§ 34-36. Fire-protection systems

Sec. 901.5 amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 901.5 Installation acceptance testing. All required tests shall be conducted by and at the expense of the owner or his representative. The Fire Department shall not be held incurred in such test or responsible for any damages. Where it is required that the Fire Department witness any such test, such test shall be scheduled with a minimum of 48 hour notice to the Fire Chief or his representative.

Sec. 901.6 is amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 901.6 Inspection, testing and maintenance. Nonrequired fire protection systems and equipment, once installed, shall be inspected, tested, and maintained according to applicable standards or removed.

Sec. 901.7 is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 901.7 Systems out of service. Where a required fire protection system is out of service or in the event of an excessive number of accidental activations, the fire department and the fire code official shall be notified immediately and, where required by the fire code official, the building shall either be evacuated or an approved fire watch and/or standby personnel shall be provided at the expense of the building owner for all occupants left unprotected by the shut down until the fire protection system has been returned to service.

Where utilized, standby personnel shall be provided with at least one approved means for notification of the fire department and their only duty shall be to perform constant patrols of the protected premises and keep watch for fires.

Sec. 902.1 is amended by the addition of the following:

FIRE WATCH. A temporary measure intended to ensure continuous systematic surveillance of a building or portion thereof by one or more qualified individuals or standby personnel when required by the fire code official, for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, raising an alarm of fire and notifying the fire department.

STANDBY PERSONNEL. Qualified fire service personnel, approved by the Fire Chief. When utilized, the number required shall be as directed by the Fire Chief. Charges for utilization shall be as normally calculated by the jurisdiction. *Clarify Fee Schedule*—See 403.1 amendment

Sec. 902.1; under "Standpipe, Types of" definition, amend "manual dry" to read as follows:

Manual Dry. A dry standpipe system that does not have a permanent water supply attached to the system. Manual dry standpipe systems require water from a fire department pumper to be pumped into the system through the fire department connection in order to supply the system demand. The system must be supervised as specified in Section 905.2.

Sec. 903.2; delete the exception:

Exception: Spaces or areas in telecommunications building used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated electrical power distribution equipment, batteries and standby engines, provided those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system and are separated from the remainder of the building by fire barriers consisting of not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated walls and 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assemblies.

Sec. 903.2.1.1, 903.2.1.3, 903.2.1.4, 903.2.2, 903.2.2 903.2.3, 903.2.6, 903.2.8, and 903.2.8.1 change to read as follows:

Sec. 903.2.1.1 Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-1 Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet (557.4m).

2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.

3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.

4. The fire area contains a multi theater complex.

Sec. 903.2.1.3 Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be for Group A-3 Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet (557.4m2).

2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.

3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.

Sec. 903.2.1.4 Group A-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-1 Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet (557.4m).

2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.

3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.

Sec. 903.2.2 Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 6,000 square feet (557.4m) in area;

2. Throughout every portion of educational building below the level of exit discharge.

Sec. 903.2.3 Group F-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group F-1 Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. Where a Group F-1 fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet (557.4m);

2. Where a Group F-1 fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane; or

3. Where combined area of all Group F-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230m).

Sec. 903.2.6 Group M. An automatic sprinkler system shall be for Group M Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. Where a Group M fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet (557.4m);

2. Where a Group M fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane; or

3. Where the combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230m).

Sec. 903.2.8 Group S-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be for Group S-1 Occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:

1. A Group S-1 fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet (557.4m);

2. A Group S-1 fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane; or

3. The combined area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230m).

Sec. 903.2.8.1 Repair Garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be for Repair Garages where one of the following conditions exists:

1. Buildings two or more stories in height, including basements, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 6,000 square feet (557.4m);

2. One-story buildings with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 6,000 square feet (557.4m);

3. Buildings with a repair garage servicing vehicles parked in the basement.

Sec. 903.2.8.3 is amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 903.2.8.3 Self-service storage facility. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all self-service storage facilities. New self-service storage facilities constructed within the city and additions to existing self-service storage facilities shall install a protective screen at least eighteen (18) inches below the level of the sprinkler heads to restrict storage above that level. This screen shall be a mesh of not less than one (1) inch nor greater than six (6) inches in size. The screen and its supports shall be installed such that all elements are at least eighteen (18) inches below any sprinkler heads.

Sec. 903.2.10 is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 903.2.10 All occupancies except R-3 and U. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in the locations set for in Sections 903.2.10.1 through 903.2.10.8.

Exception: Group R-3 and Group U.

Sec. 903.2.10.3; change 903.2.10.3 to read as follows:

903.2.10.3 Buildings more than 35 feet in height. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings with a floor level, other than penthouses in compliance with Section 1509 of the International Building Code, that are located 35 feet (10,668 mm) or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Exception: Open parking structures in compliance with Section 406.3 of the International Building Code.

Sec. 903.2.10; add 903.2.10.4, 903.2.10.5, 903.2.10.6, 903.2.10.7, and 903.2.10.8 as follows:

Sec. 903.2.10.4 High Piled Combustible Storage. For any building with a clear height exceeding 12 feet (4,572 mm), see Chapter 23 of the International Fire Code to determine if those provisions apply.

Sec. 903.2.10.5 Spray Booths and Rooms. New and existing spray booths and spraying rooms shall be protected by an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system regardless of the size of the fire area.

Sec. 903.2.10.6 Buildings Over 6,000 sq. ft. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all buildings over 6,000 sq. ft. and greater, and in all existing buildings that are enlarged to be 6,000 square feet or greater, and in buildings greater than 6,000 square feet which are enlarged. For the purpose of this provision, fire walls shall not define separate buildings nor shall two buildings on the same lot built in accordance with Section 704.3, unless the buildings are separated by a minimum distance of 10 feet.

Exceptions:

1. Open parking garages in compliance with Section 406.3 of the International Building Code.

2. Type A-5 when constructed entirely of non-combustible, non-flammable materials.

Sec. 903.2.10.7 Expanded Tenant Spaces. Fire sprinklers shall be installed in all tenant spaces where the total fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet. For the purpose of fire sprinklers, fire walls shall not be used to separate single tenant fire areas.

Sec. 903.3.1.1.1; change to read as follows:

Sec. 903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations. When approved by the code official, automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an approved automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. Sprinklers shall not be omitted from any room merely because it is damp, of fire-resistance-rated construction or contains electrical equipment.

1. Any room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire hazard.

2. Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents, when approved by the code official.

3. Generator and transformer rooms, under the direct control of a public utility, separated from the remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.

Sec. 903.3.1.2 is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 903.3.1.2 NFPA 13 R sprinkler systems. Where allowed in buildings of Group R, up to and including four stories in height, automatic sprinklers shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13R. Sprinkler systems installed in accordance with 13R shall include sprinkler protection in combustible attics of buildings two (2) or more stories in height.

Sec. 903.3.1 is amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 903.3.1.4 Installation. Automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems shall be installed with the following:

1. A single underground supply and point for the Fire Department Connection (FDC) shall be provided for all buildings.

2. Fire department connections serving more than 500 GPM shall be provided with one 5-inch Storz connection and one 2½ inch connection.

3. All inspectors' test, ball-drips, and main-drains shall be piped directly to the outside of the building.

4. At least one inspection test valve shall be located at the remote system area.

5. Risers shall be located in heated areas and shall not be located in an exterior wall. Risers located in a wall between a heated area and an unheated area (such as an attached garage or attic space) shall have its access panel facing the heated area.

6. Fire pumps shall be equipped with a properly sized test header.

7. Underground piping shall have a 10-foot minimum separation from all other utilities and placed in a separate trench. Underground piping within 5 feet of the building may be combined with other utilities for entrance to the building.

8. Porches and balconies shall be sprinklered on all Group R-2 and R-3 occupancies.

9. A minimum of 4-feet of pipe between the check valve and inside wall of the Fire Department Connection.

Sec. 903.3.5; add a second paragraph to read as follows:

Sec. 903.3.5 Water supplies. Water supply as required for such systems shall be provided in conformance with the supply requirements of the respective standards; however, every fire protection system shall be designed with a 10 psi safety factor.

Sec. 903.4; add a second paragraph after the exceptions to read as follows:

Sec. 903.4 Sprinkler system monitoring and alarms. Sprinkler and standpipe system water-flow detectors shall be provided for each floor tap to the sprinkler system and shall cause an alarm upon detection of water flow for a minimum of 45 seconds and not more than 90 seconds. All control valves in the sprinkler and standpipe systems except for fire department hose connection valves shall be electrically supervised to initiate a supervisory signal at the central station upon tampering.

Sec. 903.4.2 add second and third paragraph to read as follows:

Sec. 903.4.2 Alarms. The alarm device required on the exterior of the building shall be a weatherproof horn/strobe notification appliance with a minimum 75 candela strobe rating, installed as close as practicable to the fire department connection.

A water-powered alarm (water motor gong) shall be mounted on the exterior of the building as close as practical to the room in which the fire sprinkler riser is located.

Sec. 903.4.3; change to read as follows:

Sec. 903.4.3 Floor control valves. Approved supervised indicating control valves shall be provided at the point of connection to the riser on each floor.

Sec. 903.6.2 and 903.6.3 are amended to read as follows:

Sec. 903.6.2 Spray booths and rooms. New and existing spray booths and spray rooms shall be protected by an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system in accordance with Section 1504 of the International Fire Code.

Sec. 903.6.3 Existing Occupancies: In occupancies where a fire has occurred and displaces one or more occupants, the affected building shall be fire-sprinkled prior to re-occupancy of the unit/building.

Sec. 905.2; change to read as follows:

Sec. 905.2 Installation standards. Standpipe system shall be installed in accordance with this section and NFPA 14. Manual dry standpipe systems shall be supervised with a minimum of 10 psig and a maximum of 40 psig air pressure with a high/low alarm.

Sec. 905.3.2 amend as follows:

Sec. 905.3.2 Group A; delete exceptions 1 and 2.

1. Open-air-seating spaces without enclosed spaces.

2. Class I automatic dry and semiautomatic dry standpipes or manual wet standpipes are allowed in buildings where the highest floor surface used for human occupancy is 75 feet (22,860 mm) or less above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Sec. 905.4, item 5; change to read as follows:

Sec. 905.4 Location of Class I standpipe hose connections.

5. Where the roof has a slope less than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33.3-percent slope), each standpipe shall be provided with a two-way hose connection located either on the roof or at the highest landing of stairways with stair access to the roof. An additional hose connection shall be provided at the top of the most hydraulically remote standpipe for testing purposes.

Sec. 905.4 add item 7 to read as follows:

Sec. 905.4 Location of Class I standpipe hose connections.

7. Class I standpipes shall also be required on all occupancies in which the distance from accessible points for Fire Department ingress to any point in the structure exceeds two hundred fifty feet (250') along the route that a fire hose is laid as measured from the fire lane. When required by this Chapter, standpipe connections shall be placed adjacent to all required exits to the structure and at two hundred feet (200') intervals along major corridors thereafter.

Sec. 905.9; add a second paragraph after the exceptions to read as follows:

Sec. 905.9 Valve Supervision. Sprinkler and standpipe system water-flow detectors shall be provided for each floor tap to the sprinkler system and shall cause an alarm upon detection of water flow for a minimum of 45 seconds and not more than 90 seconds. All control valves in the sprinkler and standpipe systems except for fire department hose connection valves shall be electrically supervised to initiate a supervisory signal at the central station upon tampering.

Sec. 906.1 is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 906.1 Where required. Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in the following locations:

1. In Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4 AND S occupancies.

2. Within 30 feet (9,144 mm) of commercial equipment.

3. In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, used or dispensed.

4. On each floor of structures under construction, except Group R-3 occupancies, in accordance with Section 1415.1 of the International Fire Code.

5. Where required by the sections indicated in Table 906.1.

6. Special-hazard areas, including but not limited to laboratories, computer rooms, and generator rooms where required by the code official.

Sec. 907.1.1; shall be amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 907.1.1 Construction documents. Plans for fire alarm systems shall be in accordance with Murphy Fire Department Fire Alarm Submittal Guidelines.

Sec. 907.1.; amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 907.1.3 Design Standards. All alarm systems new or replacement serving 20 or more alarm actuating devices shall be addressable fire detection systems. Alarm systems serving more than 40 smoke detectors or more than 100 total alarm activating devices shall be analog intelligent addressable fire detection systems.

Exception: Existing systems need not comply unless the total building remodel or expansion initiated after January 1, 1998, as adopted, exceeds 30% of the building. When cumulative building remodel or expansion exceeds 50% of the building must comply within 18 months of permit application.

Sec. 907.2.1 amend to read as follows:

Sec. 907.2.1 Group A. A manual fire alarm system shall be installed in Group A occupancies having an occupant load of 300 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge. Portions of Group E occupancies occupied for assembly purposes shall be provided with a fire alarm system as required for the Group E occupancy.

Sec. 907.2.3; change to read as follows:

Sec. 907.2.3 Group E. A manual fire alarm system shall be installed in Group E occupancies. When automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. An approved smoke detection system shall be installed in Group E day care occupancies. Where automatic fire sprinklers are not provided, a full-coverage smoke detection system shall be provided in all Group E occupancies. Unless separated by a minimum of 100 feet open space, all buildings, whether portable buildings or the main building, will be considered one building for alarm occupant load consideration and interconnection of alarm systems.

Sec. 907.2.3 is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 907.2.3; change exception 1 and add exception 1.1 to read as follows:

1. Group E educational and day care occupancies with an occupant load of less than 50 when provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system.

1.1 Residential In-Home day care with not more than 12 children may use interconnected single station detectors in all habitable rooms. (For care of more than five children 2½ or less years of age, see Section 907.2.6)

Sec. 907.2.6; amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 907.2.6.4 Group I-4 Occupancies. An approved smoke detection system shall be installed in Group I 4 occupancies. Where automatic fire sprinklers are not provided, a full-coverage smoke detection system shall be provided in all Group I-4 occupancies.

Sec. 907.2.12; change to read as follows:

Sec. 907.2.12 High-rise buildings. Buildings having floors used for human occupancy located more than 55 feet (16,764 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall be provided with an automatic fire alarm system and an emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with Section 907.2.12.2.

Sec. 907.2.12, exception 3; change to read as follows:

3. Buildings with an occupancy in Group A-5 in accordance with Section 303.1 of the International Building Code, when used for open air seating; however, this exception does not apply to accessory uses including but not limited to sky boxes, restaurants and similarly enclosed areas.

Sec. 907.4 is amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 907.4.6 Manual alarm actuating devices. Manual alarm actuating devices shall be an approved double action type.

Add Sec. 907.6.1 to read as follows:

Sec. 907.6.1 Installation. All fire alarm systems shall be installed in such a manner that a failure of any single initiating device or single open in an initiating circuit conductor will not interfere with the normal operation of other such devices. All initiating circuit conductors shall be Class "A" wired with a minimum of six feet separation between supply and return circuit conductors. IDC — Class "A" Style D; SLC — Class "A" Style 6; NAC — Class "B" Style Y. The IDC from an addressable device used to monitor the status of a suppression system may be wired Class B, Style B provided the distance from the addressable device is within 10-feet of the suppression system device.

Sec. 907.9.2; change to read as follows:

Sec. 907.8.2 High-rise buildings. In buildings that have floors located more than 55 feet (16,764 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access that are occupied for human occupancy, a separate zone by floor shall be provided for all of the following types of alarm-initiating devices where provided:

1. Smoke detectors.

2. Sprinkler water-flow devices.

3. Manual fire alarm boxes.

4. Other approved types of automatic detection devices or suppression systems.

Sec. 907.15; is amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 907.15.1 Flow detectors and electronic monitoring. Sprinkler and standpipe system water flow detectors shall be provided for each floor zone to the sprinkler system and shall cause an alarm upon detection of water flow for a minimum of 45 seconds and not more than 90 seconds. All control valves in the sprinkler and standpipe systems except for fire department hose connection valves shall be electrically supervised to initiate a supervisory signal at the central station upon tampering.

Sec. 910.1; amend exception 2 to read as follows:

2. Where areas of buildings are equipped with early suppression fast-response (ESFR) sprinklers, only manual smoke and heat vents shall be required within these areas.

Sec. 910.2; is amended by the addition of the following:

Sec. 910.2.4 Group H. Buildings and portions thereof used as a Group H occupancy as follows:

1. In occupancies classified as Group H-2 or H-3, any of which are more than 15,000 square feet (1394m) in single floor area.

Exceptions:

1. Buildings of noncombustible construction containing only noncombustible materials.

2. In areas of buildings in Group H used for storing Class 2, 3 and 4 liquid and solid oxidizers, Class 1 and unclassified detonable organic peroxides, Class 3 and 4 unstable (reactive) materials, or Class 2 or 3 water-reactive materials as required for a high-hazard commodity classification.

3. Buildings of noncombustible construction containing only noncombustible materials.

Sec. 910.3 is amended as follows:

Sec. 910.3 Design and installation. Change the title of the first row of the table from "Group F-1 and S-1" to include "Group H" and to read as follows:

Group F-1, H, S-1

Table 910.3; Change the title of the first row of the table to read as follows:

[F] TABLE 910.3
REQUIREMENTS FOR DRAFT CURTAINS AND SMOKE AND HEAT VENTS

OCCUPANCY GROUP AND COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION	DESIGNATED STORAGE HEIGHT (feet)	MINIMUM DRAFT CURTAIN DEPTH (feet)	MAXIMUM AREA FORMED BY DRAFT CURTAINS (square feet)	VENT-AREA TO-FLOOR AREA RATIO	MAXIMUM SPACING OF VENT CENTERS (feet)	MAXIMUM DISTANCE TO VENTS FROM WALL OR DRAFT CURTAINS;sup\sup; (feet)
Group F-1, H and S-1	—	0.2 × Hd but ≥ 4	50,000	1:100	120	60
(Balance of table remains unchanged)

 

Sec. 910.3.2.2; is amended by the addition of the following:

Section 910.3.2.2 Sprinklered buildings. Where installed in buildings equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system, smoke and heat vents shall operate automatically. The automatic operating mechanism of the smoke and heat vents shall operate at a temperature rating at least 100° (38°C) greater than the temperature rating of the sprinklers installed.

Sec. 913.1; add paragraph to read as follows:

Sec. 913.1 General. When located on the ground level, the fire pump room shall be provided with an exterior fire department access door that is not less than 3 ft. in width and 6 ft. in height, regardless of any interior doors that are provided. A key box shall be provided at this door, as required by Section 506.1 of the 2006 IFC.

Exception: When it is necessary to locate the fire pump room on other levels or not at an exterior wall, the corridor leading to the fire pump room access from the exterior of the building shall be provided with equivalent fire resistance as that required for the pump room, or as approved by the fire code official. Access keys shall be provided in the key box as required by Section 506.1.

Sec. 913.4; add a second paragraph to read as follows:

The fire-pump system shall also be supervised for "loss of power", and "phase reversal" on supervisory circuits, and "pump running" as an alarm condition and shall report individually to the monitoring station.

Sec. 1008.1.3.4; add criteria #7 as follows:

7. If a full building smoke detection system is not provided, approved smoke detectors shall be provided on both the access and egress sides of doors and in a location approved by the authority having jurisdiction of NFPA 72. Actuation of a smoke detector shall automatically unlock the door.

(Ord. No. 09-03-789, § 2, 3-16-2009)