NFPA 13R hose allowance question

[djankle]

Hello, I am using the 2010 edition of NFPA 13R to design a retirement home. Building is zoned as residential. There is a small kitchen that the staff uses to prepare meals for the tenants, which is attached to a dining room. I am NFPA 13R 7.2.2 to calc the kitchen area which is Ordinary Hazard Group 2. My question is do I need to add in 250 gpm hose allowance or can I neglect the hose allowance altogether because I am designing to NFPA 13R?

 

[PEDARRIN2]

I don't know what code predominates in your area, but you might want to check that you can use 13R.

I do not think zoning matters.

In the International Building Code, this would be an I type not an R type occupancy and I believe the IBC only allows 13R for R type occupancies.

That being said, you can use residential type sprinklers in certain areas.

 

[TravisMack]

If it is not assisted living, you can get the R occupancy. There are a lot of "retirement" apartments in this area that are definitely not assisted living. They are nicer than most homes. However, there is often a building on the campus that is an assisted living building. So, it may be possible that 13R is applicable. But, that is for the architect to determine. I would say that I see architects misuse the reference to 13R more often than getting it correct. Just because it is residential and 4 stories or less does not mean you can use 13R.

With that being said, NFPA 13R does not require a hose allowance. You follow NFPA 13 for areas outside of the dwelling unit as directed per NFPA 13R. You refer to NFPA 13 for the spacing, positioning, density and obstructions. NFPA 13R does not refer you to 13 for the hose allowances. This is also why you don't have to put sprinklers in concealed spaces outside of the dwelling units. So, you would just include the domestic demand at the common point of the domestic/fire. If you have a dedicated fire line, then I just put it at the source. The domestic allowance can be estimated from the tables in the appendix of 13R.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

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[PEDARRIN2]

I was assuming that since the OP mentioned "staff" that this was not a retirement apartment/condo building which could be "R". It sounded a lot more like assisted living.