Brett,
When ever I see something moved in -13, I look to the online
NFPA-link for an explanation or other references. Here's what I
found as enhanced data for the '25 edition:
Automobile parking garages were moved from
the list in
A.4.3.3.2 for ordinary hazard (Group 1) (OH1) to ordinary hazard
(Group 2)
(OH2) for the 2022 edition. Automobile materials have changed
substantially,
because parking garages were originally considered OH1. Even
though there is
gasoline in the automobiles, the loss history for these
occupancies
demonstrates that fires in standard-type parking garages are
typically limited
to one car and do not pose an excessive challenge for the
sprinkler system to
control.
More recent fires in these structures have
proven difficult
to extinguish in large part due to the materials used in cars. A
recent Fire
Protection Research Report, Modern Vehicle Hazards in Parking
Structures and Vehicle
Carriers, reviewed the problems and stated:
“The evaluation of
modern vehicle fire hazards and current code requirements found
that for
enclosed parking garages and marine vessels the existing
requirement for active
protection systems appears adequate to control a vehicle fire
until the fire
department arrives, based on historical fires and laboratory
testing. Open
parking structures emerge as the main area of concern regarding
fires in modern
vehicles.” The findings around enclosed structures, which are
the ones that
require sprinkler protection, would indicate that the OH1
classification was
justified. The committee ultimately decided to make the change
to OH2 and noted
that further research in this area is needed.
It is important to note that this does not
apply to parking
garages that use a car stacking system. As indicated in A.4.3.5,
parking
garages using a car stacking or car lift system with maximum two
automobiles
high are classified as Extra Hazard Group 2 occupancies. If the
number of
automobiles stored vertically exceeds two, then such an
occupancy
classification is outside the scope of NFPA 13. Additional
consideration should
be given where a larger number of electric cars are stored or
where car chargers
are present.
Always a good idea to check for the "why" when
something moves in -13.
sincerely,
Ken Wagoner, SET
Parsley Consulting
3002 Younger Drive
Harrisonville, Missouri 64701-3909
Phone: (760) 745-6181
Visit
the website
On 1/14/2026 9:01 AM, Brett Peters
wrote:
I believe that changed in the '22 edition but we are still
working on the '19 edition here.
I lot of projects actually specify sprinkler design to be
done by the most current code book though
Thanks
Brett Peters
General Manager Installation & Design
Proudline Fire Protection Services Ltd.
780 490 7602 office ext 202
780 490 7605 fax
780 777 0568 cell
780 718 2676 24h
Brett,
Its funny you say that because ive been told to use
Ordinary Group II for all garages from the engineering
plans ive been getting. Code still says Group I in
2019.
The only things that I am aware of is that NFPA
13 changed parking garages from OHI to OHII and FM
changed from HC2 to HC3
Thanks
Brett Peters
General Manager Installation & Design
Proudline Fire Protection Services Ltd.
780 490 7602 office ext 202
780 490 7605 fax
780 777 0568 cell
780 718 2676 24h
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