New Chicago Building Code Educational Occupancy Fire Alarm Requirements

The fire alarm requirements in Chicago have always been somewhat unique from other large cities and definitely different than the suburban requirements. That’s expected, but the accumulation of requirements via policies, memorandums and rules rather than by municipal code made keeping track of specific requirements difficult.

The implementation of the new Title 14B of the Chicago Municipal Code, more commonly referred to as the Chicago Building Code (CBC), eliminates a lot of the unknown aspects of fire alarm requirements and adheres much more closely to the International Building Code (IBC). The uncertainly isn’t fully eliminated, though, as Title 14F (Chicago Fire Code) won’t be adopted until 2021 and many of the uniquely Chicago requirements are being considered for inclusion in that title.

For now, however, we have the new CBC requirements and the repeal of most of the current CBC Chapter 15-16, which contains most of the fire alarm requirements. One of the occupancies most impacted by the new CBC is Educational. The current occupancy type is C (Assembly), then divided into three types (I, II & III), which are divided again into sub-divisions. Certain types could also be considered institutional. It’s tough to remember if you don’t do it everyday so the new occupancy classifications help.

Educational occupancies are now either Group E-1 or E-2. E-1 are schools that educate six or more children, three years of age or older, at any one time, through the 12th grade. The exception is classrooms and auditoriums, which are accessory to an assembly occupancy and have occupant loads of less than 100 per room or space, are classified as Group A-3 occupancies. This includes private schools. E-2 occupancies are the use of a building, or a portion of a building, for providing supervision, or personal care services for fewer than 24 hours per day to more than three children. This is what most would consider daycare for children. The exceptions to E-2 occupancies are as follows:

• 1.   Rooms and spaces accessory to an assembly occupancy providing such day care during events shall be classified as assembly as well.
• 2.   A facility having three or fewer children receiving such day care shall be classified as part of the primary occupancy.
• 3.   A facility within a dwelling unit occupied as a residence by the operator and having eight or fewer children receiving such day care shall be classified as a Group R-2, R-3 or R-5 occupancy.
• 4.   A facility where any children under two years of age occupy a level other than the level of exit discharge shall be classified as a Group I-4 occupancy (Institutional).
• 5.   A facility with more than 30 children under two years of age shall be classified as a Group I-4 occupancy.

So now, rather than be split into Type IA and Type IB with different requirements, K-12 schools are now just E-1 occupancies. Daycare facilities are just E-2 instead of being divided into Type IC-I, II or III. Secondary & adult education facilities are now a business occupancy (Group B) instead of an educational occupancy.

Next week we’ll go into the new equipment requirements in Chicago educational occupancies and the differences between the existing requirements. In the meantime, contact Affiliated Fire Systems if you have any questions about code applications and how City of Chicago approved Gamewell-FCI equipment can meet those requirements.

Gene Rowe, SET (NICET IV, Fire Alarm Systems)