Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 39, March 25, 2024
Subpart 1.
IFC section 903.2.8.
IFC section 903.2.8 is amended, and subsections added, to
read:
903.2.8
Group R. An
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in accordance with Section 903.3
in Group R occupancies and townhouses as follows:
1. All Group R-4 occupancies.
2. Group R-1 multiunit resort buildings as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section
157.15, and licensed
by the Department of Health shall comply with chapter 1305, the Minnesota
Building Code.
3. In other than R-1
multiunit resort buildings, Group R-1 occupancies shall comply with chapter
1305, the Minnesota Building Code.
4. R-2 occupancies shall comply with chapter
1305, the Minnesota Building Code.
5. Townhouses shall comply with chapter 1309,
the Minnesota Residential Code.
For the purposes of this section, fire walls, party walls, or
attached multiple fire-resistive exterior walls shall only create separate
buildings where providing separation from occupancies other than Group
R.
903.2.8.1
Group
R-3 or R-4 congregate residences. An automatic sprinkler system
installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 shall be permitted in Group R-3
or R-4 congregate residences with 16 or fewer residents.
903.2.8.2
State licensed
facilities. Group R-3 or R-4 occupancies containing facilities licensed
by Minnesota shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system as required
by the applicable licensing provisions or this section, whichever is more
restrictive.
903.2.8.3
Residential hospice facilities. An automatic sprinkler system
installed in accordance with NFPA 13 shall be provided throughout all buildings
with a Group R-3 or Group R-4 fire area containing a residential hospice
facility.
Exception: An automatic sprinkler system installed
in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 shall be allowed, provided
that all habitable spaces and closets are sprinklered.
Subp. 2.
IFC
section 903.2.11.4.
IFC section 903.2.11.4 is amended to read:
903.2.11.4
Fire protection for exhaust
systems. Where required by the International Mechanical Code, automatic
sprinklers shall be provided in ducts having a cross-sectional area of 75
square inches (480 cm2) or more and that convey
flammable or combustible components or that have the potential for combustible
residue build-up on the inside. When sprinkler protection is installed, means
shall be provided to prevent water accumulation in the duct or the flow of
water back to a process where the application of water constitutes a serious
life or fire hazard.
Subp.
2a.
IFC section 903.3.1.
IFC section 903.3.1 is amended as follows:
903.3.1
Standards. Sprinkler
systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.l,
unless otherwise permitted by Sections 903.3.1.2 and 903.3.1.3 and other
chapters of this code, as applicable. Automatic sprinkler systems installed in
state-licensed or state-registered facilities shall be installed in accordance
with this code and the applicable licensing or registration provisions of
Minnesota.
Subp. 3.
IFC Section 903.3.1.2.1.
IFC Section 903.3.1.2.1 is amended to read:
903.3.1.2.1
Protection of decks and
balconies. Decks and balconies greater than 6 feet (1.8 m) above grade,
greater than 4 feet (1.2 m) deep, with an area greater than 40 square feet
(3.72 m2), and attached to new Group R-1 and R-2
occupancy buildings protected in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2 that are
three or more stories in height and with 30 or more units, shall be protected
with sprinklers under the balcony or deck framing and under attic eaves when
both of the following two conditions exist:
1. The building has an unsprinklered attic;
and
2. The building has combustible
siding.
Subp.
4.
IFC section 903.3.1.
IFC section 903.3.1 is amended by adding sections to
read:
903.3.1.4
Buildings of
undetermined use. When fire sprinkler systems are required in buildings
of undetermined use, they shall be designed and installed to have a sprinkler
density of not less than that required for an Ordinary Hazard Group 2 use with
a minimum design area of 3,000 square feet (279 m2).
Use is considered undetermined if not specified at the time a permit is issued.
Where a subsequent occupancy requires a system with greater capability, it
shall be the responsibility of the owner to upgrade the system to the required
density for the new hazard, use or occupancy.
903.3.1.5
Special sprinkler design
criteria. When fire sprinkler systems are required in areas containing
the following uses, they shall be designed and installed to have a sprinkler
density of not less than that required for an Ordinary Hazard Group 2 use:
1. Chemistry labs; or
2. Wrestling or gymnastic rooms.
903.3.1.6
Modifications to
sprinkler standards. The sprinkler installation standards as referenced
in Sections 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2, and 903.3.1.3 are modified as follows:
903.3.1.6.1
Hose stream
requirements. When, in the opinion of the fire chief, an adequate
alternate water supply for hose stream requirements is provided or available,
the water supply requirements for the sprinkler system hose stream demands may
be modified.
903.3.1.6.2
Elevator shafts and equipment. Sprinkler protection shall not be
installed in elevator shafts, elevator pits or elevator machine rooms.
Exception: Health care occupancies required to
have NFPA 13 systems and are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health or
that participate in Title XVIII (Medicare) or Title XIX (Medicaid) of the
Social Security Act.
903.3.1.6.3
Swimming pools.
Sprinkler protection need not be provided on the ceiling of rooms containing
swimming pools when the pool area is used exclusively for swimming purposes and
when sprinklers are provided around the perimeter of the pool area.
903.3.1.6.4
NFPA 13
modifications. Sections 8.15.8.2, 8.17.2.5, and 22.2.1.1 of NFPA 13 are
amended to read:
8.15.8.2
Linen closets and
pantries. Sprinklers are not required in linen closets and pantries
within dwelling units that meet the following conditions:
1. The area of the space does not exceed 12
square feet (1.1 m2).
2. The least dimension does not exceed 3 feet
(0.9 m).
3. The walls and materials
are surfaced with noncombustible or limited combustible materials.
4. The closet or pantry contains no
mechanical equipment, electrical equipment or electrical appliances.
8.17.2.5
Valves.
8.17.2.5.1
Fire department
connection. A listed check valve shall be installed in each fire
department connection.
8.17.2.5.1.1
Maximum pipe length. There shall be a maximum of 25 feet (7.6 m)
of pipe between the check valve and the fire department connection inlet.
Exception: This maximum shall not apply to the
check valve serving a free-standing fire department connection.
8.17.2.5.1.2
Check valve
location. The check valve shall be located to minimize freezing
potential.
22.2.1.1
Water supply capacity
information. Where a waterflow test is used for the purposes of system
design, the test shall be conducted no more than 36 months prior to the working
plan submittal.
903.3.1.6.5
Vestibules. Sprinkler protection is not required in vestibules
that meet all of the following conditions:
1.
The vestibule is 225 square feet or less in floor area;
2. The vestibule is of noncombustible or
limited combustible construction;
3. The vestibule has glazing allowing vision
into vestibule;
4. The vestibules
only purpose is ingress and egress; and
5. The vestibule contains no fueled
equipment, flammable or combustible liquids, or furniture. Incidental
combustible storage in the vestibule is limited to five cubic feet of
material.
903.3.1.6.6
NFPA 13D sprinkler systems. Automatic sprinkler systems installed
in Group R-3 and R-4 congregate residences and townhouses shall be permitted to
be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D. Attached garages in
townhouse buildings are required to have one dry head sprinkler located within
5 linear feet of each door installed in the common wall separating the dwelling
unit and the attached garage.
Subp.
4a.
IFC section 903.3.8.
IFC section 903.3 is amended by adding a section to
read:
903.3.8
Sprinkler system
design pressure safety margin. For new sprinkler systems or additions to
existing sprinkler systems, the available water supply shall exceed the
sprinkler system demand, including the hose stream requirements, by 5 psi (0.34
bars) or more.
Exception: 13D systems installed in accordance
with section 903.3.1.3.
Subp.
5.
IFC Section 903.3.8.
IFC Section 903.3 is amended by adding a section to
read:
903.3.8
Sprinkler system
design pressure safety margin. For new sprinkler systems or additions to
existing sprinkler systems, the available water supply shall exceed the
sprinkler system demand, including hose stream requirements, by 5 psi (0.34
bars) or more.
Subp. 6.
IFC Section 903.4.
IFC Section 903.4 is amended by adding an exception to
read:
8. For existing sprinkler
systems, monitoring is required when the number of sprinklers is 100 or
more.
Subp. 7.
IFC
Section 903.4.4.
IFC Section 903.4 is amended by adding a section to
read:
903.4.4
Valve
security. All valves controlling water supplies for automatic sprinklers
shall be locked or secured in the open position.
Exception: Valves located in a room or space when
access is limited to essential personnel only.
Subp. 8. [Repealed, 40 SR 1437]
