Do sprinklers reduce required fire ratings?

[Mech]

2000 NFPA 101

2009 IBC Chapter 34 or 2009 IEBC

Existing Health Care Facility with sprinklers

I need to re-establish a smoke barrier with either a 1/2 hour or 1 hour fire rating. Is there an exception that reduces or eliminates the required fire rating due to the fire suppression system? I skimmed the code quickly but did not find anything.

Thanks

 

[cda]

one problem is you have to go with the stricter of the codes

what is this seperating??

 

[Codegeek]

A Smoke barrier by definition must be a one hour assembly where a smoke partition has no rating. The only reduction I'm seeing is for an I-3 building with a minimum of 0.1 inch thick steel in Section 710.3.

 

[Mech]

what is this separating??

Compartmentation of the building.

I just spoke with a former code reviewer and it seems that in a nursing home, the health department would not relax those rules.

I am going to suggest to the client that we pay for a preliminary review and discuss the possible options with a code reviewer before we waste too much time or money.

Thanks for the info.

 

[steveray]

CG got it.....If it needs to be a smoke barrier....Sprinklers can reduce for corridors and rated structure and some others, but nothing under 709 for SB's....

 

[cda]

I think 101 is going to be your problem

 

[fatboy]

I think 101 is going to be your problem

Usually is.............

 

[Mech]

The code is not the problem . . . making a butchered building comply with it is.

 

[cda]

Ohhhhhhhhh