Historic R2 - To be sprinkled or not?

[TheFirstRobyn]

Hello and good day.

I'm working on a renovation of a historic apartment building in Topeka, KS. I am trying to determine whether fire sprinklers are required. (We are having some disagreement in the office.)

The building is two stories above grade and one below, occupancy type is not changing and is R2. The renovation is an alteration level 3 per IEBC. The building is not currently occupied and has been stripped to studs with the exception of the perimeter walls which retain the original plaster.

Everything I'm seeing in IBC and IEBC says sprinklers are required.

But the project manager insists that based on IBC 102.6.2 that sprinklers are not required. I'm not convinced that that is an adequate interpretation or that this one reference is enough to make this determination anyway.

IBC 102.6.2 Buildings previously occupied.
The legal occupancy of any building existing on the date of adoption of this code shall be permitted to continue without change, except as otherwise specifically provided in this code, the International Fire Code or International Property Maintenance Code, or as is deemed necessary by the building official for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public.


Any insights?

 

[mtlogcabin]

except as otherwise specifically provided in this code,

2018 IEBC

SECTION 904
FIRE PROTECTION

904.1 Automatic sprinkler systems.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in a work area where required by Section 802.2 or this section.

904.1.4 Other required automatic sprinkler systems.
In buildings and areas listed in Table 903.2.11.6 of the International Building Code, work areas that have exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant or that have exits or corridors serving an occupant load greater than 30 shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system under the following conditions:

1. The work area is required to be provided with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the International Building Code applicable to new construction.

2. The building site has sufficient municipal water supply for design and installation of an automatic sprinkler system.

 

[classicT]

I disagree in your colleagues impression of 102.6.2. "...shall be permitted to continue without change" is the key here. Change is happening. Therefore, IEBC applies and as a Level 3 Alteration, one must look at 904.1.4.

 

[steveray]

Yep...102.6.2 is def wrong....

 

[TheFirstRobyn]

The argument is that change is not happening to the occupancy type so basically we are going to pretend like sprinklers are not required since the building has never been sprinkled. I'm being overruled on this one since I'm the new kid on the block. We will see what the code reviewers say.

Thanks for your insights.