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Lee County Fire Marshal’s Association |
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Knowledge and Integrity |
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ARTICLE NUMBER: FB-W 1999-01
SUBJECT: Fire Barriers (walls) and Joint Assemblies
OBJECTIVE: To provide a means for and consistency of Head-of-Wall joints where a fire rated wall assembly joins a non-fire rated roof assembly.
CODE REFERENCES: NFPA 101:6-2.2.2 , SBC 704.2.1.3, SBC 705.7, SBC103.6, SBC 103.7
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 17, 1999 (revised 11/1/99)
BACKGROUND: A fire rated wall or barrier is required to extend tight to the underside of the roof deck. If the roof deck is not a rated assembly there are no tested joint assemblies for that application. The code does not make provision for a rated wall that is not constructed tight to an unrated roof deck above. The 1997 Standard Building Code 705.7 requires joint systems which allow for movement to be preconditioned by cycling between the minimum and maximum joint width (expansion/contraction) 500 times.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: The intent of the code is to resist fire, smoke and toxic gas from traveling to an adjacent tenant/mixed occupancy space and ensuring that the joint assembly remains in place for the life of the building. Since there are no UL tested assemblies for a Head-of- Wall (HW) joint at a rated wall meeting a non-rated roof (plywood or sheet metal) the following will be required: The joint system may be any UL approved dynamic head of the wall (HW-D) joint assembly or equivalent for use with the appropriate hourly fire resistance and meeting a Movement Class of Class I or Class II. The Lee County Building Official has determined the above policy/ procedure is acceptable pursuant to SBC 103.6 and 103.7.
Example: System No. HW-D-000? Assembly Rating – 2 Hr Nominal Joint Width – 1 in. Class I Movement Capabilities-25% Compression, 12% Extension
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: P-Wall 1999-01
SUBJECT: Fire Barriers are to be continuous. If the type of construction changes, the transition must be properly protected and securely connected together. This frequently occurs with tenant separation walls of CBS that change to wood frame construction using a gable end truss. (U338)
OBJECTIVE: To establish how the gaps and openings at the transition of construction materials will be protected and to establish how the frame wall on the CBS wall will be secured to create a continuous wall.
CODE REFERENCES: NFPA 101:6-2.3 Fire Barriers
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 20, 1999
BACKGROUND: There have been a variety of opinions on how to protect the gaps and secure the wall.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: 1. To determine how the gaps and openings are treated it is first necessary to establish that the connection joint is static. The gap is then treated as a wall- to-wall joint (WW) or a head-of-wall joint (HW) as detailed in UL Fire Resistance Directory Volume 2 or an equivalent tested assembly. The fire resistant assembly may be either a static or dynamic.
2. To secure the gable end truss wall assembly to the tie beam a detail must be designed and sealed by an architect or engineer licensed in the State of Florida.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: P-FD 1999-02
SUBJECT: Fire Damper Access Doors
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the installation of fire damper access.
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 90A: 2-3.4 1996 edition & SMC 610.6 1997 Edition
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 16, 1999
BACKGROUND: This issue was brought up at the Codes & Standards meeting of February 17, 1999.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: Fire damper access doors/panels are not required if fire dampers can be accessed and reset by one of the following methods:
1. Removing the band/clamp and duct tape from flexible duct. This does not include rigid or metal duct.
2. Removing a wall grille, if the damper can be reset from the grille side.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: AS 1999-02
SUBJECT: Flushing Underground Fire Mains and Lead-in Connections
OBJECTIVE: Explanation of “full bore flush” and procedures
CODE REFERENCES: NFPA 24: Chapter 9, NFPA 13: 8-2, NFPA 13 R: 2-1.3.1
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 19, 1999
BACKGROUND: Flushes are required for the complete fire main. This requires that the backflow prevention device be installed prior to the flush. The Utility provider may require a preliminary flush prior to installation of the backflow device.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: Fire service mains and lead-in connections to system risers shall be flushed thoroughly from the point of connection, before connection is made to sprinkler system piping in order to remove foreign materials that might have entered the main during the course of the installation or that might have been present in existing piping. This is the completed line including the backflow device. The minimum rate of flow shall be not less than the water demand rate of the system, which is determined by the system design, or not less than that necessary to provide a velocity of 10 ft/s, whichever is greater. The flushing operations shall be for sufficient time to ensure thorough cleaning. When the flow rate cannot be verified or met, supply piping shall be flushed at the maximum flow rate available to the system under fire conditions.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: EG-S 1999-02
SUBJECT: Handrails & Guardrails in Apartment Buildings (multifamily)
CODE REFERENCES: 101: 18- 2.2.3 & 101-5-2.2.4
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 19, 1999 (revised 11/1/99)
BACKGROUND: There has been confusion about the requirements for handrails & guardrails. Below is a summary of the Code requirements.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: Apartment Buildings are multifamily buildings (building containing more than two living units) regardless of ownership or rental status. The following handrail and guardrail requirements are for inside and outside of the living unit.
Guard Rail – (NFPA 101: 5-2.2.4.1 & 5-2.2.4.6)
1. A 42-inch high guardrail is required to protect an open side on a stairs, landings, balconies, corridors, passageways, floor or roof openings, ramps, aisles, porches or mezzanines exceeding 30 inches in height above floor or grade below. (101:5-2.2.4.1) & (101:5-2.2.4.6)
2. Openings in guardrails shall prevent passage of a 4-inch sphere. * Exception – The triangular area formed by the riser, tread and bottom of guardrail must prevent passage of a 6 inch sphere.
Handrail Requirements – (NFPA 101: 5-2.2.4.2 – 5-2.2.4.5)
1. Mounted at 34-38 inches above the leading edge of the tread.
2. Required on both sides of every new stair. Except stairs within dwelling units and within guest rooms which only require a handrail on one side. * Exception - a 42-inch high guardrail may also serve as the required handrail. (101:5-2.2.4.2)
3. At the inside turn of a stair, handrails must be continuous between flights.
4. Handrails not continuous between flights (such as at a landing) must extend at least 12 inches beyond the top riser and the depth of one tread at the bottom where a guard or wall exists.
5. At the bottom of stairs handrails must continue to slope for a depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser where a guard or wall exists.
6. Ends of the handrail must return to the wall, floor or newel post.
7. Handrail must be graspable continuously from top to bottom.
8. Circular cross section - outside diameter of 1¼ - 2 inches, spaced 1½ inches from the wall.
9. Openings in handrails shall prevent passage of a 4-inch sphere. * Exception – The triangular area formed by the riser, tread and bottom of guardrail must prevent passage of a 6 inch sphere.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: STO 2002-01
SUBJECT: High-Piled Combustible Stock
OBJECTIVE: Clarify Code Requirement
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 1, 8-15.2.2
EFFECTIVE DATE: Jan 1, 2002 (Implementation date of FFPC)
BACKGROUND: It was originally assumed that with the elimination of Chapter 36 of the Standard Fire Prevention Code on Jan 1, 2002 that high-piled stock criterion was no longer available. Subsequently, a research of NFPA 1 revealed section 8-15, Storage Occupancies, which contains specific provisions for storage over 12’ in height. Specifically, 8-15.2.2 states “The storage of combustibles over 12’ (3.7m) in height on racks shall comply with 8-15, NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 230, Standard for the Fire Protection of Storage.
Exception: Existing buildings.
It should be noted that there is no minimum high-piled stock area to which this section applies. Previously, the SFPC provided a matrix of area limitations based on commodity classification and other protection. Also, the protection that exists in existing buildings was a condition of the permit issued for construction, and should not be arbitrarily removed. Should mechanical ventilation systems be requested to be abandoned, a special review by the local fire and building official should be undertaken.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: The provisions of NFPA 1, 8-15.2.2 applies to all new high piled storage areas within a building. Sprinkler protection is required in all high-piled stock areas.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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Policy And Procedure Manual |