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When Are Alternative Automatic Fire Extinguishing
Systems Required?
With respect to Indiana’s Fire and Building Code requirements, when are “alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems” required? By definition, the word “alternative” implies they are not “required”; rather they can be used in place of something else. Automatic fire protection system requirements in the Indiana Fire and Building Codes mandate the use of sprinklers. The use of “alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems is allowed in lieu of automatic sprinklers as outlined in Section 904 of the Indiana Fire Code, 2003 Edition.
For this discussion, let’s focus on two (2) sections of the Indiana Fire Code relating to alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems:
1.
Section 904.2 of the Indiana Fire Code, 2003 Edition:
“Automatic fire-extinguishing systems installed as an alternative to the required automatic sprinkler systems of Section 903 shall be approved by the Code Official. Automatic fire extinguishing systems shall not be considered alternatives for the purposes of exceptions or reductions permitted by other requirements of this code .”
The first sentence in this section requires approval by the code official before installing an alternative automatic fire extinguishing system so it would be wise to contact your local Fire Marshal and Building Official prior to the installation of a new system. The second sentence generates more questions for interpretation.
The Indiana Fire and Building Code provides many options for the use of automatic sprinklers, for example: allowable area and height increases for building construction, increased travel distances for egress, reduced fire resistive ratings for fire barriers, elimination of manual pull stations from fire alarm systems, and elimination of fire extinguishers in areas not classified as “special hazard”, just to name a few.
If you choose to install an alternative fire extinguishing system, be careful because according to Section 904.2, you now cannot utilize the options afforded by the use of automatic sprinklers.
Example #1
A local business is storing 180 gallons of a Class I-C flammable liquid in a control area (this is not a liquid storage room) that is separated from the remainder of the building by a 1-hour fire resistive barrier. The room is protected by an automatic sprinkler system that is properly designed to protect this hazard.
During an insurance inspection the business owner is advised to remove the automatic sprinkler protection and install a clean agent fire extinguishing system in their main computer room. Because the computer equipment is vital to the business operation and very expensive, the insurance company wants to take no chances on accidental sprinkler system activation.
Table 2703.1.1(1) of the Indiana Fire Code, 2003 Edition lists the exempt amount of Class I-C flammable liquid in storage at 90 gallons. Footnote d allows for a 100% increase (now 180 gallons) in the exempt amount if the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with 903.3.1.1 (NFPA 13). The key word here is “throughout”; with the installation of a clean agent fire extinguishing system, the building is no longer protected with automatic sprinklers throughout and therefore storage of 90 gallons of Class I-C flammable liquids is the exempt amount allowed for storage.
2.
Section 903.4.5 of the Indiana Fire Code, 2003 Edition:
“Where a building fire alarm system is installed, automatic fire extinguishing systems shall be monitored by the building fire alarm system in accordance with NFPA 72."
All alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems are going to a control panel specifically listed for that system and the monitoring of its alarm, trouble and supervisory signals. Any time an alternative automatic fire extinguishing system is installed inside of a building that is equipped with a fire alarm system, the two panels must be interconnected.
Example #2
The tenant on the 13th floor of a high rise building receives permission from the property manager to remove the sprinkler protection and install a clean agent fire extinguishing system in their sensitive records storage area. The contractor installing the system advises the tenant they must interconnect the clean agent system panel with the building fire alarm control panel so upon activation the fire department will be notified.
Research found it was much cheaper just to monitor the clean agent extinguishing system separately instead of physically running alarm wiring from the 13th floor to the main lobby in order to interconnect the panels.
Several months later, the fire department is dispatched to this building for an “automatic alarm on the 13 th floor”. Upon arrival, the firefighters do not encounter any fire alarm sounding and find the fire alarm annunciator panel in the main lobby displaying a “normal” condition.
Upon investigation of the 13th floor firefighters hear an alarm and discover a steam leak in the main office area. The door to the records storage room is propped open with a wood wedge and there is an active first stage alarm on the clean agent fire suppression system.
Further investigation revealed the night custodian had propped the door open to the records storage area for cleaning and forgot to remove the wood stop from the self-closing door when finished. A steam leak tripped the ionization smoke detector, putting the clean agent extinguishing system into a first stage alarm. The fire department was notified because the system was monitored but it was not monitored by the building’s fire alarm control panel; therefore no alarm notification appliances sounded throughout the building and the fire alarm annunciator panel displayed a “normal” condition.
What would the outcome have been if this had been a fire at 2:00 PM on a weekday afternoon?
In closing, alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems are just that “alternatives” that do have legitimate uses for special hazard protection and for situations where water based fire protection may not be desirable. Simply remember, using an alternative automatic fire extinguishing system may affect other aspects of code compliance so make sure you do your research beforehand for a thorough understanding.
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