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For the purposes of this chapter, other terms used hereinafter are hereby defined as follows:
“Air compressor.” A device for supplying air under pressure to the pressure tanks of a sprinkler system or the cushion tank of a sprinkler system, or to an inside standpipe system or to a dry pipe sprinkler system.
“Automatic sprinkler.” A sprinkler designed to open and discharge water when heated to a predetermined temperature.
“Capacity of tanks.” The capacity of gravity tanks shall be the number of U.S. gallons available to supply the sprinkler system.
“Concealed sprinkler.” A sprinkler which is recessed into the surrounding surface and provided with a cover plate.
Construction definitions.
“Obstructed construction.” Construction where beams, trusses, or other structural members impede heat flow to or water distribution from automatic sprinklers in a manner that materially affects the ability of sprinklers to control or suppress a fire.
“Unobstructed construction.” Construction where beams, trusses, or other structural members do not impede heat flow to or water distribution from automatic sprinklers in a manner that materially affects the ability of sprinklers to control or suppress a fire. Unobstructed construction may have horizontal structural members that are not solid, with openings that are at least 70 percent of the vertical side area and the depth of the member does not exceed the least dimension of the opening.
“Fire area.” The largest floor area, up to a maximum of 12,000 square feet, enclosed within the exterior walls of a building, if not divided into independent areas by fire walls, or the floor area of any such independent area, if so divided.
“Fire pump.” A device used for supplying water to a sprinkler system at the pressure required by the system.
“Fire pump, automatically controlled.” A fire pump which starts automatically when the pressure in the system drops to a predetermined point and stops automatically when the pressure in the system rises to a predetermined point.
“Gravity tank.” A wooden or metal elevated container holding water to supply a sprinkler system at gravity pressure.
“Hydraulically calculated system.” An automatic sprinkler system in which pipe sizes are selected on a pressure loss basis to provide a prescribed minimum water discharge density in gallons per minute per square foot over a specified area.
“N.F.P.A.” or “NFPA”. The National Fire Protection Association.
“Open sprinkler.” A sprinkler in which the discharge orifice is open at all times.
“Pressure maintenance pump.” A small pump under automatic control used to maintain pressure on the system to avoid frequent operation of the system fire pump.
“Pressure tank.” A tank holding water pressurized with air to supply a sprinkler system at a pressure greater than that due to gravity.
“Siamese connection.” A two or other multiple inlet fitting installed on the outside of a building and connected to the system main of a sprinkler system for the use of the fire department only, to supply water to the system.
“Sprinkler.” The outlet used in a sprinkler system to discharge water onto a fire.
Sprinkler system types:
(1) Wet pipe system – A system employing automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing water and connected to a water supply so that water discharges immediately from sprinklers opened by heat from fire.
(2) Dry pipe system – A system employing automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing air under pressure, the release of which from the opening of sprinklers permits the water pressure to open a valve known as a “dry pipe valve”. The water then flows into the piping system and out the opened sprinklers.
(3) Pre-action system – A system employing automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing air that may or may not be under pressure, with a detection system installed in the same area as the sprinklers. Actuation of the detection system opens a valve known as the pre-action valve which permits water to flow into the sprinkler piping system and to be discharged from any sprinkler that may be open.
(4) Deluge system – A system employing open sprinklers attached to a piping system connected to a water supply through a valve known as a deluge valve which is opened by the operation of a detection system installed in the same areas as the sprinkles. When this valve opens, water flows into the piping system and discharges from all sprinklers attached thereto.
(5) Combination dry pipe and pre-action sprinkler system – A sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing air under pressure with a detection system installed in the same areas as the sprinklers; operation of the detection system actuates tripping devices which open “dry pipe valves” simultaneously and without loss of air pressure in the system. Operation of the detection system also opens air exhaust valves at the end of the feed main which facilitates the filling of the system with water which usually precedes the opening of sprinklers. The detection system also serves as an automatic fire alarm system.
“Supervised.” When applied to an automatic sprinkler system, shall mean equipped with electrical devices which indicate the position of the valves controlling sources of water for the system to an office located on the premises which is continuously attended or to a listed central station alarm service.
“Tank heater.” A device for heating the water in a gravity tank, pressure tank, or tank riser to prevent the water in these portions of a sprinkler system from freezing.
“Water supply piping in a sprinkler system.” The piping from the sources of supply to the sprinkler heads. The different sections of the water supply piping are:
(1) Branch line. A horizontal pipe which conveys the water to the sprinkler heads.
(2) Cross main. The pipe supplying the branch lines, either directly or through risers.
(3) Feed mains. The pipes supplying risers and cross mains.
(4) Pump suction. A pipe which conveys the water from the city main or other sources of supply to the fire pump.
(5) System riser. A vertical pipe which conveys the water supply to feed mains or cross mains.
(6) Tank riser. The pipe which conveys the water from a gravity or pressure tank to the system main or sprinkler system.
“Water supply, two source.” A two source water supply shall mean two independent supplies of water from a combination of a city water main, gravity tank, or reservoir or two independently controlled city water mains.
(Prior code § 91-2; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 116)
Before the installation or alteration of a sprinkler system required by the provisions of this Code, a plan, setting forth all essential details of the sprinkler system, shall be submitted to the Fire Commissioner. The plans submitted shall include hydraulic calculations when calculated and the type of sprinklers to be used. Upon finding that the plan conforms to the requirements of the Code and after payment of the sprinkler permit fee hereinafter specified, said plan shall be approved by the Fire Commissioner.
The fees charged in connection with a sprinkler system shall be as follows:
If the plan does not conform to the requirements of the Code and a revised plan is submitted, the fee for each revised plan submission shall be $200.00. For the approval of the sprinkler plan and the initial inspection of a sprinkler system required by the provisions of this Code, a fee of $300.00 shall be charged for the first 100 sprinkler heads or less and an additional $100.00 shall be charged for each additional 100 sprinkler heads or fraction thereof. For the test of a fire pump used in connection with a sprinkler system, a fee of $31.50 for each 50 gallons pumping capacity per minute shall be charged with a minimum fee of $315.00. These fees shall not be required for any building used solely as a school operated by the Chicago Board of Education. Where a pump serves both a standpipe and a sprinkler system, only one pump fee shall be charged.
(Prior code § 91-3; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-92, p. 27387; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun, J, 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. VIII, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 117; Amend Coun. J. 11-14-18, p. 90376, Art. V, § 4)
After completing a sprinkler installation, the contractor shall submit to the fire commissioner a written certification that the system has been installed in accordance with the plans approved by the fire commissioner and tested in accordance with the provisions of Section 15-16-260. The form of such certification shall be as required in NFPA 13-2013.
(Prior code § 91-4; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 118; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 20)
Every standard sprinkler system now existent or which may hereafter be installed shall be inspected annually by an independent contractor licensed under the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act and such inspections may be overseen by or in the presence of the fire commissioner. Whenever such annual inspection shows the standard sprinkler system to be in good working order and in compliance with this Code, the fire commissioner shall issue a certificate to that effect, and for each such inspection and certificate, a fee of $300.00 shall be charged. Buildings with multiple sprinkler system zones shall rotate the zone to be tested annually, insuring that the sprinkler system is operating properly. If a doubt exists regarding the capability of any component of a standard sprinkler system, the fire commissioner may order any test outlined in NFPA Standard 25, Standards for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, to determine the capability of that component.
(Prior code § 91-5; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-92, p. 27387; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 119)
If an inspection or test discloses any condition such as defective parts, frozen tanks, closed valves or obstructed sprinklers, which would handicap the operation of the building's sprinkler equipment, the fire commissioner shall immediately be notified. Notice shall then immediately be sent by the fire commissioner to the building's owner or owners or to the owner's agent or to the person in control of the building containing such sprinkler systems, to remove or correct the defective condition as set forth in said notice within such time as may be specified by the fire commissioner in the notice.
(Prior code § 91-6; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 120)
Class A-2 Multiple Dwellings;
Class B Institutional;
Class C Assembly;
Class E Business.
Areas of such occupancies used for storage, garage, building maintenance or shop purposes shall be sprinkled in accordance with the provisions of this code for industrial occupancies. In buildings of mixed occupancy the provision for light hazard sprinkler systems shall apply only to those portions of the building occupied by the above occupancies.
(Prior code § 91-7; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 21)
The following industrial units – Class G-2:
Paper processing;
Plastics processing;
Plywood and particle board manufacturing;
Rubber reclaiming or milling;
Tire manufacturing;
Upholstering with plastic foam.
The following storage units – Class H-2:
Aircraft hangars;
Alcoholic beverages containing more than 20 percent alcohol;
Baled rags;
Flammable liquids;
Paper and paper products warehouse;
Furniture storage warehouse;
Freight warehouse;
Rubber tire storage.
The following hazardous use units:
Occupancies primarily involved in processing mixing, storing, and dispensing volatile flammable liquids;
Pyroxylin plastic manufacturing and processing;
Cotton picking and opening operations.
(Prior code § 91-8; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
All deluge, pre-action and combination dry pipe pre-action sprinkler systems shall be designed in accordance with NFPA 13-2013.
The area protected by a single pre-action valve shall not exceed 5,000 square feet except that in storage occupancies which are operated continuously at a temperature less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit a single pre- action valve may be used to protect an area up to 40,000 square feet. Each pre-action valve shall be trip tested annually as provided in NFPA 25-2014.
(Prior code § 91-9; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 22)
Upon completion of the installation of a standard sprinkler system an acceptance test shall be performed by the installing contractor.
All portions of each system shall be tested for two hours at a cold water pressure of not less than 200 pounds per square inch if the normal pressure in the system does not exceed 150 pounds per square inch or at a pressure of not less than 50 pounds per square inch above the normal pressure, if such normal pressure is more than 150 pounds per square inch. Interior piping shall show no leaks. Underground piping shall show a leakage rate not greater than two quarts per hour per 100 gaskets or joints irrespective of pipe diameter.
Dry pipe systems, if tested during seasons of the year which will not permit the use of water, may be tested with air under a pressure of not less than 50 pounds per square inch.
Brine or other corrosive or toxic chemicals shall not be used for testing.
If the dry pipe valves are of the differential type, they shall be pumped up and allowed to stand 24 hours and shall show not more than one and one-half pounds per square inch loss of pressure during that period of time. A working test of each dry pipe valve shall be made before acceptance. When dry pipe valves are subjected to hydrostatic test pressures, the clapper of a differential type valve shall be held off its seat to prevent damaging the valve.
Fire pumps, air compressors, filling pumps and other equipment shall be tested for a period of two hours or such portion of this time as is necessary to show they are of the required capacities. Initial tests of fire pumps shall be made in the presence of a representative of the bureau of fire prevention and the installing contractor.
Every fire pump shall provide its rated capacity at its rated pressure. Fire pumps rated at less than 1,500 GPM shall furnish at least 150 percent of the rated capacity at 65 percent of its rated pressure. The pressure at the intake side of the pump shall not be less than five pounds per square inch under any flow rate.
Fire pumps shall be tested annually by an independent contractor licensed under the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Such inspections shall be scheduled with, and may be overseen by or in the presence of, the fire commissioner.
(Prior code § 91-10; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 121)
The water supply for sprinkler systems shall be taken from one or more of the following sources:
(a) Gravity tanks. Having a capacity sufficient to supply not less than 25 percent of the total number of heads in the largest fire area served for a period of not less than 20 minutes. The bottom of the tank shall be not less than 35 feet above the highest sprinkler connected thereto and the discharge from each sprinkler shall be calculated as 22 gallons per minute; the minimum capacity of the tank shall be 10,000 gallons.
(b) Pressure tanks. Having a capacity of not less than 4,500 gallons and not more than 9,000 gallons each, designed to be two-thirds full of water and one- third full of air at a pressure of not less than 75 pounds per square inch. Total water capacity of tanks in gallons shall be calculated as given in the gravity tank capacity section. The drop from the gravity tank shall be arranged to enter the line from the pressure tank at a level at least 35 feet below the bottom of the gravity tank and the gravity tank check valve shall be at this level when both gravity tank and pressure tank are used.
(c) Fire pumps, connected to a city water main, having a capacity sufficient to supply not less than 25 percent of sprinklers in the largest fire area except that no fire pump supplying sprinklers only need be larger than 1,500 gallons. Capacity of a fire pump shall be not less than 500 gallons per minute; however, a 250 gallons per minute sprinkler fire pump supplied by not less than a four-inch connection to the city water may be used in a school, an institutional unit, or a building used only as a residential unit which does not exceed four stories or 55 feet in height and which has less than 100 sprinkler heads in any sprinkler area. The discharge from each sprinkler head shall be calculated as 22 gallons per minute. The pressure shall be sufficient to provide 18 pounds per square inch at the highest sprinkler for a system not utilizing hydraulic design.
A fire pump may supply both a sprinkler system and an inside standpipe system; provided, however, the capacity of the pump is equal to the required capacity for the automatic sprinkler system and one-half the required capacity for the standpipe system. It shall be designed to meet the pressure requirements prescribed for the more severe service. The city connection shall be increased two inches if used to supply both domestic service and fire protection demands when the domestic service exceeds two inches.
(d) City mains. City water mains having sufficient volume and residual pressure in the main to supply 25 percent of the total number of sprinklers in the largest fire area to a maximum of 1,500 gallons per minute at a residual pressure of 18 pounds per square inch at the level of the highest sprinkler for a system not utilizing hydraulic design. The discharge shall be calculated as 22 gallons per minute.
(Prior code § 91-11; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
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