3 story wood framed without sprinklers

[Hyrax4978]

Does anyone know of any way to get a three story wood framed structure, B use group, without sprinklers? allowable stories is 2, then you can get an adder for sprinklers. But is there any other sections of the code that will allow a three story wood framed structure without using sprinklers?

 

[fatboy]

Not that I can see.

 

[classicT]

Wood frame, 3 stories is doable. But for a "B", nope - answer was in the question itself.

 

[Paul Sweet]

Type VA - one-hour rated wood frame.

 

[steveray]

Agree with Paul....Or IIIB with the FRTW exception for the exterior walls.....

 

[JBI]

I also agree with Paul... VA construction allows 3 stories for a B w/out sprinklers.

IIIB still requires a non-combustible exterior even with limited amounts of FRTW.

 

[fatboy]

I defaulted to VB, my bad........

 

[steveray]

I also agree with Paul... VA construction allows 3 stories for a B w/out sprinklers.

IIIB still requires a non-combustible exterior even with limited amounts of FRTW.

Where do you get limited JBI?

602.3 Type III. Type III construction is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of any material
permitted by this code. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies of a 2-hour rating or less.

As much as I don't like it, we get 5 story apartment building out of wood these days...

 

[ADAguy]

without sprinklers ??? !!!! Is it insurable?

 

[Yikes]

Don't know where the OP is located, but these days many municipalities have locally amended the building and/or fire code to require sprinklers anyway, so please check locally before you rely on a generic code answer from us.
I've heard (can somebody verify?) when a city has a mandatory sprinkler ordinance in effect, the NFPA and insurance companies allow longer fire dept. response times, which can mean building fire stations further apart and eventually reducing pension costs.

 

[ADAguy]

A bit of a stretch, no? If you reduced the number of stations by 10% in a major city maybe but not in smaller cities.

 

[cda]

Don't know where the OP is located, but these days many municipalities have locally amended the building and/or fire code to require sprinklers anyway, so please check locally before you rely on a generic code answer from us.
I've heard (can somebody verify?) when a city has a mandatory sprinkler ordinance in effect, the NFPA and insurance companies allow longer fire dept. response times, which can mean building fire stations further apart and eventually reducing pension costs.

Connecticut

Have not heard about longer responses, maybe some areas ???

I am thinking no, because of other variables

 

[Msradell]

A bit of a stretch, no? If you reduced the number of stations by 10% in a major city maybe but not in smaller cities.

It applies to smaller cities I know one small city that Reduced from 4 to 3 fire stations and from 20 to 16 men on duty each shift. After they pass such an ordinance. That certainly translates to some very significant $ savings.