Sprinklers for assisted living facilities

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Not being an expert in the IBC we have a little argument going on here in regards to assisted living facilities.

For what it is worth it's single story 7500 sq. ft and it's the attic that would be the killer on the budget.

Sprinkler designed per NFPA #13 or 13R?

I did one in Ohio and it was full 13 but down here some fitter types are telling me they always did them 13R.

Guess the real question is whether an assisted living facility is use group I or R. I guess I could go to the architect and ask him what the use group is but would like to get a little feedback here first.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Never mind, I got my answer.

13R.

 

[stookeyfpe]

SD2

I understand you got an answer but I'll offer mine. An assisted living facility is a Group I-1 occupancy under Section 308.2 of the IBC.

IFC and IBC Section 903.2.5 permit either a NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R sprinkler system. The building's height will dictate if a 13R or 13 system is required.

I know you won't forget this but be sure the selected sprinklers comply with Section 903.3.2.

 

[TravisMack]

On top of what Stookey said, I can't tell you how many architects get mixed up with the concept that if you increase sq footage of the allowable building for a sprinkler increase, you can't use 13R even in an R occupancy less than 4 stories.

This lowly layout tech has had to go down that road too many times. It is tough breaking the news to the sprinkler contractor that I can't design the system the way it was bid because 13R is not applicable. The sprinkler contractor has to go back to the GC who has to go back to the architect about the sq footage increase. It always results in a large change order, but impacts the schedule.

You get extra height with 13R, but extra square footage comes from a 13 system.

At least that is the way I understand the IBC to read.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Being a lowly tech myself I don't like being put into a position of being forced to determine the whethre 13 or 13R is appropriate. That isn't my job or it shouldn't be.

Similar to determining fire flows. With the material received through the forum I'm pretty confident I could come up with an answer having a 95% chance of being right but that isn't close enough. Problem would be if I were wrong I'd be left holding the bag and why should I feel I should take that chance when I'm not paid for it?

That said I like knowing what a fire flow is and being able to calculate one but that's just for my personal knowledge. At least when it is talked about I can follow the conversation.

Also, size of building and appropriate 13 or 13R is something missed by a large number of contractors. It is something to very much watch out for.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Travis,

Kuddos on your understanding of the IBC.

The reason is that area increases permitted by the IBC for sprinklered buildings are much more significant the building height. If one takes a Group R-1 or R-2 occupancy constructed using Type VA wood frame construction with a basic allowable area of 12,000 square feet and provides a NFPA 13 sprinkler system, the building area increase 200 percent for each story above the grade plane and 300 percent for that portion of the occupancy at grade plane (ground floor).

Code officials correctly became concerned with these permissible increases in height and area and the building be protected by an automatic sprinkler system designed to prevent flashover in a dwelling unit. To take advantage of increased allowable area and height, a NFPA 13 system is required. This ensure that a reliable means of protection for the increased height and area.

And for even more fun, if the design professional want to reduce the required contruction type from fire-resistive to 1-hour or from 1-hour to nonrated construction using an automatic sprinkler system using a sprinkler system, the sprinkler system must meet the requirements of NFPA 13 and no increases for allowable area or height are permitted. See 2006 IBC Table 601, footnote e.

Trust me, I've spun a few design professionals heads over these requirements.

 

[DonPhillips]

And there are other benefits as well, like not needing to draftstop the attic with a 13 system.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[cdafd]

You do find assisted living facilities in homes, and they are not classified an I, but some may be sprinkled using 13 R maybe that is some of the confusion.

 

[DonPhillips]

Part of the confusion may be that some of the smaller buildings can get away with 13R and not need the height and area increases of a full 13 system.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com