If you are classified in the 2000 International Building Code, as amended by the State of Indiana, as Assembly Group A-1, A-2 or A-3, you may find many construction requirements working in your favor to reduce costs; however, the trade off is that you may have to fully sprinkler your building. Sprinklers are not a restrictive requirement when you have a reliable and readily available water supply nearby. However, water supply may be a real large cost issue for rural construction projects where you have to create your own water supply. Many have found that creating your own water supply is nearly cost prohibitive.

Don't relax completely, but relief may be on the way. Recently, we spoke with a representative from the Building Commission's office who will be part of a five-member subcommittee formed to deal with the problem. USAutomatic Sprinkler Corporation asked the commission member to explore allowing the use of UL listed NFPA-13 R systems technology, to provide an independent and reliable water supply to a Group A occupancy, in a rural area, and in a cost effective manner.

A Group A occupancy, although still classified as light hazard occupancy, has more restrictive code criteria than residential occupancies, and must be designed in accordance with the more complete NFPA-13 guidelines as compared to NFPA-13R. Expect the Commission to require that certain criteria are to be met if they allow a variance request to be granted when it comes to an alternate design for a water supply.

We will keep you informed as new information becomes available. Be sure to seek advise from a qualified professional to assist you in presenting your case to the commission.

USAutomatic Sprinkler Corporation can help you design and price any number of independent water supplies, including tanks, pumps, wells, pump houses, open reservoirs and underground pipe supplies. Please feel free to contact us.