CHAPTER 9 FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS (including 2017 errata) User note: Code change proposals to sections preceded by the designation [F] will be considered by the International Fire Code Development Committee during the 2016 (Group B) Code Development Cycle. See explanation on page iv. SECTION 901 Exceptions: GENERAL 1. A supervising station is not required for auto- 901.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall specify matic sprinkler systems protecting one- and two- where fire protection systems are required and shall apply to family dwellings. the design, installation and operation of fire protection sys- 2. Limited area systems serving fewer than 20 tems. sprinklers. 901.2 Fire protection systems. Fire protection systems shall 901.6.2 Fire alarm systems. Fire alarm systems required be installed, repaired, operated and maintained in accordance by the provisions of Section 907.2 of this code and Sec- with this code and the International Fire Code. tions 907.2 and 907.9 of the International Fire Code shall Any fire protection system for which an exception or be monitored by an approved supervising station in accor- reduction to the provisions of this code has been granted shall dance with Section 907.6.6. be considered to be a required system. Exceptions: Exception: Any fire protection system or portion thereof 1. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms not required by this code shall be permitted to be installed required by Section 907.2.11. for partial or complete protection provided that such sys- tem meets the requirements of this code. 2. Smoke detectors in Group I-3 occupancies. 901.2.1 Certificates required. Individuals who install, 3. Supervisory service is not required for automatic inspect, test or maintain fire protection systems shall sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwell- obtain the proper certificate from the fire code official as ings and townhouses. required by the International Fire Code. 901.6.3 Group H. Supervision and monitoring of emer- 901.3 Modifications. Persons shall not remove or modify gency alarm, detection and automatic fire-extinguishing any fire protection system installed or maintained under the systems in Group H occupancies shall be in accordance provisions of this code or the International Fire Code without with the International Fire Code. approval by the building official. 901.7 Fire areas. Where buildings, or portions thereof, are 901.4 Threads. Threads provided for fire department con- divided into fire areas so as not to exceed the limits estab- nections to sprinkler systems, standpipes, yard hydrants or lished for requiring a fire protection system in accordance any other fire hose connection shall be compatible with the with this chapter, such fire areas shall be separated by fire connections used by the local fire department. barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or hori- zontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 901.5 Acceptance tests. Fire protection systems shall be 711, or both, having a fire-resistance rating of not less than tested in accordance with the requirements of this code and that determined in accordance with Section 707.3.10. the International Fire Code. When required, the tests shall be conducted in the presence of the building official. Tests [F] 901.8 Pump and riser room size. Where provided, fire required by this code, the International Fire Code and the pump rooms and automatic sprinkler system riser rooms shall standards listed in this code shall be conducted at the expense be designed with adequate space for all equipment necessary of the owner or the owner's authorized agent. It shall be for the installation, as defined by the manufacturer, with suf- unlawful to occupy portions of a structure until the systems ficient working room around the stationary equipment. Clear- required by this code and the International Fire Code ((fire ances around equipment to elements of permanent protection systems)) within that portion of the structure have construction, including other installed equipment and appli- been tested and approved. ances, shall be sufficient to allow inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing such elements of perma- 901.6 Supervisory service. Where required, fire protection nent construction or disabling the function of a required fire- systems shall be monitored by an approved supervising sta- resistance-rated assembly. Fire pump and automatic sprinkler tion in accordance with NFPA 72. system riser rooms shall be provided with a door(s) and unob- 901.6.1 Automatic sprinkler systems. Automatic sprin- structed passageway large enough to allow removal of the kler systems shall be monitored by an approved supervis- largest piece of equipment. ing station. 2015SEATTLEBUILDINGCODE 247 FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS SECTION 902 [F] NUISANCE ALARM. DEFINITIONS [W] PORTABLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM. 902.1 Definitions. The following terms are defined in Chap- PRIVATE GARAGE. ter 2: [F] RECORD DRAWINGS. [F] ALARM NOTIFICATION APPLIANCE. REPAIR GARAGE. [F] ALARM SIGNAL. Major Repair Garage [F] ALARM VERIFICATION FEATURE. Minor Repair Garage [F] ANNUNCIATOR. [F] SINGLE-STATION SMOKE ALARM. [F] AUDIBLE ALARM NOTIFICATION APPLIANCE. [F] SMOKE ALARM. [F] AUTOMATIC. [F] SMOKE DETECTOR. [F] AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. [F] SMOKEPROOF ENCLOSURE. [F] AUTOMATIC SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM. [F] STANDPIPE SYSTEM, CLASSES OF. [F] AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. Class I system. [F] AUTOMATIC WATER MIST SYSTEM. Class II system. [F] AVERAGE AMBIENT SOUND LEVEL. Class III system. [F] CARBON DIOXIDE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS. [F] STANDPIPE, TYPES OF. [F] CEILING LIMIT. Automatic dry. [F] CLEAN AGENT. Automatic wet. [F] COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE. Manual dry. [F] CONSTANTLY ATTENDED LOCATION. Manual wet. [F] DELUGE SYSTEM. Semiautomatic dry. [F] DETECTOR, HEAT. [F] SUPERVISING STATION. [F] DRY-CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING AGENT. [F] SUPERVISORY SERVICE. [F] ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE SYSTEM. [F] SUPERVISORY SIGNAL. [F] ELEVATOR GROUP. [F] SUPERVISORY SIGNAL-INITIATING DEVICE. [F] EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM. [F] TIRES, BULK STORAGE OF. [F] EMERGENCY VOICE/ALARM COMMUNICA- TIONS. TOWNHOUSE. [F] FIRE ALARM BOX, MANUAL. [F] TROUBLE SIGNAL. [F] FIRE ALARM CONTROL UNIT. [F] VISIBLE ALARM NOTIFICATION APPLIANCE. [F] FIRE ALARM SIGNAL. [F] WET CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. [F] FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. [F] WIRELESS PROTECTION SYSTEM. FIRE AREA. [F] ZONE. [F] FIRE COMMAND CENTER. [F] ZONE, NOTIFICATION. [F] FIRE DETECTOR, AUTOMATIC. [F] FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM. SECTION 903 [F] FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS [F] 903.1 General. Automatic sprinkler systems shall comply [F] FIRE SAFETY FUNCTIONS. with this section. [F] FOAM-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. [F] 903.1.1 Alternative protection. Alternative automatic [F] HALOGENATED EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. fire-extinguishing systems complying with Section 904 [F] INITIATING DEVICE. shall be permitted instead of automatic sprinkler protec- tion where recognized by the applicable standard and [F] MANUAL FIRE ALARM BOX. approved by the fire code official. [F] MULTIPLE-STATION ALARM DEVICE. [F] 903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler [F] MULTIPLE-STATION SMOKE ALARM. systems in new buildings and structures shall be provided in [F] NOTIFICATION ZONE. the locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12. 248 2015SEATTLEBUILDINGCODE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS Exception: Spaces or areas in telecommunications build- 3. The fire area is located on a floor other than a ings used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, level of exit discharge serving such occupancies. associated electrical power distribution equipment, batter- [F] 903.2.1.4 Group A-4. An automatic sprinkler sys- ies and standby engines, provided those spaces or areas are tem shall be provided for fire areas containing Group equipped throughout with an automatic smoke detection A-4 occupancies and intervening floors of the building system in accordance with Section 907.2 and are separated where one of the following conditions exists: from the remainder of the building by not less than 1-hour 1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 2 or not less than 2-hour horizontal assemblies constructed m ). in accordance with Section 711, or both. 2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or [F] 903.2.1 Group A. An automatic sprinkler system shall more. be provided throughout buildings and portions thereof 3. The fire area is located on a floor other than a used as Group A occupancies as provided in this section. level of exit discharge serving such occupancies. For Group A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 occupancies, the auto- [F] 903.2.1.5 Group A-5. An automatic sprinkler sys- matic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the tem shall be provided for Group A-5 occupancies in the story where the fire area containing the Group A-1, A-2, following areas: concession stands, retail areas, press A-3 or A-4 occupancy is located, and throughout all sto- boxes and other accessory use areas in excess of 1,000 ries from the Group A occupancy to, and including, the square feet (93 m2). levels of exit discharge serving the Group A occupancy. For Group A-5 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler sys- [W] [F] 903.2.1.6 Assembly occupancies on roofs. tem shall be provided in the spaces indicated in Section Where an occupied roof has an assembly occupancy 903.2.1.5. with an occupant load exceeding 100 for Group A-2 and 300 for other Group A occupancies, ((all floors [F] 903.2.1.1 Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler sys- between the occupied roof and the level of exit dis- tem shall be provided for fire areas containing Group charge)) the building shall be equipped with an auto- A-1 occupancies and intervening floors of the building matic sprinkler system in accordance with Section where one of the following conditions exists: 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2. 1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 Exception: Open parking garages of Type I or Type II m2).