PROPOSED CODE CHANGES FOR REVIEW BY THE FIRE CODE ACTION COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 PROPOSED CODE CHANGES FOR REVIEW BY THE FIRE CODE ACTION COMMITTEE Developed by the Midwestern Regional Work Group CONTENTS Item 15 Limited area sprinkler systems Item 20 Scope of IFC Ch 7 Item 21 Fire-resistance-rated construction Item 37 Extra heavy duty cooking appliances Item 38 Cooking appliances Item 53 Storage in corridors Item 55 Alarms in schools Item 62 Application of sprinklers throughout Item 85 IEBC conformance with transition from IRC to IBC occupancy Item 93A Elevators for FD use Item 106 Address numbers Item 107 Occupant load calculation Page 1 of 16

2 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 15 Revise IFC Section as follows: Domestic services. Where the domestic service provides the water supply for the automatic sprinkler system, the supply shall be in accordance with this section Limited area sprinkler systems. Limited area sprinkler systems serving fewer than 20 sprinklers on any single connection are permitted to be connected to the domestic service where a wet automatic standpipe is not available. Limited area sprinkler systems connected to domestic water supplies shall comply with each of the following requirements: 1. Valves shall not be installed between the domestic water riser control valve and the sprinklers. Exception: An approved indicating control valve supervised in the open position in accordance with Section The domestic service shall be capable of supplying the simultaneous domestic demand and the sprinkler demand required to be hydraulically calculated by NFPA 13, NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R (IBC [F] ) Limited area sprinkler systems. Limited area sprinkler systems having not more than 6 sprinklers in any single fire area shall be permitted to be supplied by a plumbing system or a wet-automatic standpipe in accordance with the following limitations: 1. The limited area sprinkler system shall be served by a wet automatic standpipe system, where such system is available. 2. Where a wet standpipe system is not available, the limited area sprinkler system shall be permitted to be supplied by the plumbing system as follows: a. Control valves shall not be installed between the plumbing system and sprinklers unless they are of an approved indicating type that can be locked in the open position. b. Unless approved by the fire code official, the required sprinkler discharge density shall not exceed 0.15 GPM/Ft.² (6.1 mm/min). If a greater discharge density or more than 6 sprinklers are required, fire sprinkler protection shall comply with Section c. The plumbing system shall be capable of supplying the simultaneous domestic demand and the sprinkler demand required for the limited area sprinkler system, hydraulically calculated in accordance with NFPA 13, NFPA 13R or NFPA 13D. Revise IFC Section as follows: (IBC [F] 903.4) Sprinkler system monitoring and alarms. All valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures, and water-flow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised. Exceptions: 1. Automatic sprinkler systems protecting one- and two-family dwellings. 2. Limited area systems in accordance with Section through 7. (no change ) Renumber Section as follows: (IBC [F] ) Residential combination services. A single combination water supply shall be allowed provided that the domestic demand is added to the sprinkler demand as required by NFPA 13R. Page 2 of 16

3 Renumber Section as follows: (IBC [F] ) Secondary water supply. An automatic secondary on-site water supply having a capacity not less than the hydraulically calculated sprinkler demand, including the hose stream requirement, shall be provided for high-rise buildings in Seismic Design Category C, D, E or F as determined by the International Building Code. An additional fire pump shall not be required for the secondary water supply unless needed to provide the minimum design intake pressure at the suction side of the fire pump supplying the automatic sprinkler system. The secondary water supply shall have a duration of not less than 30 minutes as determined by the occupancy hazard classification in accordance with NFPA 13. Exception: Existing buildings. Reason: Section establishes the requirements for the installation of a partial automatic sprinkler system that is connected to a domestic water supply system. This section currently allows up to 19 sprinklers to be supplied from the water supply source. This particular section has a number of technical and application issues. First, none of the I- Codes define domestic service. While the term has some implied meaning, the lack of a definition could permit the installation of an automatic sprinkler system intended for fire protection service supplied from a residential garden hose at a one- or two-family dwelling. While this is not the intent, such a design is currently feasible using the current IFC text. More problematic is the number of sprinklers that can be supplied by a building plumbing system. Section allows up to 19 sprinklers to be supplied from a domestic system. Consider the following hydraulic demand for a hypothetical one-story Group F-1 occupancy with a gross area of 10,000 Ft.²: 1. The building use is industrial, therefore use a occupant load factor of 100 Ft²/person. This equates to a permitted occupant load of 100 (IBC Table ). 2. The building will serve 50 women and men (IBC Section ) 3. A bathroom will be provided for each sex. 4. Each bathroom shall be available for public use. 5. Based on the requirements in IBC Table , the building requires one water closet and one lavatory in each of the two bathrooms. A service sink is also required. 6. The diameter of water fixture supply pipe is 1-inch based on the requirement in IPC Table Seamless copper water tube complying with ASTM B88 and fittings complying with ASME B16.15 shall be used in accordance with IPC Tables and A total of four one-piece water closets will be provided. Each water closet has rated demand of 6 8 PSI. The service sink has a rated demand of 3 8 PSI. The total plumbing demand is 27 8 PSI, based on the requirements in IPC Table Assuming the use of ½-inch (K=5.6) sprinklers calculated to deliver 0.10 GPM/Ft.² and a sprinkler spacing is 100 Ft.²/sprinkler, the total hydraulic demand for this scenario is 190 GPM. Theoretically, for a building to have a plumbing demand of 190 GPM would require that area of the building to exceed the fire area or occupant load limits in Section If a building has a domestic water demand of 190 GPM or greater, it would be based on the occupancy or occupant load. Under such a scenario the building area or occupant load would be so large that Section would require the building to be required to be protected by a NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the requirements in Sections or Page 3 of 16

4 This code section is currently not based on any particular discharge density. When and if these systems are used, they should be limited based on the hazards being protected. As written, a 1,000 Ft.² paint spray booth, which requires an Extra Hazard Group II discharge density (0.40 GPM/Ft.²) could supposedly be protected using a Limited Area Sprinkler System. However, for such a system to work would require a hydraulic demand of 400 GPM. Using ½-inch sprinklers at a maximum spacing of 100 Ft.²/sprinkler, this would require a minimum design pressure of 51 PSIG sprinkler. Assuming 10 sprinklers are operating, and the length of pipe from the domestic water supply to most remote sprinkler is 150 feet, the total pressure loss would be approximately 20 PSI, assuming a pipe roughness coefficient (C) of 150 and a pipe inside diameter of inches, based on ASTM B88. Many domestic systems are incapable of supplying these types of hydraulic demands using such small pipe diameters, resulting in pressure losses that could exceed the available hydraulic demand. As written this section is in conflict with the requirements in NFPA 13. Section 4.2 of NFPA 13 permits the installation of partial sprinkler systems when it is approved by the authority having jurisdiction. However, the system must be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13. One requirement of NFPA 13 is that the minimum pipe diameter used to supply sprinklers is 1- inch. Comparing this minimum requirement to IPC Table finds that the minimum pipe diameters specified do not comply with NFPA 13 requirements. As a result, systems designed for large hydraulic demands cannot perform as intended, which creates a hazard to the occupants and emergency responders. This proposal offers improvements to the current provisions in Section A Limited Area Sprinkler System can provide limited protection for certain hazards however, such a design should be closely scrutinized given the analysis presented in this proposal. This code change would reduce the number of sprinklers that may be supplied from a building plumbing system to six. It also limits the six sprinklers to a discharge density of Ordinary Hazard Group I or less. The basis for these values are based on a longstanding requirements in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, Section which limits the number and discharge density of automatic sprinklers supplied from a plumbing system. Such a limit is reasonable in that it can allow for a pipe schedule design if the plumbing system is capable of satisfying the NFPA 13 pipe diameter requirements. It also limits these systems so they cannot be used for any hazard that requires a Ordinary Hazard Group II or greater discharge density. No plumbing system was ever intended for the protection of such hazards and this code change now stipulates this. Further, the proposal will require that if either the number of sprinklers or the discharge density is exceeded, the hazard must be protected in accordance with either NFPA 13 or 13R. The term domestic service is not defined. The term plumbing system is a defined term in the IPC and IRC. This proposed code change would apply terminology that is defined in IPC. This clarifies intent of the code requirements when dealing with Limited Area Sprinkler Systems. Page 4 of 16

5 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 20 MRWG-IFC701.1 Scope-004 Revise Title of IFC Chapter 7 as follows: CHAPTER 7 FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES Revise IFC Section as follows: Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall specify the requirements for and the maintenance of fire-resistance-rated construction.the provisions of this chapter govern maintenance of the materials, systems and assemblies used for structural fire resistance and fire-resistance-rated construction separation of adjacent spaces to safeguard against the spread of fire and smoke within a building and the spread of fire to or from buildings. New buildings shall comply with the International Building Code. Reason: This proposal will provide correlation of IBC Chapter 7 which addresses construction of assemblies to limit the spread of fire and smoke with IFC Chapter 7 which addresses maintenance of the constructed assemblies designed to limit the spread of fire and smoke. IBC Chapter 7 is titled Fire and Smoke Protection Features. Since the IFC is intended to maintain those components, a revision in the title of the IFC Chapter to mirror the IBC is appropriate. IBC scope of Chapter reads as follows: Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the materials, systems and assemblies used for structural fire resistance and fire-resistance-rated construction separation of adjacent spaces to safeguard against the spread of fire and smoke within a building and the spread of fire to or from buildings. The proposed scope of IFC Chapter 7 is written to address maintenance of the items covered in the scope of IBC Chapter 7. Therefore, the similarity in the language is appropriate. Page 5 of 16

6 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 21 Revise Title of IFC Chapter 7 as follows: CHAPTER 7 FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES Revise IFC Section as follows: SECTION 703 FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES Inspection and Maintenance. The required fire-resistance rating of fire-resistance-rated constructionconstruction intended to limit the spread of fire or smoke shall be maintained. Such elements shall be visually inspected by the owner annually and properly repaired, restored or replaced when damaged, altered, breached or penetrated. Where concealed, such elements shall not be required to be visually inspected by the owner unless the concealed space is accessible by the removal or movement of a panel, access door, ceiling tile or similar movable entry to the space. Openings made therein for the passage of pipes, electrical conduit, wires, ducts, air transfer openings and holes made for any reason shall be protected with approved methods capable of resisting the passage of smoke and fire. Openings through fire-resistancerated assemblies shall be protected by self- or automatic-closing doors of approved construction meeting the fire protection requirements for the assembly Fireblocking and draftstopping. Required fireblocking and draftstopping in combustible concealed spaces shall be maintained to provide continuity and integrity of the construction. Commentary on Examples of construction features intended to limit the spread of fire and smoke includes walls, firestops, shaft enclosures, partitions, smoke barriers, floors, fire-resistive coatings, and sprayed fire-resistant materials applied to structural member, fire-resistant joint systems and draftstopping. Reason: Clarification to address draftstopping and coordinate language with the IBC. Draftstopping was already added to this chapter but not addressed in the scope of the section or the inspection and maintenance section. Elimination of resulted from the change in Title change for consistency with the IBC: CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE SECTION AND CHAPTER TO FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES Page 6 of 16

7 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 37 MRWG-IMC Extra Heavy Duty Cooking Equip-001 Revise Definition in IMC Section 202 as follows: EXTRA-HEAVY-DUTY COOKING APPLIANCE. Extra-heavy-duty cooking appliances include appliances utilizing solid fuel such as wood, charcoal, briquettes, and mesquite to provide all or part of the heat source for cooking or are used for cooking enhancement or smoke flavoring. Reason: There has been an industry wide move toward the use of solid fuels for the cooking enhancement and smoke flavoring. The industry is attempting to avoid classification as Extra Heavy Duty Cooking appliances by saying their solid fuels do not add to the heat source. These installations involve major national restaurant chains. These arrangements are being regulated in varying forms by AHJ s due to lack of clarification in the IMC s definition as to what devices should be included. Page 7 of 16

8 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 38 Revise IFC Section as follows: [M] Where required. A Type I hood shall be installed at or above all commercial cooking appliances and domestic cooking appliances used for commercial purposes that produce grease vapors. Exception: Factory-built commercial cooking recirculating systems that are tested in accordance with UL 710B and listed, labeled and installed in accordance with Section of the International Mechanical Code. Reason: Add exception from chapter 9 sect to clarify the requirement of the UL 710 B requirement. Page 8 of 16

9 IFC 304; 315; 1030 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM Means of egress. Combustible materials shall not be stored in exits, exit access corridors or enclosures for stairways and ramps. Reason: The code presently does not address storage of combustible materials in exit access corridors. Page 9 of 16

10 IFC , , CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 55 Version (IBC [F] ) Group E. A manual fire alarm system that initiates the occupant notification signal utilizing an emergency voice/alarm communication system meeting the requirements of Section and installed in accordance with Section shall be installed in Group E occupancies. When automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. Exceptions: 1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in Group E occupancies with an occupant load of or less. 2. Group E occupancies with occupant loads greater than 100 shall be provided with an emergency voice/alarm communication system meeting the requirements of Section and installed in accordance with Section Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in Group E occupancies where all of the following apply: Interior corridors are protected by smoke detectors Auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and similar areas are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices Shops and laboratories involving dusts or vapors are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices. 34. Manual fire alarm boxes shall not be required in Group E occupancies where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section , the emergency voice/alarm communication system will activate on sprinkler water flow and manual activation Reason: Many small schools or day cares may consist of one or two rooms. It would be more reasonable to require a voice evacuation with occupancies over 100. Page 10 of 16

11 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEMS 62, 62A MRWG-IBC-013 IBC ITEM 62 and 62a Recommended adding text to the IFC/IBC Commentary as follows: It is recognized that the IBC and IFC and referenced NFPA standards permit sprinklers to be omitted from certain areas. Nevertheless for purposes of this code such buildings are considered sprinklered throughout. Reason: Page 11 of 16

12 MRWG-IBC-IEBC-015 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 85 Revise IBC Section as follows: IBC Conformance with this code. No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any building that would place the building in a different division of the same group of occupancies or in a different group of occupancies, unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of this code for such division or group of occupancies. Subject to the approval of the building official, the use or occupancy of existing buildings shall be permitted to be changed and the building is allowed to be occupied for purposes in other groups without conforming to all the requirements of this code for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is less hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the existing use. Add Section to the IBC as follows: IBC Conformance with the International Residential Code. For buildings constructed in compliance with the International Residential Code, no change shall be made in the use or occupancy of a building which would result in an occupancy regulated by this code unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of this code for the applicable occupancy classification. Subject to the approval of the building official, the use or occupancy of existing buildings shall be permitted to be changed and the building is allowed to be occupied for purposes in other groups without conforming to all the requirements of this code for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is less hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the existing use. (renumber subsequent sections ) Reason: Currently the code contains no provision to transition from IRC to IBC from having no occupancy designation to having an occupancy definition. Page 12 of 16

13 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 93A Code: IBC 12/13 Code Sections Proposed for Revision: IBC Section Revise IBC Section as follows: Elevator car to accommodate ambulance stretcher. Where elevators are provided in buildings four or more stories above, or four or more stories below, grade plane, at least one elevator shall be provided for fire department emergency access to all floors. The elevator car shall be of such a size and arrangement to accommodate an ambulance stretcher 24 inches by 84 inches (610 mm by 2134 mm) with not less than 5-inch (127 mm) radius corners, in the horizontal, open position and shall be identified by the international symbol for emergency medical services (star of life). The symbol shall not be less than 3 inches (76 mm) in height and shall be placed inside on both sides of the hoistway door frame. Reason: To improve fire fighter safety and patient care to recognize the greater occurrence of medical facilities and R occupancies that are 2 and 3 stories. Page 13 of 16

14 MRWG-IFC-021 Revise IFC Section 505 as follows: CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM Address identification. New and existing buildings shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Where required by the fire code official, address numbers shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Address numbers shall be a combination of Arabic numbers and/or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. All characters must be a minimum of 4 inches (101.6 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch (12.7 mm). Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address numbers shall be maintained. Reason: When numbers are spelled out in alpha characters the address is difficult to read in emergency situations. Page 14 of 16

15 MRWG-IFC-021 Revise IFC Section 505 as follows: CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM Address identification. New and existing buildings shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Where required by the fire code official, address numbers shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Address numbers shall be a combination of Arabic numbers and/or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. All characters must be a minimum of 4 inches (101.6 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch (12.7 mm). Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address numbers shall be maintained. Reason: When numbers are spelled out in alpha characters the address is difficult to read in emergency situations. Page 15 of 16

16 CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ITEM 107 MRWG-IBC Committee Suggestion Revise IBC Section as follows: (IFC [B] ) Areas without fixed seating. The number of occupants shall be computed at the rate of one occupant per unit of area as prescribed in Table For areas without fixed seating, the occupant load shall not be less than that number determined by dividing the floor area under consideration by the occupant load factor assigned to the function of the space as set forth in Table Where an intended function is not listed in Table , the building official shall establish a function based on a listed function that most nearly resembles the intended function. Exception: For other than means of egress, fire suppression and alarm requirements, wwhere approved by the building official, the actual number of occupants for whom each occupied space, floor or building is designed, although less than those determined by calculation, shall be permitted to be used in the determination of the design occupant load. Reason: The IBC allows the occupant to vary from the methods of prescriptive calculation identified in the code. This is an acceptable method, however, it could result in the lack of some specific fire and life safety requirements. This proposal will specify that other occupant load determinations should not affect the occupant load used to regulate life safety issues. The actual occupant load is a moving target. Page 16 of 16