TravisMack:
Because my jurisdiction currently have 27 building permits for high-rise buildings ranging from 8 to 66 stories under construction and is enforcing the 2012 IFC, I’ll try to answer this question.
First, IFC Section 3313.1 establishes the requirement for standpipes in buildings under the construction. The standpipe is required when the construction progresses to the point where the floor is > 40 feet above the lowest level FD access. The standpipe is required to be constructed at accessible locations adjacent to useable stairs. In some cases this has resulted in literally bolting the pipe to the side of the building.
The IFC requirement also does not limit a building to one standpipe. Depending on the floor area, we commonly will require two standpipes. In most cases we can only get enough access for one FDC.
As to applying IFC 905.4 item 6, my Miss Cleo psychic skills causes me to believe that your AHJ is applying the unsprinklered building hose lay distance of 150 feet versus the 200 foot hose lay distance for a sprinklered building. When you construct any building we both know this is the most dangerous period in building’s service life. The owner, builder, contractor and the firefighters are all assuming an increased risk. But at the beginning of the project, the architect decided to provide sprinklers and by doing so, said architect is allowed to increase the hose lay distance per IFC Section 905.4 item 6. The standpipe and exit stair shaft enclosures were designed based on the assumption the building will be sprinklered. But it’s hard to sprinkler a building while it’s being constructed, especially when you probably don’t have the electrical power or water supply for the fire pump.
We solve this problem in my jurisdiction by requiring our high-rise hose loads to have 200 feet of hose. The first and second engines on a 1st Alarm assignment will each deploy one high rise hose load, forcible entry tools and 4 spare SCBA bottles. So between the first two companies to approach the fire floor, we have 400 feet of attack hose line to work with. Tactics will vary so you may want to ask about this.
Your AHJ may not have considered that the firefighters won’t set up on the floor of the fire. They will set up one floor below, so the extra hose is required to safely perform interior fire attack from safe point along the escape path.
