• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

Name That Violation- Fire Code Edition

Cite the NFPA or IFC section that covers this violation.
View attachment 11142
912.4 Access. Immediate access to fire department connections
shall be maintained at all times and without obstruction
by fences, bushes, trees, walls or any other fixed or moveable
object. Access to fire department connections shall be
approved by the fire code official.
 
912.4.2 Clear space around connections.
A working space of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in width, 36 inches (914 mm) in depth and 78 inches (1981 mm) in height shall be provided and maintained in front of and to the sides of wall-mounted fire department connections and around the circumference of free-standing fire department connections, except as otherwise required or approved by the fire code official.

903.4.2 Alarms.
An approved audible device, located on the exterior of the building in an approved location, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system.....

Our approved location for a horn strobe is above the FDC so it is easy to find at night.
 
In theory NFPA 25 13.8.1(1). It's not really accessible.

We had a similar issue where a contractor had been hired to install concrete barriers to protect the FDC from snowplows. The contractor (to their credit) called us to see how access had to be maintained. We referred them to the fire department. The fire department then called us to see what to tell them.
 
NFPA 1, sections 13.1.4 & 13.1.5. The language isn't quite as specific as the IFC in terms of what constitutes an obstruction, but as is common with a lot of NFPA standards, I suspect that is intentional. It's left up to the judgement of the AHJ.
 
Top