I-2 use group and 5a construction precedence Nursing home Question

[Gina M]

I-2 condition 1 is required to be fire suppressed (504.3). Our project is 5a type construction and so primary structural frame members are protected (601). Section 407 deals specifically with I-2 occupancy. In 407 fire ratings are not required but only smoke partitions. Often in code if a building is fire suppressed, fire ratings can be down graded or eliminated.
My question has to do with Table 1020 and corridors. I-2 occupancy that is suppressed (as required in 504) indicates no rating required for corridors as long as 407.2 and 407.3 sections are met. Are members, like corridor walls, still needing to be protected (601) because the building is fire suppressed? The impact to things such as mechanical systems- ie fire dampers can be substantial. Does one take precedence over another?

 

[RLGA]

Where does Section 601/Table 601 require corridors to be fire rated?

Fire-resistance ratings for construction type and fire-resistance-rated assemblies are not one and the same. Fire-resistance-rated assemblies consist of fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and horizontal assemblies. The fire-resistance rating associated with a construction type is to protect the physical structure of the building, whereas a fire-resistance-rated assembly minimizes the spread of fire through a building.

Openings and penetrations in a wall that is fire-rated based on construction type are not required to be protected. However, openings and penetrations in a fire-resistance-rated assembly must be protected.

The only real exception is the horizontal assembly. Horizontal assemblies that are required to be fire-rated based on construction type must have protected openings per Chapter 7 (there are exceptions).

 

[KHL]

In my experience with I2 - and like you mention - the corridor walls would be smoke partitions per IBC 2018 407.3.1, and 710 and table 1020.1.
But if you are VA, and one of your corridor walls was a bearing wall, then I believe it would need to have the 1-hour fire resistive rating per table 601.

If you haven't already, I would suggest you are also doing a code review using NFPA 101 also - the feds (and often State agencies governing I2 uses use NFPA, whereas your local jurisdiction likely is using IBC. So you have to meet both.

 

[Sifu]

Openings and penetrations in a wall that is fire-rated based on construction type are not required to be protected. However, openings and penetrations in a fire-resistance-rated assembly must be protected.

I have relied on this many times in the past, but have been perplexed by the actual code language, which does not include "penetrations". Oversight or intentional? It has not changed in the 2021, nor any changes proposed in the 2024 as far as I know.

 

[steveray]

Openings and penetrations in a wall that is fire-rated based on construction type are not required to be protected. However, openings and penetrations in a fire-resistance-rated assembly must be protected.

I think this sums it up the best....If the wall is rated for structure (T601), the "openings" are not regulated, but the structure still needs to be protected at those openings....If it is a firewall, fire barrier, fire partition, or other Ch. 7 "fire spread" assembly, then the openings and penetratons get handled accordingly....