14B-9-903 Automatic sprinkler systems.

The provisions of Section 903 of IBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications:

1.   Add a new Section 903.1.2 to read:

"903.1.2 Where prohibited.

Automatic sprinkler systems shall not be installed in hazardous chemical rooms or in hazardous chemical storage buildings, where the chemical has the ability to react with water to produce substances or violent chemical reactions which increase the hazard. When the presence of water will not add to the hazard, an automatic sprinkler system shall be required in such hazardous chemical room or building."

2.   Revise Section 903.2 by deleting "Approved."

3.   Delete the exception to Section 903.2.

4.   Delete items 3 and 4 in Section 903.2.1.1.

5.   Revise the numbered items in Section 903.2.1.2 to read:

"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 has an occupant load of 100 or more and is located on a floor more than four feet (1219 mm) below the lowest level of exit discharge serving such occupancy."

6.   Delete item 3 in Section 903.2.1.3.

7.   Add a new item 4 in Section 903.2.1.3 to read:

"4.   The Group A-3 occupancy contains one or more exhibition areas exceeding 5,000 square feet (464 m 2 ) in aggregate."

8.   Delete item 3 in Section 903.2.1.4.

9.   Revise Section 903.2.1.6, including the exception, to read:

"903.2.1.6 Assembly occupancies on roofs.

Where an occupiable rooftop has an assembly occupancy with an occupant load of 300 or more, all floors between the occupiable rooftop and the level of exit discharge shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2."

10.   Revise Section 903.2.1.7 by replacing "shall be provided" with "shall be provided throughout the building."

11.   Revise Section 903.2.2 to read:

"903.2.2 Group B.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group B occupancies as provided in this section.

903.2.2.1 Ambulatory care facilities.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor containing an ambulatory care facility where either of the following conditions exist at any time:

1.   Four or more care recipients are incapable of self-preservation.

2.   One or more care recipients that are incapable of self-preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge serving such a facility.

In buildings where ambulatory care is provided on levels other than the level of exit discharge, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor as well as all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, the level of exit discharge, and all floors below the level of exit discharge.

903.2.2.2 Telephone exchanges.

An automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be installed throughout buildings containing telephone exchanges."

12.   Revise Section 903.2.3 to read:

"903.2.3 Group E.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies as follows:

1.   Throughout all Group E fire areas and all connected Group A fire areas in buildings where the aggregate area of all Group E and connected Group A fire areas is 7,200 square feet (669 m2) or greater.

2.   Throughout buildings containing Group E occupancies owned by, operated by or constructed with funding from a governmental unit.

3.   Throughout buildings containing Group E-2 occupancies.

Exception: Where every room or space in a Group E-2 occupancy normally subject to client occupancy, other than toilet rooms, has not less than one door leading directly to an exit or directly to the outside of the building."

13.   Revise the title and first sentence of Section 903.2.4 to read:

"903.2.4 Group F.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group F occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:"

13.1   Revise item 4 in Section 903.2.4 to read:

"4.   A Group F-1 fire area used for the manufacture of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet (232 m 2 )."

14.   Revise Section 903.2.4.1 by replacing "fire areas" with "buildings."

15.   Add a new Section 903.2.4.2 to read:

"903.2.4.2 Electric generation plants.

An automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be provided throughout any structure that is owned or operated by any person whose primary business is the generation or transmission of electrical power and that houses one or more electrical generators, electrical transformers, or switching equipment for a service area beyond the building in which the equipment is located."

16.   Revise exception 2 to Section 903.2.6 to read:

"2.   An automatic sprinkler system is not required where Group I-4 day care facilities are at the level of exit discharge and where every room where care is provided has not fewer than one exterior exit door."

17.   Delete exception 3 to Section 903.2.6.

17.1.   Revise item 4 in Section 903.2.7 to read:

"4.   A Group M occupancy where the area used for the display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 5,000 square feet (464 m 2 )."

18.   Add a new item 5 to Section 903.2.7 to read:

"5.   A Group M fire area is located in a basement."

19.   Add new exceptions to Section 903.2.8 to read:

"Exceptions:

1.   Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy.

2.   Buildings of Group R-2 occupancy, other than congregate living facilities, with not more than four stories above grade plane and containing not more than ten dwelling units where each fire area contains not more than two dwelling units and all required vertical exits are interior exit stairways."

20.   Revise Section 903.2.8.1 to read:

"903.2.8.1 Group R-3 and R-5.

An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 shall be permitted in Group R-3 and R-5 occupancies."

20.1.   Revise items 4 and 5 in Section 903.2.9 to read:

"4.   A Group S-1 fire area used for the storage of commercial motor vehicles where the fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet (464 m 2 ).

5.   A Group S-1 occupancy where the area used for the storage of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet (232 m 2 )."

20.2.   In Section 903.2.10.1, reset the following term in italic type: "commercial motor vehicle."

21.   Revise Section 903.2.10 to read:

"903.2.10 Group S-2 parking garages.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing parking garages in accordance with Section 406.6 where any of the following conditions exists:

1.   Where the floor area of the parking garage exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2).

2.   Where the parking garage has a storage capacity of more than 20 vehicles and is located beneath other occupancies.

3.   Where the parking garage is in a basement."

22.   Revise the title of Section 903.2.10.1 to "Commercial-vehicle parking garages."

22.1.   In Section 903.2.10.1, reset the following term in italic type: "commercial motor vehicle."

22.2.   Revise Section 903.2.11 by replacing "903.2.11.6" with "903.2.11.8."

23.   Revise Section 903.2.11.1.2 by deleting "approved."

24.   Revise Section 903.2.11.1.3 by deleting "approved."

25.   Revise Section 903.2.11.3 to read:

"903.2.11.3 Buildings more than 70 feet in height.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings that are more than 70 feet (21.3 m) in building height.

Exception: Parking facilities, in accordance with Section 906.9."

26.   Renumber existing Section and Table 903.2.11.6 to 903.2.11.8 and delete the following rows in the table: covered and open mall buildings, Group H-5 HPM exhaust ducts, flammable finishes, drying rooms, children’s play structures, buildings containing laboratory suites, unlimited area buildings, smoke-protected assembly seating, and the last row.

27.   Add a new Section 903.2.11.6 to read:

"903.2.11.6 Shops and storerooms.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all rooms and spaces used as paint shops, wastepaper baling or storage, and other storage uses having a similar degree of combustibility.

Exceptions:

1.   Shops and storerooms located in a Group R-5 occupancy.

2.   Shops and storerooms not exceeding 1,000 square feet (93 m2) in a building not exceeding one story above grade plane."

28.   Add a new Section 903.2.11.7 to read:

"903.2.11.7 Telecommunications equipment areas.

Every fire area within an existing structure containing a telecommunication equipment area that exceeds 150 square feet (13.93 m2) must be equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system."

29.   Revise Section 903.2.12 by deleting "Chapter 33 of."

30.   Revise Section 903.3.1.1.1 to read:

"903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations.

Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. Sprinklers shall not be omitted from a room merely because it is damp, of fire-resistance-rated construction or contains electrical equipment.

1.   A room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire hazard.

2.   A room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents, where approved by the fire code official.

3.   Generator, transformer and switchboard rooms separated from the remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.

4.   [Reserved.]

5.   Elevator machine rooms, elevator shafts and machinery spaces. (Automatic sprinklers shall be provided in elevator pits.)"

31.   Delete Section 903.3.1.1.2.

32.   Revise Section 903.3.1.2 to read:

"903.3.1.2 NFPA 13R sprinkler systems.

Automatic sprinkler systems installed in Group R-5; Group R-3; and Group R-4, Condition 1 shall be permitted to be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D, provided the building shall not exceed 45 feet (13.7 m) in building height."

33.   Delete Section 903.3.1.2.1.

34.   Delete item 3 (and subitems) in Section 903.3.1.2.3.

35.   Revise Section 903.3.1.3 to read:

"903.3.1.3 NFPA 13D sprinkler systems.

Automatic sprinkler systems installed in Group R-5; Group R-3; Group R-4, Condition 1; and townhouses shall be permitted to be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D, provided the building shall not exceed 45 feet (13.7 m) in building height."

36.   Revise the last sentence of Section 903.3.5 to read:

"For connections to the public waterworks systems, the water supply test used for design of fire protection systems shall be acceptable to the fire code official and not less than one year old."

37.   Revise Section 903.3.8.4 by deleting "approved."

37.1   Insert a new Section 903.3.9 to read:

"903.3.9 Concealed sprinkler heads.

Where concealed sprinkler heads are used, cover plates shall have a brass, chrome or other unpainted metallic finish."

38.   Revise exception 1 to Section 903.4 by replacing "one- and two-family dwellings" with "Group R-5 occupancies."

39.   Revise Section 903.4 by adding a sentence, following the exceptions, to read:

"All valves in supply pipes to automatic sprinkler systems shall be secured open."

40.   Revise Section 903.4.1, excluding the exceptions, to read:

"903.4.1 Monitoring.

Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to a supervising station."

41.   Revise Section 903.4.2 to read:

"903.4.2 Alarms.

An electric bell, located on the exterior of the building above a fire department connection, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system. The bell shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system.

A sign shall be placed at a conspicuous location near the bell and shall state: "SPRINKLER ALARM-WHEN BELL RINGS CALL FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT."

42.   Revise Section 903.4.3 by deleting "Approved."

(Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 29; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. II, § 14; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. II, § 13)