Hello All,
I have a 117,000 SF sports facility being built under the 2015 IBC in my jurisdiction that will be used for sporting events and practice, with a concession stand. They are adding moveable bleachers which I would view as putting this into the A-4 occupancy classification with the concession stand being an accessory occupancy to the A-4.
Section 507.4 Sprinklered, one story buildings, exception 2 states that "The automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in areas occupied for indoor participant sports, such as tennis, skating, swimming and equestrian activities in occupancies in Group A-4, provided that both of the following criteria are met:". Those criteria being exits leading directly to the outside, and manual fire alarm pull stations in accordance with 907. This building does meet both of those criteria, and the general requirements of 507.4. They are installing sprinklers in the entry vestibule, and the concession stand/bathroom structure but not the main floor area over the sporting fields.
I cannot find any similar exceptions in chapter 9 allowing for the exemption of sprinklers above the areas occupied for sporting events. The building clearly exceeds the fire area of 12,000 SF, AND the occupant load of 300 sprinkler thresholds set out in 903.2.1.4. I am also not finding this exception in the IFC, and it is giving our Fire Marshall some hesitation.
My question is: does the exception in section 507.4 modify the requirements of 903.2.1.4? Will utilizing this exception satisfy other sections requiring an automatic sprinkler system throughout the building in accordance with section 903? Without installing sprinklers above the sporting areas can this building be considered fully sprinklered in all areas of the code, or is that exception exclusively for the application of the heights and areas in chapter 5?
Thanks in advance.
I have a 117,000 SF sports facility being built under the 2015 IBC in my jurisdiction that will be used for sporting events and practice, with a concession stand. They are adding moveable bleachers which I would view as putting this into the A-4 occupancy classification with the concession stand being an accessory occupancy to the A-4.
Section 507.4 Sprinklered, one story buildings, exception 2 states that "The automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in areas occupied for indoor participant sports, such as tennis, skating, swimming and equestrian activities in occupancies in Group A-4, provided that both of the following criteria are met:". Those criteria being exits leading directly to the outside, and manual fire alarm pull stations in accordance with 907. This building does meet both of those criteria, and the general requirements of 507.4. They are installing sprinklers in the entry vestibule, and the concession stand/bathroom structure but not the main floor area over the sporting fields.
I cannot find any similar exceptions in chapter 9 allowing for the exemption of sprinklers above the areas occupied for sporting events. The building clearly exceeds the fire area of 12,000 SF, AND the occupant load of 300 sprinkler thresholds set out in 903.2.1.4. I am also not finding this exception in the IFC, and it is giving our Fire Marshall some hesitation.
My question is: does the exception in section 507.4 modify the requirements of 903.2.1.4? Will utilizing this exception satisfy other sections requiring an automatic sprinkler system throughout the building in accordance with section 903? Without installing sprinklers above the sporting areas can this building be considered fully sprinklered in all areas of the code, or is that exception exclusively for the application of the heights and areas in chapter 5?
Thanks in advance.
