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Prior Chicago Building Code
BUILDING CODE AND RELATED EXCERPTS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
DIVISION 1 - ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION 2 - DEFINITIONS
DIVISION 3 - USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
DIVISION 4 - SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY
DIVISION 5 - GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
DIVISION 6 - TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 7 - FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 8 - INTERIOR FINISHES (NA)
DIVISION 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 15-16 FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
ARTICLE I. FIRE PROTECTION (15-16-010 et seq.)
ARTICLE II. FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (15-16-170 et seq.)
PART 1. STANDARD SPRINKLER SYSTEMS (15-16-170 et seq.)
15-16-170 Definition of system.
15-16-180 Other definitions.
15-16-190 Permit and fees.
15-16-200 Installation certification.
15-16-210 Inspections.
15-16-220 Notice of defective conditions.
15-16-230 Requirements for light hazard occupancies.
15-16-240 Requirements for extra hazardous occupancies.
15-16-250 Requirements for special systems.
15-16-260 System tests.
15-16-270 Water supply requirements.
15-16-280 Use of pressure tank for other services.
15-16-290 Gravity tanks.
15-16-300 Pressure tanks.
15-16-310 Fire pumps.
15-16-311 Test manifold.
15-16-320 Supply to tanks.
15-16-330 Filling pipe.
15-16-340 Small equipment.
15-16-350 Location and arrangement of sprinklers.
15-16-351 Display booths.
15-16-360 Sprinklers.
15-16-370 Sprinkler piping.
15-16-380 Piping supports.
15-16-390 Siamese connections.
15-16-400 Valves.
15-16-410 System drainage.
15-16-420 Hand hose connections.
15-16-430 Protection against freezing.
15-16-440 Protection against corrosion.
15-16-450 Test pipes.
15-16-451 Test pipes for high-rise buildings.
15-16-460 Dry pipe systems.
15-16-470 Dry pipe system capacity limits.
15-16-480 Quick opening devices.
15-16-490 Non-freezing systems.
15-16-500 Gauges.
15-16-510 Relief valves.
15-16-520 Painting or finishing.
15-16-530 Alarms.
15-16-540 Spare sprinklers.
15-16-550 Reserved.
15-16-560 Reserved.
15-16-570 Reserved.
15-16-580 Reserved.
15-16-590 Reserved.
15-16-600 Hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems.
15-16-601 Residential sprinklers.
15-16-610 Retroactivity.
15-16-611 Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems.
PART 2. STANDARD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS (15-16-620 et seq.)
PART 3. STANDARD INSIDE STANDPIPE SYSTEMS (15-16-710 et seq.)
PART 4. STANDARD FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS (15-16-1200 et seq.)
PART 5. SPRINKLER SYSTEMS - ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS (15-16-1520 et seq.)
DIVISION 10 - MEANS OF EGRESS
DIVISION 11 - ACCESSIBILITY
DIVISION 12 - INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION 13 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
DIVISION 14 - EXTERIOR WALLS (NA)
DIVISION 15 - ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES (NA)
DIVISION 16 - STRUCTURAL DESIGN
DIVISION 17 - STRUCTURAL TESTS AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
DIVISION 18 - SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
DIVISION 19 - CONCRETE
DIVISION 20 - ALUMINUM (NA)
DIVISION 21 - MASONRY
DIVISION 22 - STEEL
DIVISION 23 - WOOD
DIVISION 24 - GLASS AND GLAZING (NA)
DIVISION 25 - GYPSUM BOARD AND PLASTER (NA)
DIVISION 26 - PLASTIC (NA)
DIVISION 27 - ELECTRICAL
DIVISION 28 - MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
DIVISION 29 - PLUMBING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 30 - ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 31 - SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION (NA)
DIVISION 32 - ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
DIVISION 33 - SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 34 - EXISTING STRUCTURES
DIVISION 35 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

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15-16-530  Alarms.
   Whenever any sprinkler system is installed under this code which has more than ten sprinklers, a local alarm system shall be connected to the sprinkler system. There shall be provided an alarm on each system which is wholly or partially wet, consisting of an alarm valve or a listed flow indicating device and necessary attachments; they shall be of a design which will initiate a water flow signal if there is a flow of water through them equal to the flow from one sprinkler head.
   The alarm on a dry pipe system shall include an alarm attachment to each dry pipe valve. Where two or more dry pipe valves are in the same frost-proof enclosure, the same alarm may serve all dry pipe valves in each enclosure. The attachments for either wet or dry systems shall include a water motor gong or electric bell on the outside of the building above a fire department siamese connection and inside bells and other electrical equipment hereinafter described.
   Alarm, dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge valves shall be fitted with an alarm bypass test connection for the electric alarm switch, water motor gong or both. This pipe connection shall be made on the water supply side of the valve and provided with a control valve and drain for the alarm piping.
   Water motor gongs shall be located as near the alarm valves or dry pipe valves as possible; piping shall be galvanized or brass and shall be installed to drain. A sign shall be placed near the outside bell where readily visible and shall bear the following:
   “SPRINKLER ALARM
   WHEN BELL RINGS
   CALL
   FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT”
   Electrically operated alarm attachments shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72-2013. Outside electric alarm devices shall be listed for outdoor use.
   All water flow alarm devices on automatic sprinkler systems installed in open plan schools shall be interconnected to the city fire alarm system.
(Prior code § 91-37; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 26)
15-16-540  Spare sprinklers.
   A supply of at least six spare sprinklers shall be provided in a readily accessible location at the main sprinkler control valve or valves. The spare sprinkler shall include all of the types and temperature ratings used in the system.
(Prior code §  91-38; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-550  Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1, repealed § 15-16-550, pertaining to fire pumps for open sprinkler system.
15-16-560  Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1, repealed § 15-16-560, pertaining to arrangement of open sprinkler system.
15-16-570  Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1, repealed § 15-16-570, pertaining to sprinkler heads for open sprinkler system.
15-16-580  Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1, repealed § 15-16-580, pertaining to piping for open sprinkler system.
15-16-590  Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1, repealed § 15-16-590, pertaining to siamese connections for open sprinkler system.
15-16-600  Hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems.
   Hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems shall be acceptable. Pipe friction losses shall be determined by the Hazen and Williams friction loss formula. The design area shall be the hydraulically most remote area. All sprinklers shall discharge at a flow rate at least equal to the design density times the area covered per head. The equivalent pipe length method shall be used for all fittings, valves, strainers and any other parts.
   The “C” factor in the Hazen and Williams formula shall be as follows:
 
Pipe
“C” Factor
Unlimited cast or ductile iron
100
Black steel (dry and pre-action systems)
100
Black steel (wet and deluge systems)
120
Galvanized
120
Cement lined cast or ductile iron
140
Copper
150
 
   The design densities and area shall not be less than the following:
 
Occupancy
Density
Area
Class A and B
.10 GPM square feet
1,500 square feet
Class C, D and E
.12
1,500 square feet
Class F, G and H with ceiling heights to 14 feet
.20
2,000 square feet
Class F, G and H with ceiling heights over 14 feet
.25
2,500 square feet
Class I and those occupancies listed in Section 15-16-240
.30
2,500 square feet
 
   For dry pipe sprinkler systems the area of application shall be increased 30 percent.
   In buildings with mixed occupancies the design density and area of application for the different occupancies shall be applied to each occupancy. In buildings of Class A, B, C, D, or E occupancy class those areas used for storage or building maintenance shop purposes shall be sprinkled on the basis of an industrial occupancy. Spaces used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment shall have a density of .15 GPM/square feet over an area of 1,500 square feet.
   Sprinkler systems using sprinklers with discharge orifices other than one-half inch in diameter shall be hydraulically calculated.
   A safety factor, not less than five pounds per square inch, shall be provided between the calculated pressure requirement of a system and the water pressure available in the city water main supplying a hydraulically calculated system. The available city water pressure shall be determined by a water flow test at the site of the building conducted within the previous 12 months. The factor of safety shall be applied to the city pressure which is available at a flow of 1,000 gallons per minute or the calculated flow required for the sprinkler system whichever is greater.
(Prior code §  91-44; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
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