Fire Alarm Requirements in Existing Church

[msilva94]

Hiall,

I’m working on a 4-floor church (basement + three floors) that had a main water line burst, which caused major structural damage. As part of the renovation, they’re adding an elevator and relocating the kitchen. I’m treating the basement as new space they're turning an old Sunday-school space into an entertainment and event area.

Here’s where I’m stuck. The original as-builts show a FACP and devices throughout the building, but after several walkthroughs all I’ve seen are battery-operated smoke alarms at best. There’s no sign of a functioning fire alarm system.

With the new elevator, the relocated kitchen, and the corridor connecting the two being renovated, I’m trying to figure out how to handle fire alarm coverage. The elevator will need a smoke detector, and the kitchen hood will need an Ansul system. But the church doesn’t have the budget to install a full building-wide fire alarm system. Most of the first, second and third floors are existing to remain.

Has anyone dealt with something similar? I’m wondering what the scope can end up being - can I get away with just the new areas, or does this require a full system upgrade?

Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

To my understanding the code dictates:

• Level 1 Alteration: Minor updates like finishes or equipment replacement. Fire alarm upgrades are usually not required unless the system is being directly modified.
  • This will not apply for the basement level and kitchen area.
• Level 2 Alteration: Reconfiguration of space, changes to egress, or system upgrades. Fire alarm updates may be required in the affected areas.
  • I believe this is where scope will fall into place. I will add a FACP, but devices will only be in the elevator/basement/kitchen areas.
    However, a new FACP can be determined as a full upgrade?
• Level 3 Alteration: Work that involves more than 50% of the building area. This often triggers broader code compliance, including fire alarm upgrades
  • Less than 50% is being altered.

 

[Codeguy49]

I'm in the model 2021 IEBC and 2021 IMC (you'll want to look at the codes in your state for comparison)

I think Level 1 can be removed from the options. The scope of work is well beyond this.

For a Level 2 or 3 determination, how much of the floor area is within the work scope? If over 50% of the floor area then Level 3 likely applies.

As far as the Type I Hood/Ansul system goes, this will be dependent on the type of equipment installed and if smoke/grease is created when cooking activities take place.

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IMC 507.2​

Type I hoods shall be installed where cooking appliances produce grease or smoke as a result of the cooking process. Type I hoods shall be installed over medium-duty, heavy-duty and extra-heavy-duty cooking appliances.

Exception: A Type I hood shall not be required for an electric cooking appliance where an approved testing agency provides documentation that the appliance effluent contains 5 mg/m3 or less of grease when tested at an exhaust flow rate of 500 cfm (0.236 m3/s) in accordance with UL 710B.

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IMC 507.3​

Type II hoods shall be installed above dishwashers and appliances that produce heat or moisture and do not produce grease or smoke as a result of the cooking process, except where the heat and moisture loads from such appliances are incorporated into the HVAC system design or into the design of a separate removal system.

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IMC Definitions

Medium-duty cooking appliances include electric discrete element ranges (with or without oven), electric and gas hot-top ranges, electric and gas griddles, electric and gas double-sided griddles, electric and gas fryers (including open deep fat fryers, donut fryers, kettle fryers and pressure fryers), electric and gas conveyor pizza ovens, electric and gas tilting skillets (braising pans) and electric and gas rotisseries.

Extra-heavy-duty cooking appliances are those utilizing open flame combustion of solid fuel at any time.

Heavy-duty cooking appliances include electric under-fired broilers, electric chain (conveyor) broilers, gas under-fired broilers, gas chain (conveyor) broilers, gas open-burner ranges (with or without oven), electric and gas wok ranges, smokers, smoker ovens, and electric and gas over-fired (upright) broilers and salamanders.

 

[msilva94]

Less than 50% will be renovated, but there is a new structure being erected (for the elevator and new stairwell).
A hood is being provided for the range, does IMC507 dictate that an additional hood be provided for dishwasher?

 

[steveray]

Less than 50% will be renovated, but there is a new structure being erected (for the elevator and new stairwell).
A hood is being provided for the range, does IMC507 dictate that an additional hood be provided for dishwasher?

Is it a high temp dishwasher?

 

[Codeguy49]

Less than 50% will be renovated, but there is a new structure being erected (for the elevator and new stairwell).
A hood is being provided for the range, does IMC507 dictate that an additional hood be provided for dishwasher?

Sounds like Level 2 alteration, addition, and possible change of occupancy to me but you might want to confirm with the AHJ.

Also, Chapter 11 of the IEBC becomes applicable with the addition for the elevator/stairway, unless the AHJ does not view it as an addition.

Addition: "An extension or increase in floor area, number of stories, or height of a building or structure."

 

[Tim Mailloux]

For a Level 2 or 3 determination, how much of the floor area is within the work scope? If over 50% of the floor area then Level 3 likely applies.

Level 3 alterations apply where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the aggregate building area, not 50% of the floor area.