the fire area containing a Group A-4 exceeds 12,000 square feet, or where the building has an occupant load greater than 300, or where more than one-story in height and in all floors between the Group A occupancy and the level of exit discharge. 903.2.1.4
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sport areas where the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit.
Group A-5: Throughout concession stands, retail areas, press boxes, and other accessory use areas in excess of 1000 square feet. 903.2.1.5
Group B Business Uses:
Currently there are no sprinkler requirements for this occupancy classification except where it is located within building types that require sprinklers and where required by limitations on the type of construction.
NFSA has submitted a code change proposal to require sprinklers in Group B that exceeds 12,000 square feet or where more than 3-stories in height, or where the combined fire area on all floors, including mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet.
Group E Educational:
Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 20,000 square feet in area. An automatic sprinkler system shall also be provided for every portion of educational buildings below the level of exit discharge. 903.2.2
Exception: Where each classroom has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.Group F Factory Industrial:
Group F-1: Throughout all buildings where the fire area containing a Group F-1 exceeds 12,000 square feet, or where more than 3-stories in height, or where the combined fire area on all floors, including mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet. 903.2.3
Group F-2: Currently there are no sprinkler requirements for this occupancy classification except where it is located within building types that require sprinklers and where required by limitations on the type of construction.
NFSA has submitted a code change proposal to require sprinklers in Group F-1 occupancies that exceed 12,000 square feet, or where more than 3-stories in height, or where the combined fire area on all floors, including mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet.
Woodworking operations: Throughout all Group F-1 fire areas that contain woodworking operations in excess of 2,500 square feet in area that generate finely divided combustible waste or that use finely divided combustible materials. 903.2.3.1
Group H High Hazardous Uses:
Group H Occupancies: Throughout all high hazard occupancies as required in Sections 903.2.4.1 through 903.2.4.
Pyroxylin Plastics: Throughout rooms where cellulose nitrate film or pyroxylin plastics are stored or handled. (903.2.4.3)
Group I Institutional Uses:
Throughout all buildings with a Group I fire area. 903.2.5
Group M Mercantile Uses:
Throughout all buildings where the fire area containing a Group M exceeds 12,000 square feet, or where more than 3-stories in height or where the combined fire area on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet. 903.2.6
High piled storage: Throughout all buildings of Group M where storing merchandise in high-piled or rack storage arrays in accordance with the International Fire Code. 903.1.7
Group R Residential:
Group R-1: Throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area. 903.2.7
Exception: Where guest rooms are not more than 3 stories above the lowest level of exit discharge and each guest room has at least one door leading directly to an exterior exit access that leads directly to approved exits, no sprinkler system is required.
Group R-2: Throughout all buildings with a Group R-2 fire area where more than 2 stories in height, including basements, or having more than 16 dwelling units. 903.2.8
Group R-3: Currently there are no sprinkler requirements for this occupancy classification except where located within building types that require sprinklers and where required by limitations on the type of construction.
Group R-4: Throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area with more than 8 occupants. 903.2.9
Group S Storage Occupancies:
Group S-1: Throughout all buildings where the fire area containing a Group S-1 exceeds 12,000 square feet, or where more than 3 stories in height, or where the combined fire area on all floors, including mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet. 903.2.10
Repair Garages: Throughout all buildings used as repair garages in accordance with Section 406.5, as follows: 903.2.10.1
Buildings two or more stories in height, including basements with a fire area containing a repair3. Buildings with a repair garage in the basement.garage exceeding 10,000 square feet.
One-story buildings with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 15,000 square feet .
Group S-2: Throughout all buildings classified as an enclosed parking garage in accordance with Section 406.3, or where the fire area containing a Group S-2 exceeds 12,000 square feet or where more than 3-stories in height, or where the combined fire area on all floors, including mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet, or where located beneath other groups. 903.2.11
Exception: Enclosed parking garages located under Group R-3.
Commercial Parking Garages: Throughout buildings used for storage of commercial trucks or buses where the fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet. 903.2.11.1
Sprinkler Requirements Based on Type of Building
An automatic sprinkler system is required in the following types of buildings or building areas.Exception: Group R-3 and Group U occupancies. 903.2.12
Stories and basements without openings: In every story or basement of all buildings when the floor area exceeds 1,500 square feet and there is not provided at least 20 square feet of opening entirely above the adjoining ground level in each 50 lineal feet or fraction thereof of exterior wall in the story or basement on at least one side of the building. Openings shall have a minimum dimension of not less than 30 inches. Such openings shall be accessible to the fire department from the exterior and shall not be obstructed in a manner that firefighting or rescue cannot be accomplished from the exterior. 903.2.12.1
Where openings in a story are provided on only one side and the opposite wall of such story is more than 75 feet from such openings, the story shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system, or openings as specified above shall be provided on at least two sides of an exterior wall of the story.
If any portion of a basement is located more than 75 feet from openings required in this section, the basement shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
High rise buildings: Throughout new buildings with a floor level with an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. 903.2.12.3
Exceptions: Airport control towers, Open parking structures, and Occupancies in Group F-2.
Covered Malls: 402.9, Atriums: 404.3, Underground Structures: 405.3, Aircraft Hangers: 406.6.7, Special Amusement Buildings: 411.4, Unlimited Area Buildings: 507.2.
Exempt Locations:
Sprinklers are not required in certain rooms or areas where they are protected with an approved automatic fire detection system that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. 903.3.1.1.3
Any room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire hazard.2. Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable due to the nature of the contents, when approved by the building official.
5. Electrical equipment rooms dedicated exclusively to dry-type electrical equipment provided these rooms or spaces are equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system and are separated from the remainder of the building by a walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having fire resistance ratings not less than 2 hours.
6. At the top and bottom
of noncombustible hoistway enclosures for elevators that do not employ
a combustible hydraulic fluid and whose elevator car enclosure materials
meet the requirements of ANSI/ASME A17.1.
Certain areas within buildings are required to be sprinklered whether or not the entire building is sprinklered:
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Sprinklers are required to protect automatic information storage systems having a capacity > 27 cubic feet. 903.2.14.2Sprinklers are required in all docks conveying hazardous exhaust, flammable or combustible materials. 903.2.14.2
Sprinklers are required to protect all commercial kitchen exhaust hood and duct systems. 903.2.14.3
Sprinklers are required on all stages and enclosed platforms over 1,000 square feet, under the roof and gridiron, in the tie and fly galleries, and in all places behind the proscenium wall. 410.6
Sprinkler Options
The proposed International Building Code contains many "Trade-Ups" for the installation of fire sprinkler systems. Later editions of CodeWatch will identify these options that when properly applied lower the cost of construction.