Consulting-Specifying Engineer - January 2009 - (Page 22) Codes & Standards on the potential hazard of alternative uses of the space. The committee recommended disapproval of this proposal, but the membership overturned the committee. (F132) Sprinklers in E occupancies: The maximum allowable area for an unsprinklered E occupancy (schools) was reduced from 20,000 sq ft to 12,000 sq ft. (F133) Sprinklers in M occupancies: An exception was added to the requirements for M occupancies (mercantile) that will require sprinklers, regardless of area, when the use is for the display and sale of upholstered furniture. (F135) Application of NFPA 13R: The IBC will be changed to recognize that NFPA 13R, “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height,” can be used as the basis of design and installation of sprinklers in Group R occupancies (four stories or less in height) in buildings that contain other occupancies as well. The other occupancies would be required to have sprinkler protection designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13. (F140) Retroactive requirement for smoke detection: A requirement was added to the IFC that will require installation of an automatic smoke detection system in corridors of existing hotels and motels that are not sprinkler protected. (F176) Fire suppression for aircraft hangars: A new table has been added to the IBC and IFC defining the type of hangar based on fire area and building construction type. The hangar classification is then used with NFPA 409 to define the protection required. (G25) Luminous exit path markings: Following the requirement for luminous exit markings in exit enclosures of new high-rise buildings of Group A, B, E, I, M, and R-1 that was added in the 2007 supplement to the IBC, a requirement was added to the IFC for existing buildings of the same occupancies. (F211) Construction requirements for existing buildings: A new chapter has been added to the IFC consolidating construction requirements for existing buildings. The chapter applies to existing buildings constructed prior to the adoption of the 2009 IFC. (F294) Exterior curtain wall/floor intersection: IBC requirements were modified to require all perimeter fire barrier joint protection systems to be tested in accordance with ASTM E2307, “Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of Perimeter Fire Barrier Systems Using Intermediate Scale Multi-story Test Apparatus.” This removes the option of using more traditional methods to seal the opening between curtain walls and the slab edge. There was significant debate over the challenges this will cause, particularly since many custom curtain wall systems have not undergone testing. Where assemblies do not strictly comply with a tested assembly, an engineering review can be performed to evaluate the expected performance. These engineering judgments are subject to approval by the building code official. (FS110) Definition of primary structural frame: The IBC has been modified to require that bracing members essential to the vertical stability of the primary structural frame under gravity loading are to be considered part of the primary structural frame whether or not the bracing member carries gravity loads. (FS113 and FS115) Stair pressurization criteria: The criteria for stair pressurization has been revised. The minimum stair pressure differential to the adjacent floor has been reduced from 0.15 in. of water to 0.10 in. of water. The maximum pressure differential of 0.35 in. of water remains the same as current code. The change was made to reduce the complexity of implementing stair pressurization while recognizing full-scale tests that have been performed to justify the change. (FS171) Atrium smoke control: Arup Fire submitted a code change that was approved to clarify the code intent regarding the treatment of spaces that are allowed to be open to the atrium. The current code language has been misinterpreted to require the volume of areas open to the atrium to be somehow included in the ventilation rate provided for the atrium. This philosophy had been carried over from the previous requirements to provide a specific number of air changes to exhaust atriums versus the current methods. (G74) Multilevel housing in I-3 detention: A code change was approved to clarify the code intent regarding multilevel housing units in I-3 detention occupancies. The change addresses definitions, separations, and egress. (G86) Maximum stories: The maximum number of stories for Group B, M, S-1, and S-2 occupancies in Type IIB and Type IIIB construction has been reduced. These changes were rejected during committee hearings. The committee recommendation was overturned by the voting membership without any loss history to justify the change. (G115, G117, G119, and G120) Delayed egress locks in I-2 occupancies: An allowance for the use of delayed egress devices in I-2 occupancies where necessary to accommodate the clinical needs of the patients was added to the code. A number of conditions must be met in order to use delayed egress devices. (E51) Special occupancies: The allowable occupancies within the podium of mixed construction type buildings permitted under Section 509 were expanded to allow residential uses. (G154-06/07) Fire alarm system monitoring: A code change was made that will require most fire alarm systems to be monitored by an approved supervising station. This usually will require off-site monitoring unless the system complies with the requirements of NFPA 72 for proprietary systems. (FS163-06/07) Grill is principal with Arup Fire, where he focuses on fire protection engineering. He is a member of Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s editorial advisory board. 22
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