Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new
buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in
Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12. [F]
Exception: Spaces or areas in telecommunications
buildings used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated
electrical power distribution equipment, batteries and standby engines,
provided those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic smoke
detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 and are separated from the
remainder of the building by not less than 1-hour fire
barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or not less than
2-hour horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with
Section 712, or both.
903.2.1
Group A. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided throughout buildings and portions thereof used as Group A occupancies
as provided in this section. For Group A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 occupancies, the
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the
floor area where the Group A-1, A-2, A-3 or A-4 occupancy is located, and in
all floors from the Group A occupancy to, and including, the nearest
level of exit
discharge serving the Group A
occupancy. For Group A-5 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler
system shall be provided in the spaces indicated in Section
903.2.1.5.[F]
903.2.1.1
Group A-1.
An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for
Group A-1 occupancies where one of the following conditions exists: [F]
1. The fire area exceeds
12,000 square feet (1115 m2);
2. The fire area has an
occupant load of 300 or more;
3. The fire area is located
on a floor other than a level of exit
discharge serving such occupancies; or
4. The fire area contains a
multitheater complex.
903.2.1.2
Group A-2. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-2
occupancies where one of the following conditions exists: [F]
1. The fire area exceeds
5,000 square feet (464.5 m2);
2. The fire area has an
occupant load of 100 or more; or
3. The fire area is located
on a floor other than a level of exit
discharge serving such occupancies.
903.2.1.3
Group A-3. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-3
occupancies where one of the following conditions exists: [F]
1. The fire area exceeds
12,000 square feet (1115 m2);
2. The fire area has an
occupant load of 300 or more; or
3. The fire area is located
on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such
occupancies.
903.2.1.4
Group A-4. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided for Group A-4 occupancies where one of the following conditions
exists: [F]
1. The fire area
exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2);
2. The fire area has an
occupant load of 300 or more; or
3. The fire area is located
on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such
occupancies.
903.2.1.5
Group A-5. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided for Group A-5 occupancies in the following areas: concession stands,
retail areas, press boxes and other accessory use areas in excess of 1,000
square feet (93 m2). [F]
903.2.2
Group B ambulatory health care
facilities. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
installed throughout all fire areas containing a Group B ambulatory health care
facility occupancy when either of the following conditions exists at any time:
[F]
1. Four or more care recipients are
incapable of self- preservation.
2.
One or more care recipients who are incapable of self- preservation are located
at other than the level of
exit
discharge serving such an occupancy.
903.2.3
Group E. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E
occupancies as follows: [F]
1. Throughout all
Group E fire areas greater than 12,000 square feet (1115
m2) in area.
2. Throughout every portion of educational
buildings below the lowest
level of
exit
discharge serving that portion of the building.
Exception: An automatic sprinkler
system is not required in any area below the lowest level
of
exit
discharge serving that area
where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior
exit door at ground level.
903.2.4
Group F-1. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all
buildings containing a Group F-1 occupancy where one of the following
conditions exists: [F]
1. A Group F-1
fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115
m2).
2.
A Group F-1 fire area is located more than three stories above
grade plane.
3.
The combined area of all Group F-1
fire areas on all floors,
including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230
m2).
903.2.4.1
Woodworking operations. An automatic sprinkler
system shall be provided throughout all Group F-1 occupancy
fire areas that contain woodworking operations in excess of
2,500 square feet (232 m2) in area which generate
finely divided combustible waste or use finely divided combustible materials.
[F]
903.2.5
Group H.
Automatic sprinkler systems shall be
provided in high-hazard occupancies as required in Sections 903.2.5.1 through
903.2.5.3. [F]
903.2.5.1
General. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
installed in Group H occupancies. [F]
903.2.5.2
Group H-5. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout
buildings containing Group H-5 occupancies. The design of the sprinkler system
shall not be less than that required by this code for the occupancy hazard
classifications in accordance with Table 903.2.5.2. Where the design area of
the sprinkler system consists of a
corridor protected by one
row of sprinklers, the maximum number of sprinklers required to be calculated
is 13. [F]
TABLE 903.2.5.2 GROUP H-5 SPRINKLER DESIGN CRITERIA
[F]
|
LOCATION |
OCCUPANCY HAZARD
CLASSIFICATION |
| Fabrication areas |
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 |
| Service corridors |
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 |
| Storage rooms without dispensing |
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 |
| Storage rooms with dispensing |
Extra Hazard Group 2 |
| Corridors |
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 |
903.2.5.3
Pyroxylin plastics. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in buildings, or
portions thereof, where cellulose nitrate film or pyroxylin plastics are
manufactured, stored or handled in quantities exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg).
[F]
903.2.6
Group
I. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided
throughout buildings with a Group I fire area. [F]
Exception: An automatic sprinkler
system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3
shall be allowed in Group I-1 facilities.
903.2.7
Group M. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout
buildings containing a Group M occupancy where one of the following conditions
exists: [F]
1. A Group M fire
area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115
m2).
2.
A Group M fire area is located more than three stories above
grade plane.
3.
The combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors,
including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230
m2).
4.
A Group M occupancy is used for the display and sale of upholstered furniture.
903.2.7.1
High-piled storage. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in accordance
with the International Fire Code in all buildings of Group M
where storage of merchandise is in high-piled or rack storage arrays.
[F]
903.2.8
Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed
in accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings
with a Group R fire area. [F]
903.2.9
Group S-1. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all
buildings containing a Group S-1 occupancy where one of the following
conditions exists: [F]
1. A Group S-1
fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115
m2).
2.
A Group S-1 fire area is located more than three stories above
grade plane.
3.
The combined area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all floors,
including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230
m2).
4.
A Group S-1
fire area used for the storage of commercial
trucks or buses where the
fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet
(464 m2).
903.2.9.1
Repair garages. An
automatic sprinkler system
shall be provided throughout all buildings used as repair garages in accordance
with Section 406, as shown: [F]
1. Buildings
having two or more stories above
grade plane,
including basements, with a fire area containing a repair
garage exceeding 10,000 square feet (929
m2).
2.
Buildings no more than one story
above
grade plane, with a fire area containing a
repair garage exceeding 12,000 square feet (1115
m2).
3.
Buildings with repair garages servicing vehicles parked in basements.
4. A Group S-1 fire area
used for the repair of commercial trucks or buses where the fire
area exceeds 5,000 square feet (464
m2).
903.2.9.2
Bulk storage of tires.
Buildings and structures where the area for the storage of tires exceeds 20,000
cubic feet (566 m3) shall be equipped throughout
with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1. [F]
903.2.10
Group S-2 enclosed parking
garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided throughout buildings classified as enclosed parking garages in
accordance with Section 406.4 as follows: [F]
1. Where the fire area of
the enclosed parking garage exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115
m2); or
2. Where the enclosed parking garage is
located beneath other groups.
Exception: Enclosed parking garages located
beneath Group R-3 occupancies.
903.2.10.1
Commercial parking
garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided throughout buildings used for storage of commercial trucks or buses
where the fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet (464
m2). [F]
903.2.11
Specific building areas and
hazards. In all occupancies an automatic sprinkler
system shall be installed for building design or hazards in the
locations set forth in Sections 903.2.11.1 through 903.2.11.6. [F]
Exception: Groups R-3 and U.
903.2.11.1
Stories without
openings. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be
installed throughout all
stories, including basements, of all
buildings where the floor area exceeds 1,500 square feet (139.4
m2) and where there is not provided at least one of
the following types of
exterior wall openings: [F]
1. Openings below grade that lead directly to
ground level by an exterior stairway complying with Section
1009 or an outside ramp complying with Section 1010. Openings shall be located
in each 50 linear feet (15 240 mm), or fraction thereof, of exterior
wall in the story on at least one side. The required
openings shall be distributed such that the linear distance between adjacent
openings does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
2. Openings entirely above the adjoining
ground level totaling at least 20 square feet (1.86
m2) in each 50 linear feet (15 240 mm), or fraction
thereof, of
exterior wall in the story on at least one side.
The required openings shall be distributed such that the linear distance
between adjacent openings does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
903.2.11.1.1
Opening dimensions and
access. Openings shall have a minimum dimension of not less than 30
inches (762 mm). Such openings shall be accessible to the fire department from
the exterior and shall not be obstructed in a manner that fire fighting or
rescue cannot be accomplished from the exterior. [F]
903.2.11.1.2
Openings on one side
only. Where openings in a story are provided on only
one side and the opposite wall of such story is more than 75
feet (22 860 mm) from such openings, the story shall be
equipped throughout with an approved
automatic
sprinkler system, or openings as specified above shall be provided on
at least two sides of the story. [F]
903.2.11.1.3
Basements. Where
any portion of a basement is located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) from
openings required by Section 903.2.11.1, the basement shall be equipped
throughout with an approved
automatic sprinkler
system. [F]
903.2.11.2
Rubbish and linen
chutes. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
installed at the top of rubbish and linen chutes and in their terminal rooms.
Chutes extending through three or more floors shall have additional sprinkler
heads installed within such chutes at alternate floors. Chute sprinklers shall
be accessible for servicing. [F]
903.2.11.3
Buildings 55 feet or more in
height. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be
installed throughout buildings with a floor level having an
occupant
load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet (16 764 mm) or more above
the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. [F]
Exceptions:
1. Airport control towers.
2. Open parking structures.
3. Occupancies in Group F-2.
903.2.11.4
Ducts conveying
hazardous exhausts. Where required by the
International
Mechanical Code, automatic sprinklers shall be provided in ducts
conveying hazardous exhaust, or flammable or combustible materials. [F]
Exception: Ducts in which the largest
cross-sectional diameter of the duct is less than 10 inches (254 mm).
903.2.11.5
Commercial
cooking operations. An automatic sprinkler system shall
be installed in commercial kitchen exhaust hood and duct system where an
automatic sprinkler system is used to comply with Section 904.
[F]
903.2.11.6
Other required
suppression systems. In addition to the requirements of Section 903.2,
the provisions indicated in Table 903.2.11.6 also require the installation of a
fire suppression system for certain buildings and areas. [F]
TABLE 903.2.11.6 ADDITIONAL REQUIRED SUPPRESSION
SYSTEMS [F]
|
SECTION |
SUBJECT |
| 402.9 |
Covered malls |
| 403.2, 403.3 |
High-rise buildings |
| 404.3 |
Atriums |
| 405.3 |
Underground structures |
| 407.5 |
Group I-2 |
| 410.6 |
Stages |
| 411.4 |
Special amusement buildings |
| 412.4.6, 412.4.6.1, 412.6.5 |
Aircraft hangars |
| 415.6.2.4 |
Group H-2 |
| 416.4 |
Flammable finishes |
| 417.4 |
Drying rooms |
| 507 |
Unlimited area buildings |
| 508.2.5 |
Incidental accessory occupancies |
| 1028.6.2.3 |
Smoke-protected assembly seating |
| IFC |
Sprinkler system requirements as set forth in Section
903.2.11.6 of the International Fire Code |
903.2.12
During construction.
Automatic sprinkler systems required during construction,
alteration and demolition operations shall be provided in
accordance with Chapter 14 of the International Fire Code.
[F]
