Fire area separation -- fire barrier v. fire wall

[kurt999]

IBC 2018

903.2.3 Group E
"An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies as follows:
1.Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 12,000 square feet (1115 m2) in area.
2.The Group E fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such occupancies.
Exception: In buildings where every classroom has not fewer than one exterior exit door at ground level, an automatic sprinkler system is not required in any area below the lowest level of exit discharge serving that area.
3.The Group E fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more."

I've confused myself a bit on this -- once the fire area is greater than 12,000 SF -- is a fire wall or a fire barrier required to separate non-sprinklered fire areas?

Thank you --

 

[Joe.B]

Lot's of unknowns, such as construction type. Check out Table 506.2

 

[Joe.B]

And don't forget the footnotes.

 

[RLGA]

I've confused myself a bit on this -- once the fire area is greater than 12,000 SF -- is a fire wall or a fire barrier required to separate non-sprinklered fire areas?

Either one or both. See the definition of a fire area in Chapter 2.

 

[steveray]

The FB is the easier one to build....And 2 hours BTW..

 

[Paul Sweet]

The entire building must be sprinklered if a sprinkler system is required by code. A fire wall creates 2 buildings (one sprinklered and one not), a fire barrier doesn't.