Re: Sprinkler Standards, Sentence 3.2.5.13.(2)
Project Description
The subjects are two mixed use buildings, three and four storeys in building
height. The buildings consist of one level of below grade parking, the first
storey of retail or office space, and the remainder of floors above exclusively
for residential occupancy. The storage garage is considered to be a separate
building as per Article 3.2.1.2.
Reason for Appeal
Sentence 3.2.5.13.(2) indicates: Instead of the requirements of Sentence (1),
NFPA 13R, “installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to
and Including Four Stories in Height,” is permitted to be used for the design,
construction, installation and testing of an automatic sprinkler system
installed in a building of residential occupancy throughout, not more than 4
storeys in building height conforming to Article 3.2.2.42., Article 3.2.2.43.,
Article 3.2.23.45. or Article 3.2.2.48.
Appellant’s Position
The appellant contends the requirements for sprinklers are made through the
construction requirements of Articles 3.2.2.20. through 3.2.2.83. and can be
made on a floor by floor basis (provided the storeys below a required
sprinklered floor are also sprinkled). This would allow the upper residential
floors to sprinklered to the NFPA 13R standard, with the lower levels of
commercial/office to be sprinklered to the NFPA 13 standard.
Building Official's Position
The Building Official contends Sentence 3.2.5.13.(2) permits the use of the NFPA
13R system only in a building of residential occupancy throughout. As there are
other major occupancies within the buildings, these buildings cannot be
considered to be residential throughout and all storeys requiring fire
sprinklers must have a system conforming to NFPA13.
Appeal Board Decision #1632
It is the determination of the Board that a NFPA 13R sprinkler system is
intended only for use in a residential (Group C) building that does not
incorporate any other major occupancy. The applicable sprinkler standard for the
subject building is NFPA 13 “Installation of Sprinkler Systems”.
George Humphrey, Chair
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