Delaware Administrative Code
Title 1 - Authorities, Boards and Commissions
700 - Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission
702 - Fire Protection in Building Construction
Chapter 5 - Mid-rise, High-rise and Large Area Buildings
Section 702-5-4.0 - Large Area Buildings

Universal Citation: 1 DE Admin Code 702-5-4.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024

4.1 Application. The application of this Chapter pertains to any building exceeding one-hundred thousand (100,000) square feet gross floor area on any one floor. This Chapter does not apply to Strip Shopping/Office Center with no individual tenant exceeding 100,000 sq. ft.

4.1.1 If any one individual tenant in a strip shopping/office center exceeds 100,000 sq. ft. per floor, these requirements shall apply only to those tenants.

4.2 Horizontal Standpipes.

4.2.1 Horizontal standpipes shall be required in accordance with Regulation 702, Chapter 4.

4.3 Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications and Detection System.

4.3.1 Large area buildings shall be equipped with a voice alarm, communication and detection system which shall be installed in accordance with the applicable codes and standards listed in Regulation 701 of these Regulations; and approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal

4.4 Fire Command Station.

4.4.1 Large area buildings containing health care occupancies, ambulatory health care and detention and correction occupancies shall contain a fire command center for fire department operations in a location reviewed by the responsible Fire Chief and approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Office of the State Fire Marshal may require a Fire Command Center for other large area buildings.

4.4.2 The fire command center shall contain the following:
4.4.2.1 Voice alarm and public address panels

4.4.2.2 Fire department communications panel

4.4.2.3 Fire detection and alarm system annunciator panels and smoke management panels

4.4.2.4 Status indicator for elevator and annunciator indicating which elevators are operational

4.4.2.5 Status indicators and controls for air handling systems

4.4.2.6 Controls for unlocking all fire exit stairway doors simultaneously

4.4.2.7 Emergency power, light and system controls; and status indicators

4.4.2.8 Telephone and internet access for fire department use

4.4.2.9 Emergency and standby power status indicators

4.4.2.10 Generator supervision devices and manual start and transfer features

4.4.2.11 Public address system, where specifically required by other sections of this Code

4.4.2.12 Controls required for smoke control

4.4.2.13 Important keys to include
4.4.2.13.1 Elevator machine room

4.4.2.13.2 Elevator hoistway door access key

4.4.2.13.3 Side access door elevator car key

4.4.2.13.4 Electric room keys

4.4.2.13.5 Fire pump room keys

4.4.2.13.6 Mechanical room keys

4.4.2.13.7 Any master key

4.4.2.14 As built drawings. Specific types and format of drawings to be determined by the Office of the State Fire Marshal at time of plan review.

4.4.3 The fire command center shall be separated from the remainder of the building by one-hour construction and equipped with a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system that will prevent smoke laden air from entering the space.

4.4.4 It is not the intent of this section to require a room dedicated for this purpose, but the area provided must be available for immediate use in case of emergency.

4.4.5 The room shall be a minimum of 96 square feet with a minimum dimension of 8 feet.

4.4.6 The fire command room door shall be clearly identified for use by the fire department.

4.5 Smoke Management Systems

4.5.1 Large area buildings shall be equipped with a smoke management system approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, designed in accordance with § 4.5.2 or § 4.5.3, and shall be capable of being operated by the fire department.

4.5.2 This smoke control system shall, at a minimum, consist of manually operated smoke vents installed in accordance with the Standard for Smoke and Heat Venting, NFPA 204 with the following criteria:
4.5.2.1 100 sq. ft. of venting per 25,000 sq. ft. of floor area.

4.5.2.2 All vents shall be centrally located within the 25,000 sq. ft. protected area.

4.5.3 Large Area buildings using mechanical means of smoke management shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 92 and approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Such system shall provide the following:
4.5.3.1 Egress stair tower pressurization if stairs are more than three (3) communicating floor levels

4.5.3.2 Area of refuge pressurization

4.5.3.3 Horizontal exit passageway pressurization

4.5.3.4 Fire floor or fire area smoke exhaust

4.5.3.5 Other criteria as deemed necessary by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for unusual spaces

4.5.4 Smoke management system operation/actuation shall be approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Note: As per NFPA 92, the smoke management system shall be provided with a graphic annunciator and manual override panel to be located in the fire command center. The design and operation of the graphic annunciator shall be approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

4.6 Standby Power, Light, and Emergency Systems.

4.6.1 Large area buildings shall be equipped with standby power, light, smoke management system and emergency systems which shall comply with the provisions of the Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, NFPA 110, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations.

Exception: If the occupancy is such that "standard" battery operated emergency systems (emergency lighting, exit signs, fire alarm signaling system backup power, etc.), are deemed to be adequate by the State Fire Marshal.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Delaware may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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