August 1, 2016
Bathrooms in I-1 Occupancies ?We have a 2 story building of Type V-A Construction with a mix use group of I-1 Condition 1, I-2, A-2. The attic space has sprinkler protection and the interstitial space between the first and second floor is completely filled with insulation. The bathrooms in the I-1 Condition 1 units are less than 55 sq. ft. Will sprinklers be required in these bathrooms?? We have reviewed NFPA 13, 2010 edition that you indicated as the applicable standard as well as the 2012 editions of the Life Safety Code (LSC) and the IBC. Our informal interpretation is that sprinklers are not required in the bathrooms for the I-1 occupancy provided there is separation between the I-1 and I-2 occupancies. The persons located within the I-1 occupancy are capable of self-preservation. The base requirement is 8.15.8.1.1 that says sprinklers shall not be required in bathrooms that are located within dwelling units, that do not exceed 55 sq. ft. in area, and that have walls and ceilings of noncombustible or limited-combustible materials with a 15-minute thermal barrier rating, including the walls and ceilings behind any shower enclosure or tub. This is followed by 8.15.8.1.2 that says sprinklers shall be required in bathrooms of limited care facilities and nursing homes, as defined in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. The 2012 edition of the LSC defines a limited care facility in 3.3.88.2 as a building or portion of a building used on a 24-hour basis for the housing of four or more persons who are incapable of self-preservation because of age; physical limitations due to accident or illness; or limitations such as mental retardation/developmental disability, mental illness, or chemical d ependency. A nursing home is defined in 3.3.140.2 as a building or portion of a building used on a 24-hour basis for the housing and nursing care of four or more persons who, because of mental or physical incapacity, might be unable to provide for their own needs and safety without the assistance of another person. Both of these definitions indicate that the persons are incapable of self-preservation and would need sprinklers in the bathroom. The LSC seems to align with the IBC, 2012 edition for self-preservation. The Institutional Group I-1 occupancy in 308.3 shall include buildings, structures or portions thereof for more than 16 persons who reside on a 24- hour basis in a supervised environment and receive custodial care. The persons receiving care are capable of self- preservation. The Institutional Group I-2 occupancy in 308.4 shall include buildings and structures used for medical care on a 24-hour basis for more than five persons who are incapable of self-preservation . The Condition 1 is described in 308.5.1 as an occupancy that shall include buildings in which free movement is allowed from sleeping areas, and other spaces where access or occupancy is permitted, to the exterior via means of egress without restraint. A Condition 1 facility is permitted to be constructed as Group R. As such, sprinklers would be required within small bathrooms in an I-2 occupancy, but not for an I-1 occupancy provided there is separation between the occupancies. The IBC in 508.3.1 says that non-separated occupancies shall be individually classified in accordance with Section 302.1. The requirements of this code shall apply to each portion of the building based on the occupancy classification of that space. In addition, the most restrictive provisions of Chapter 9 which apply to the non-separated occupancies shall apply to the total non-separated occupancy area. Thus, if there was no separation between the I-1 and I-2 occupancies, then the highest level of protection is provided in the total non-separated area. This would indicate that sprinklers would be required in the bathrooms of the I-1 occupancy. ------------ Technical Update is prepared by the Technical Services Dept. of the AFSA: Roland Huggins, a PE registered in fire protection engineering, Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services; and Tom Wellen, a PE registered in fire protection engineering. This is provided with the understanding that the AFSA assumes no liability for this opinion or actions taken on it and they are not to be considered the official position of the NFPA or its technical committees. Copyright 2016, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All Rights Reserved. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.firesprinkler.org/private.cgi/sprinklernotes-firesprinkler.org/attachments/20160801/431d9b98/attachment.htm>
