Cecil, Connecting the IFC and NFPA 13 dots is not always easy. Many design professionals and code officials use Section 2704.2.2.3 to reduce the design area because all H occupancies are prescribed by the IBC to have a minimum one-hour fire barrier separating the Group H use from any other mixed occupancies. I understand what the requirements of the IFC hazardous materials sprinkler provisions are but realistically, NFPA 13 allows design areas to be adjusted using some form of fire-resistive separation. The IBC prescribes the level of construction and degree of fire-resistance and further prescribes the use of either listed assemblies or fire-resistive construction designs validated by an ASTM E-119 test. None of the codes and standards are perfect, but at least the IBC does specify the use fire-resistive separation that has a validated design.
The other reason is found in IBC Section 901.7. With the exception of Group I, R and H-5 occupancies, automatic sprinkler protection is only required in the Group H fire area, not the area of the building. If my fire area is only 1,000 square feet, yet the IFC, NFPA 13, or any other standard prescribes a larger design area, there is no real benefit in increasing the design area. The IBC and IFC only anticipate a single event: the fire occurs in the Group H and the automatic sprinklers control the fire while the fire-resistive separation limits its spread, or the fire occurs outside the Group H occupancy and the fire-resistive construction limits the fire spread to the Group H. In the latter scenario, the sprinklers will protect the stored hazardous materials if the fire-resistive construction is compromised or has such a high heat release and burning rates to exceed the design limits of the fire-resistive assembly. I will grant you I wish the language was improved and more explicit. But as someone whose been dealing with hazardous materials for over 25 years I can tell you these design approaches are commonly applied and are approved by fire and building code officials. Scott Stookey Senior Technical Staff - Business & Product Development International Code Council (ICC) 807 Sweetwater River Drive Austin, Texas 78748-2238 Office: 1-888-422-7233 (ICC-SAFE) X 3473 (FIRE) Cellular: 512-716-9595 [email protected] www.iccsafe.org -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sprinkler Academy - C Bilbo Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:27 PM To: FORUM Subject: IFC requirements Hi Scott, What a great reference for future use! I can see where the 3,000 sq ft minimum could apply, but I don't really see how the IFC allows the reduction of the design to the room only (not that I thought it should). Based on the language of 2704.5 which reads (and I realize you already know the language), "Indoor storage areas and storage buildings shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. The design of the sprinkler system shall not be less than that required for Ordinary Hazard Group 2 with a minimum design area of 3,000 square feet (279 m2). Where the materials or storage arrangement are required by other regulations to be provided with a higher level of sprinkler system protection, the higher level of sprinkler system protection shall be provided." I would also read 2704.2.2.3 to base the design of the containment on the area of the room or of the storage here. I don't think this is stating that the remote area for the sprinkler system could be reduced to that area. In this particular case, it's also my assertion that we would still look to NFPA 13 to find the direction for our minimum remote area size and which densities to apply when we have mixed occupancies. I think we are on the same page but wanted to run this by you to be sure. It should be recognized that the above is my opinion as a member of the NFPA 13 Committee on Installation Criteria representing the NFSA, and has not been processed as a formal interpretation in accordance with the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects and should therefore not be considered, nor relied upon, as the official position of the NFSA nor the NFPA, nor any of their technical committees. Sincerely, Cecil Bilbo Academy of Fire Sprinkler Technology Champaign, IL 845-878-4200 x138 www.sprinkleracademy.com _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
