Does the state modify the IBC/IFC when they adopt the model code? Sections around schools are a favorite to have state amendments.
Best, Bruce Verhei > On Jun 8, 2017, at 09:51, Roland Huggins <[email protected]> wrote: > > Treating this as a new or up to current code issue, the building code does > allow only portions of a building to be sprinklered. It all depends on the > occupancy, location etc. > > 405.3 Automatic sprinkler system. The highest level of exit discharge serving > the underground portions of the building and all levels below shall be > equipped with an automatic sprinkler system > > > The A-3 requires just that floor and all stories between it and the level of > exit discharge to be sprinklered > > A such, unless there is an occupancy that says sprinklers must be throughout > the building verse just that pertinent floor or fire area (like stated for > Group R), then the NFPA 13 criteria for throughout is irrelevant (being > superseded by the code). Keep in mind that 13 came out of the Insurance > business and things like business continuity is an inherit part of OUR > philosophy and drives such text in NFPA 13. Unfortunately the codes allow > those decisions (to some degree) to be driven by the owner and the EOR. This > is just starting to be acknowledged by NFPA 13 as shown by the below new > commentary in the Sprinkler Handbook (which I knew was there since guess who > wrote it?). > > > 4.1 Level of Protection > > A building, where protected by an automatic sprinkler system installation, > shall be provided with sprinklers in all areas except where specific sections > of this standard permit the omission of sprinklers. > > The oldest and most important design rule of NFPA 13 is that sprinklers > should be installed in all areas of a building. This requirement dates back > to the first edition of NFPA 13, published in 1896, which contained the > statement “sprinklers to be placed throughout premises” in the section on > location and arrangement of sprinklers. This philosophy is part of the > insurance-based attitude toward risk and levels of protection that founded > the standard. To truly minimize risk, the entire building must be protected. > However, insurance is no longer the primary driver for when sprinkler > protection is provided. That role is played by the building codes. It is > possible to have a mixed occupancy building that is fully compliant with the > building code and only have one of the occupancies sprinklered. When this > occurs, it should not be viewed as a limited area system, and NFPA 13 should > be applied in its entirety throughout the portion of the building containing > the protected occupancy. > > > Roland > > Roland Huggins, PE - Senior VP Engineering > American Fire Sprinkler Assn. > Dallas, TX > http://www.firesprinkler.org > > Fire Sprinklers Saves Lives > > > > >> On Jun 8, 2017, at 8:59 AM, Thomas Reinhardt <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> From: Thomas Reinhardt >> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2017 10:53 AM >> To: '[email protected]' >> Subject: Do they need sprinklers? >> >> I have a place of religious worship(A3) not sprinklered. They want to open >> up an elementary school in the basement(below grade) which has currently >> multiple rooms. Ages of children five through thirteen. We use IFC and IBC >> 2012 edition. The occupancy for the school I believe would be Education, >> thus Accessory to place of worship as defined in the IFC. If occupant load >> is less than 100 it shall be classified as an A3. Chapter 9 section >> 903.2.1.3(Fire Protection) relates that the fire area is located on a floor >> other than level of exit discharge it must be sprinklered. Also group E >> (903.2.3) say the same. I contend that they must not only sprinkler the >> basement, but also the entire building as interpreted in NFPA(2010 edition) >> chapter 4 section 4.1. Sorry so long . Any comments would be appreciated. >> Tom Reinhardt >> Fire Inspector/Plan Reviewer >> Skokie Fire Department >> 7424 Niles Center Road >> Skokie, IL 60077 >> Office: 847-982-5342 >> [email protected] >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sprinklerforum mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
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