The fire alarm section quote only applies when the threshold for requiring manual fire alarm systems in a building.... such as 907.2.7 for group M occupancy..... The electronic monitoring and connection for a sprinkler system is required unless one of the exceptions to 903.4 can be met or allowed.
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,
andwater-flowswitches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised.
Exceptions:
1. Automatic sprinkler systems protecting one- and two-family dwellings.
2. Limited area systems serving fewer than 20 sprinklers. 3. Automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance
withNFPA 13R where a common supply main is used to supply both domestic water and the automatic
sprinkler system, and a separate shutoff valve for theautomatic sprinkler system is not provided.
4. Jockey pump control valves that are sealed or locked in the open position.
5. Control valves to commercial kitchen hoods, paint spray booths or dip tanks that are sealed or locked in
the open position.
6. Valves controlling the fuel supply to fire pump engines that are sealed or locked in the open position.
7. Trim valves to pressure switches in dry, preaction and deluge sprinkler systems that are sealed or locked in
the open position.
903.4.1 Signals. Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals
shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved central station, remote supervising
station or proprietary supervising station as defined in NFPA 72 or, when approved by the fire code official, shall
sound an audible signal at a constantly attended location.
Exceptions:
1. Underground key or hub valves in roadway boxes provided by the municipality or public utility are
not required to be monitored.
2. Backflow prevention device test valves located in limited area sprinkler system supply piping shall
be locked in the open position. In occupancies required to be equipped with a fire alarm system,
the backflow preventer valves shall be electrically supervised by a tamper switch installed in accordance
with NFPA 72 and separately annunciated.
903.4.2 Alarms. Approved audible devices shall be connected to every automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler
water-flow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest
orifice size installed in the system. Alarm devices shall be provided on the exterior of the building in an approved location.
Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire
alarm system.
So in the un-amended IFC/IBC, A group M occupancy that is sprinkled only requires electronic monitoring, Ability to call a central station, and a water gong on the exterior of the building UNTIL the threshold of 907.2.7 are met - at which time notification devices, monitoring of duct detectors, smokes, etc. are required.
This section has a lot of local amendments so be sure to check with your AHJ before saying it ain't required......
