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Fire Sprinkler System in High Rise

jar546

jar546

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Existing high rise 14 stories all office space B use, older, unsprinklered but with a standpipe system.

Owner wants to take one of the upper floors and turn it into an R use apartments

IBC 2009 applies

They only want to sprinkler the story they are converting.

Thoughts?
 
903.2.8 Group R.

An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area

My thoughts are that the Code is pretty clear. Lacking some relief in the Existing Building Code (unlikely with a Change of Use on an upper floor), it will be required throughout the building.
 
The alternative would be to use chapter 34 evaluation on the building based upon the most restrictive occupancy ® -- i believe they would find out sprinkler system woould be required thoughout!

Standpipes are already required - occupiable floor 30 feet above fire department access --- can't elimnate them for sprinklers anyway!
 
Gotta love this one. Just got a call from the AHJ that I am doing a review for and the RDP's are calling him for relief rather than respond to me. We now have a conference call scheduled for tomorrow.
 
Here is the argument for NOT sprinklering the entire building:

912.1.1.2 bumps us into Level III Alteration (Chapter 8) for just the area being altered. Later in the same section it reads:



912.2.2 Fire sprinkler system: Where a change in occupancy classification occurs that requires and automatic fire sprinkler system to be provided based on the new occupancy in accordance with Chapter 9 of the International Building Code, such system shall be provided throughout the area where the change of occupancy occurs.



(The Work Area is defined as only the area being affected by the alteration).



Chapter 8 for Level III Alterations states that High Rise Buildings:



804.1.1 In high-rise buildings, WORK AREAS

shall be provided with automatic sprinkler protection where the building has a sufficient municipal water supply system to the site.

EVEN WHERE

the work area exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, sprinklers shall be provided in the

SPECIFIED



AREAS

where sufficient municipal water supply for design and installation of a fire sprinkler system is available at the site.





Doesn't this mean that the entire building does not have to be sprinklered even if the affected areas of alteration exceed the 50%?
Click to expand...
 
All responses below are based on the 2012 editions.

I'd say that a fire sprinkler system would be required throughout the building if either IBC Chapter 34 or IEBC Chapter 4, "Prescriptive Compliance Method," is applied.

Chapter 34, IBC, Section 3408.1, and Chapter 4, IEBC, Section 407.1: "No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any building that would place the building in a different division of the same group of occupancies or in a different group of occupancies, unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of this code for such division or group of occupancies."



If the IEBC "Work Area Compliance Method" is applied, then maybe a sprinkler system is only required in the residential area, if the residential area is the only area altered.

Chapter 10, IEBC, Section 1012.1.1: This gets a little convoluted, so bear with me. Section 1012.1.1 states that compliance with Chapter 9 of the IEBC for Level 3 Alterations is applicable to the entire building if the area of the changed occupancy is not separated from the rest of the existing building. If the changed occupancy is separated from the rest of the building, then Chapter 9 of the IEBC is applicable only to the area of the changed occupancy. Additionally, IEBC Section 1012.2.1 for fire sprinklers states,



"Where a change in occupancy classification occurs that requires an automatic fire sprinkler system to be provided based on on the new occupancy in accordance with Chapter 9 of the

Intenrational Building Code

, such system shall be provided throughout the area where the change of occupancy occurs."

IEBC Section 904.1 requires a sprinkler system be installed in all work areas required by IEBC Section 804.2 (for Level 2 Alterations), and if the work area exceeds 50% of the floor, then the entire floor will need to be sprinklered. There is a caveate regarding "sufficient municipal water supply" to the buiding site.

There are many other requirements for changes in occupancy per IEBC Section 1012, so you should check that section out thoroughly, since many of the requirements are based on relative hazard, and going from a Group B to a Group R-2 is considered an increase in the relative hazard.
 
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After my first reply, I peeked at the IEBC (2009) and found the same as noted above. They can apparently sprinkler only the areas undergoing change of use.

Can't win them all Jeff.
 
What parts of IBC 403 would apply for work under the IEBC? For example, a sprinkler system must come into the building from more than 1 location (there is an exception). How does any of that apply on an existing building 14 stories that is not currently sprinklered?
 
If the DP is using the IEBC then you only go to the IBC when sent there from the IEBC. Don't mix and match. It is not a new building. Look at IBC Chapter 9 it specifically states the sprinkler provisions are for "new" construction.

Unless the IEBC specifically sends you to IBC Chapter 403 it is not applicable
 
Look on the bright side... at least the R will get sprinklered. Safe to say they have well rated stair enclosures?

The premise of the EBC is to encourage reuse of existing buildings, so it offers a lot of breaks. Perhaps someone will write a change proposal to include the means of egress also in cases like this (like appendix J in the ResCode).
 
And the R gets to meet current energy code.....Which might mean a new roof....

101.4.4 Change in occupancy or use. Spaces undergoing a change in occupancy that would result in an increase in demand for either fossil fuel or electrical energy shall comply with this code. Where the use in a space changes from one use in Table 505.5.2 to another use in Table 505.5.2, the installed lighting wattage shall comply with Section 505.5.
 
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