It can be hard to separate life safety code requirements. Much of it can seem redundant, leading some to over-design when they’re not sure what the requirements are. This can be especially true where sprinklers and detection are concerned. It’s important to remember that sprinklers are meant to control the spread of fire, providing occupants that are not in the immediate area of the fire a chance to safely leave the building or relocate to a protected section of the building. Smoke detectors are meant to give occupants in the area of the fire early warning so they can evacuate the area before the fire prevents them from doing so. The IBC/IFC, NFPA 101 or a local fire official can mandate what is minimally required, but the owner and designer of a facility must also determine what the kind of protection is appropriate for their occupants. Sometimes they are helped with their decisions by insurance requirements.
Business Occupancies
In general, if a business occupancy has sprinklers, it doesn’t need smoke detectors. The occupants are active, moving about and are generally aware of their surroundings. Should a fire occur, they can smell it or see smoke and will activate the manual fire alarm boxes, as well as alert others. After hours, the business facility is usually empty, so early warning is not needed. Of course there are exceptions, such as flammable storage areas or data centers where we do not want fire to ever develop.
Hospitals & Long term Care
Due to the nature of their occupancy, inpatient healthcare facilities generally do require smoke detection in addition to sprinklers. Early warning in order to take appropriate action regarding immobile patients is essential, as well as preventing explosions via compressed gases and other flammable materials.
Places of assembly generally do not require smoke detection when sprinklers are installed, as there are many eyes and noses to alert the attendees to the presence of smoke before it gets out of hand.
We’ll continue with our overall review of whether smoke detectors are required when sprinklers are installed by looking at residential and educational requirements. In the meantime, be sure to check our other blogs for insight on other life safety questions you may have and be sure to use industry leading Gamewell-FCI fire alarm/mass notification products in all your projects.
Gene Rowe
About Gene Rowe
Mr. Rowe,
I have a historical building that has a vaulted celling in the main entry. Above that ceiling is a cramped attic space that is fully sprinkled and has a couple spot devices. There is no ventilation ducting or pathways through this unoccupied area. The only way to test/service these devices would require someone to crawl across the original plaster and lath ceiling, which has its safety concerns.
We are in the workings of upgrading the buildings fire alarm life safety systems and was wondering if the spot detectors were necessary if the area is fully sprinkled? I have been looking through the NFPA 72 and 13 but cannot find a chapter that would give a straight forward answer.
Would we be able to eliminate these devices or would we still need to maintain a notification device like beam detectors or additional spot devices?
Thank you.
Hi Ben,
The IBC/IFC or NFPA 101 are the national standards that determine whether automatic detection is required in a particular building. NFPA 72 says how they’re to be installed. Assuming this isn’t a healthcare facility, the only reasons for a detector to be in that space for this building are:
– Total detector coverage is required by the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
– Partial coverage is required by the local AHJ or the owner due to a specific hazard in the space
– They were installed before the sprinklers were put in & nobody owned the removal process afterwards
I’ll also assume the attic isn’t being used for storage since it’s inaccessible. Since this is a historical building, if it’s not fully sprinklered, they may be calling for total detector coverage. However, even if total coverage is required & the space is constructed with combustible material, this particular space would be exempt if it’s less than 50 sq. ft. per NFPA 72 Chapter 17.5.3.1.2, since it’s inaccessible due to a hard plaster ceiling.
If total coverage is not required by the local AHJ or owner, the presence of sprinklers in the space would eliminate the requirement of detection per NFPA 72 Chapter 17.7.1.8(3) which prohibits the installation of smoke detectors in conditions exceeding 100° F. I’m sure it gets hotter than 100° up there. If smoke detection was required in that space, heat detectors can be installed in lieu of smoke detectors, but IBC Section 907.4.3.1 allows sprinklers that are monitored by the fire alarm system to be used in lieu of heat detectors where ambient conditions prohibit the installation of smoke detectors. There’s your out. It’s too hot for smoke detectors per NFPA 72 & sprinklers take the place of heat detection per IBC.
I hope I’ve answered your question adequately. If I can be of further assistance, let me know!
Gene Rowe, SET
Affiliated Fire Systems, Inc.
Downers Grove, IL
Are smokes required in a White box space (future commercial) of a mixed use facility? Residential apartments are planned for the upper two floors. Building is located in CT and is fully sprinklered.
Thanks
Hi John,
The Connecticut State Fire Code is based on the 2015 International Fire Code with amendments for new construction, renovations or change of use of buildings. Existing buildings must comply with the 2015 NFPA 101 requirements. The State Fire Code does not amend Group B (business) or Group M (mercantile) occupancies, so assuming this is a new building, the non-occupied Group B/M portion of the mixed Group R-2 occupancy does not require smoke detection unless it has a room that has omitted sprinklers for safety reasons (i.e.: electrical, mechanical, transformer rooms) or is where the fire alarm control panel or a remote power supply (NAC panel) is located. You need a smoke detector in those locations & above that equipment.
Gamewell-FCI fire alarm systems can be configured to handle the requirements of mixed occupancy notification requirements. Let me know if you have any questions or need additional information.
Gene Rowe, SET
NICET Level IV, Fire Alarm Systems
Affiliated Fire Systems, Inc.
Downers Grove, IL
Hi
Good Day !
In basement parking which is fully protected by automated sprinkler system and properly ventilated, is it necessary to install heat/smoke detection system ?
if there is already installed detection system can we remove it ?
Looking forward for your reply.
Best regards
Hassan Ahmed
Hi Hassan,
In this instance, the only detection you may need would be in any rooms that sprinklers aren’t installed in for safety purposes, such as an electrical or transformer room, or if there’s a fire alarm control panel in one of the garage rooms, such as a NAC panel. Otherwise, you shouldn’t need it unless the local jurisdiction specifically calls for it. If the fire alarm system in the building is a required & previously approved system, you’d need to inform the local code official of the reason you want to remove them before you do that. In this case, the reason is they weren’t removed when a subsequently approved sprinkler system was installed in the space and you’d like to do that at this time to avoid future maintenance issues.
I hope that answers you question adequately. Let me know if you have any other questions or need more information on scalable, versatile Gamewell-FCI fire alarm systems.
Gene Rowe, SET
NICET Level IV, Fire Alarm Systems
Affiliated Fire Systems, Inc.
Downers Grove, IL
Hello,
I hope you are doing well. Is it mention in any NFPA code the allowable distance between smoke detector and sprinkler ? Suppose i will install a smoke detector above 30 cm from sprinkler on ceiling. will it be violation of any code.
Hi Harshit,
There is no code requirement that involves a smoke detector’s distance from a sprinkler head. The smoke detector’s placement is dependent on the size of the area to be protected, whether a specific hazard is the reason for the early warning, the ceiling’s height, type & construction and the speed of the airflow. The only code requirement that I’m aware of involving a detector’s distance to a sprinkler head is for heat detectors used for elevator shunt trip initiation. Those must be within 48″ (122 cm) of the sprinkler head.
I hope that answers your question adequately. Let me know if you have any other questions or need more information.
Gene Rowe
Affiliated Fire Systems, Inc.
Downers Grove, IL
will a high rise office building require an smoke detector under the NFPA 101 or NFPA 1.? Isn´t it better to have smoke detector? even after hours to have an early warning of the fire and take proper actions. How come doesn´t the code requires smoke detector.
Thanks in advance
José.
What about a Business Occupancy that is not sprinklered.
Is there a condition in which smoke detectors would not be required in an individual office?
Thanks.
Hi Collier,
Under national codes, smoke detection is not required in the offices of a business occupancy. In both the IBC and NFPA 101, business occupancies are only required to have manual fire alarm systems under certain conditions (just manual stations). NFPA 101 Chapter 38.3.4.2 only requires a fire alarm system when a business occupancy is three or more stories, there are more than 300 total occupants OR there are more than 50 occupants above the discharge level. If sprinklers aren’t required or present, you have a choice of manual or detection systems. IBC Section 907.2.2 requires a manual fire alarm system if there are more than 500 total occupants, there are more than 100 occupants above or below the discharge level OR the occupancy has an ambulatory care facility. Your local municipality may have amended an adopted code, so I’d check there to see if there are local requirements. If not, you don’t need smoke detectors in a business occupancy office.
Thanks for visiting our website and don’t forget to specify industry leading Gamewell-FCI fire alarm and mass notification systems, which include the use of wireless detectors.
Gene Rowe
Affiliated Fire Systems, Downers Grove, IL