CHAPTER 9

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

SECTION 901 903.6 Garages. Approved automatic sprinkler systems shall

GENERAL be provided in the following garages:
1. Enclosed parking garages over 65 ft (19.8 m) high and
901.1 Scope. Provisions of this chapter shall govern the exceeding 10,000 sq ft (929 m2) per floor.
application, design, installation, testing and maintenance of 2. Repair garages two stories or more high, and exceeding
automatic sprinklers, standpipes and fire alarms. 10,000 sq ft (929 m2) in a single floor area.
3. One story repair garages exceeding 15,000 sq ft (1394
SECTION 902 m 2 ).
DEFINITIONS 4. Basement garages or repair garages in a basement.
Exception: Group R3 occupancies.
For definitions, see Chapter 2.
5. Garages used for the storage of commercial trucks and hav-
ing an area exceeding 5,000 sq ft (465 m2).
SECTION 903 6. Bus garages when used as passenger terminals for four
SPRINKLERS or more buses or when used for bus storage or loading
of four or more buses.
903.1 Approved equipment and layout. Only approved
sprinklers and devices shall be used in automatic sprinkler 903.7 Other occupancy sprinkler requirements
systems, and the complete layout of the system shall be sub- 903.7.1 Group M. An approved automatic sprinkler system
mitted to the building official for approval before installation. shall be provided in all mercantile occupancies as follows:
1. In all mercantile occupancies three or more stories
903.2 Requirements. Every automatic sprinkler system in height.
required by this code shall conform to NFPA 13, as modified 2. In all mercantile occupancies exceeding 12,000 sq ft
by NFPA 231 and NFPA 231C, except that a single water (1115 m2) in gross area.
supply of adequate pressure, capacity and reliability, equal to 3. Throughout stories below the level of exit discharge
the primary supply required by those standards, may be per- where such stories have an area exceeding 2500 sq
mitted by the building official. Automatic sprinkler systems ft (230 m2) where used for the sale, storage or han-
installed in lieu of or as an alternate to other requirements, as dling of combustible goods and merchandise.
permitted by this code, shall be considered required systems 4. In mixed occupancies including a mercantile occu-
and shall comply with NFPA 13. pancy meeting any of the provisions of 1 through 3
above.
903.3 Material. Piping shall be as specified in NFPA 13.
903.7.2 Group A
[Link] An approved automatic sprinkler system
903.4 Hose threads. All hose threads in connections shall be shall be provided in Group A-1 occupancies over areas
uniform with that used by the fire department of the applica- which could be used for the display, sale or storage of
ble governing body. combustible materials when such display, sale or stor-
age floor area exceeds 15,000 sq ft (1394 m 2 ).
903.5 General. Approved automatic sprinkler equipment
meeting the requirements of 903 shall be installed in build- [Link] Stages shall be provided with an approved
ings as follows: automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinklers shall be
1. Basements having floor areas exceeding 2,500 sq ft provided throughout the stage and in dressing rooms,
(232 m2) when used as workshops or for manufacture, workshops, storerooms and other accessory spaces
repair, sale or storage of combustible materials or when contiguous to such stages.
used as lounges or nightclubs regardless of the size.
(See 503.4.1, Exception 2.) Exceptions:
2. In buildings which do not have suitable access, as set 1. Sprinklers are not required where stages are
forth in 1405, to each story above grade on at least one 1,000 sq ft (93 m2) or less in area and 50 ft
accessible side of the building. Openings which are (15.2 m) or less in height and curtains,
glazed with security glazing designed to withstand scenery or other combustible hangings are not
breakage shall not be considered as access openings. retractable vertically. Combustible hangings
3. See the Florida Fire Prevention Code. shall be limited to a single main curtain, bor-
4. See 407.1.3, 411.7.6 and 411.7.7. ders, legs and a single backdrop.
5. Spray finishing booth, area or room shall comply with 2. Sprinklers are not required under stage areas
the Florida Fire Prevention Code. less than 4 ft (1219 mm) in clear height used

FLORIDA BUILDING CODE — BUILDING 9.1

[Link] - 903.7.7

exclusively for chair or table storage and lined Exception: Automatic sprinkler systems may be pro-
on the inside with 5/2 inch (15.9 mm) Type X vided only in the storage area of the building when the
gypsum wallboard or approved equal. storage is separated from the remainder of the building
by a minimum 2-hour fire resistant separation.
[Link] Buildings or portions thereof used for the
specific purpose of sound stages for motion picture or 903.7.4 Hazardous production material (HPM) facility.
television productions and greater than 1,000 sq ft (93 An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provid-
m2) shall be protected with an approved automatic ed throughout buildings containing Group H (HPM) facil-
sprinkler system. ities as defined in 408, shall be designed in accordance
with NFPA 13 and not less than that required for the spe-
[Link] In addition to sprinklers as may be required cial fire hazard areas shown in Table 903.7.4.
by Table 500, buildings containing assembly occupan-
cies with occupant loads greater than 300 shall be pro-
tected by an approved automatic sprinkler system TABLE 903.7.4
installed in accordance with 903.2 as follows: HAZARDOUS PRODUCTION MATERIAL FACILITIES
1. Throughout the story containing the assembly SPECIAL FIRE HAZARD AREA REQUIREMENTS
occupancy; and
2. Throughout all stories below the story containing
the assembly occupancy; and
3. In the case of an assembly occupancy located
below the level of exit discharge, throughout all
stories intervening between that story and the
level of exit discharge including the level of exit
discharge.
Exceptions:
1. Assembly occupancies used primarily for wor-
ship with fixed seating and not part of a mixed
occupancy.
2. Assembly occupancies consisting of a single mul-
tipurpose room of less than 12,000 sq ft (1100 sq
m) and not used for exhibition or display.
3. Gymnasiums, skating rinks, and swimming pools
used exclusively for participant sports with no 903.7.5 Group Rl - Residential Occupancy. An approved
audience facilities for more than 300 persons. automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout
4. In stadia and arenas, sprinklers shall be permitted Group Rl occupancies three or more stories in height.
to be omitted over the floor area used for contest,
performance, or entertainment; over the seating
903.7.6 Group R2 - Residential Occupancy. An approved
areas; and over open-air concourses where an
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout
approved engineering analysis substantiates the
Group R2 occupancies three or more stories in height.
ineffectiveness of the sprinkler protection due to
Exceptions:
building height and combustible loading.
1. Three-story buildings which are not required to
5. In unenclosed stadia and arenas, sprinklers shall
have an automatic sprinkler system by other pro-
be permitted to be omitted in the following areas:
visions of the code and provided with exterior
(1) Press boxes less than 1000 ft2 (93 m2)
exitway stairs complying with 1006.2.
(2) Storage facilities less than 1000 ft2 (93 m2).
2. An automatic sprinkler system complying with
(3) Enclosed areas underneath grandstands
NFPA 13R shall be permitted for buildings not
that are kept free of flammable or com-
exceeding four stories in height provided the
bustible materials, that are not greater than
automatic sprinkler system shall not be consid-
300 ft2 (28 m 2 ), of noncombustible mater-
ered as an alternate to other requirements of the
ial or fire resistive construction; or, are not
code. (See 903.2.)
greater than 1000 ft2 (93 m2) and of one-
hour fire resistant construction. Such
903.7.7 Group R4 — Residential Care/Assisted Living
enclosed areas shall be in facilities not
Occupancies. An approved automatic sprinkler system
required to be sprinklered by other provi-
shall be provided throughout all Group R4 occupancies in
sions of this code.
accordance with NFPA 13. Group R4 occupancies shall be
protected with quick-response or residential sprinklers.
903.7.3 High-Piled combustible stock. An approved Exceptions:
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout
1. In Group R4 Small Occupancies an automatic
buildings required by the Florida Fire Prevention Code to
sprinkler system installed in accordance with
have sprinkler protection.

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 903.8 - 904.2.2

NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R in accordance with egress and protection determining criteria. The more
their scopes, shall be permitted provided the restrictive criteria are then applied.
automatic sprinkler system shall not be consid-
ered an alternate to other requirements of the
903.9 Supervision
code.
903.9.1 Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided
2. Standard response sprinklers shall be permitted
either as a requirement or as an alternate to another
in hazardous areas in accordance with Table
requirement of this code, the system shall be supervised by
410.2.2.
an approved central, proprietary, auxiliary,or remote sta-
tion system in accordance with NFPA 72.
903.8 Buildings three stories or more in height.
903.8.1 Any building which is of three stories or more in Exception: Supervisory facilities in accordance with
height shall be equipped with an approved automatic 903.9 shall not be required for extinguishing systems in
sprinkler system installed in accordance with 903.1. one-and two-family dwellings.

903.9.2 In HPM Facilities, as defined in 408, all valves

Exceptions: shall be provided with supervisory tamper switches. In
1. Single-family and two-family dwellings. addition to the requirements of 903.9.1, the closing of a
2. A stand-alone parking garage constructed with valve shall activate an audible and visual signal at the
noncombustible materials, the design of which is emergency control station.
such that all levels of the garage are uniformly
903.9.3 When a building fire alarm system is provided,
open to the atmoshpere on all sides with the per- actuation of the sprinkler system shall cause the building
centages of openings equal to or greater than alarm to sound.
those specified at 411. Such garages shall be sep-
arated from any other structure by not less than SECTION 904
20 ft. STANDPIPES
3. Telecommunication spaces located within
904.1 Approval
telecommunication buildings, if the spaces are
904.1.1 Unless otherwise provided herein, standpipe sys-
equipped to meet an equivalent fire-prevention tem design, installation and testing requirements shall
standard approved by both the Florida Building comply with NFPA 14.
Commission and the State Fire Marshal.
904.1.2 The complete layout of the standpipe and hose
903.8.2 The National Fire Protection Association system shall be submitted to the building official before
installation.
Standard 101, as regarding the requirements for fire pro-
tection sprinklers, is applicable to all multiple-family res- 904.2 Where required
idential buildings, whether designated as townhouses, 904.2.1 Standpipes shall be provided in all buildings in
condominiums, "apartment houses, tenements, garden which the highest floor is greater than 30 ft (9144 mm)
apartments or by any other name." The Attorney General above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
has determined that for the purpose of the fire protection
Exception: Standpipes are not required in Group R3
sprinkler requirements in Section 553.895(2), Florida
buildings.
Statutes, townhouses that are three or more stories tall and
consist of three or more units together are multiple-fami- 904.2.2 Standpipes shall be provided in buildings in which
ly dwellings. Therefore, these types of townhouses are not the highest floor is 30 ft (9144 mm) or less above the low-
exempt from being considered for the requirements to est level of fire department vehicle access and exceeding
provide fire protection sprinklers (even if there are any 10,000 sq ft (929 m2) in area per story when any portion
of the building's interior area is more than 200 ft (61 m)
other definitions that define townhouse as single-family of travel from the nearest point of fire department vehicle
residences). When determining whether townhouses access.
require fire protection sprinkler systems, the building offi-
cial must consider in parallel: (a) The Attorney General's Exceptions:
opinion defining the statutory language for townhouses; 1. Standpipes are not required in Group R2 with
and (b) The Building Code requirements, including all eight units or less, R3 and S2 occupancies.
2. Standpipes are not required in buildings protect-
life-safety chapters, that provide additional determining
ed throughout with automatic sprinklers installed
criteria, such as construction types, fire-resistance, fire in accordance with NFPA 13.
protection systems and egress; and (c) The NFPA 101

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904.2.3-905.1.1

904.2.3 Stages greater than 1,000 sq ft (93 m2) in area 904.7 Water supply
shall be provided with 1 1/2 in. hose lines for first aid fire 904.7.1 Standpipe piping may be used to supply water for
fighting at each side of the stage. Hose connections shall automatic sprinkler systems.
be in accordance with NFPA 13, or, where Class II or III
standpipes are provided, in accordance with NFPA 14. 904.7.2 For nonsprinklered buildings, and sprinklered
buildings having floor surfaces used for human occupan-
904.2.4 Covered malls shall be provided with standpipe cy located more than 75 ft (22.9 m) above the lowest level
connections in accordance with 413.9. of fire department vehicle access, the water supply shall
904.2.5 Standpipes shall be provided in public assembly meet the requirements of NFPA 14.
halls more than 5,000 sq ft (465 m2) in area used for exhi-
bition or display purposes. 904.7.3 For sprinklered buildings having floor surfaces
used for human occupancy located 75 ft (22.9 m) or less
904.2.6 Standpipes shall be provided in nonsprinklered above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access,
Group A buildings having an occupant load exceeding required water supply shall meet minimum water pressure
1,000 persons. requirements of NFPA 13 and shall be:
1. 500 gpm (31.6 L/s) for light hazard occupancy as
904.3 Class and type system defined in NFPA 13.
904.3.1 Standpipes required by 904.2.1 and 904.2.6 shall 2. 1,000 gpm (63.1 L/s) for ordinary hazard occupan-
be Class I automatic wet standpipes. cy as defined in NFPA 13.
Exception: Class I automatic and semi-automatic dry 3. In no case shall the water supply be less than the
standpipes shall be permitted in those buildings where automatic sprinkler demand including hose stream
the highest floor surface used for human occupancy is allowance.
75 ft (22.9 m) or less above the lowest level of fire
department vehicle access. 904.8 Signs. If control valves are located in a separate room,
904.3.2 Standpipes required by 904.2.3 shall be Class III a sign shall be provided on the entrance door to that room.
wet standpipes. The lettering shall be at least 4 inches (102 mm) high, of a
color contrasting with the background, and shall read
904.3.3 Standpipes required by 904.2.5 shall be Class II STANDPIPE CONTROL VALVE.
wet standpipes.
904.3.4 Standpipes required by 904.2.2 shall be Class I SECTION 905
dry filled standpipes having a small water supply connec- FIRE ALARMS
tion to keep the piping full but requiring water to be
pumped into the system for fire fighting purposes or any 905.1 Manual fire alarm systems
Class I standpipe permitted by 904.2. 905.1.1 General. A fire alarm system in accordance with
NFPA 72 shall be installed in all the following occupancies:
904.3.5 In buildings requiring standpipes in accordance Group A having an occupant load of 1,000 persons or
with 904.2, dry standpipes having no permanent water more.
supply may be installed when, in the opinion of the build- Group B having an occupant load of 500 or more per-
ing official and the fire official, a constant and automatic sons or more than 100 persons above or below the
water supply is not necessary. street floor.
Group E.
904.3.6 In a building less than 75 feet in height which is Group F two stories or more in height, and having an
protected throughout with an approved and maintained occupant load of 500 or more persons above or
fire sprinkler system, a manual wet standpipe, as defined below the street floor level.
in the National Fire Protection Association Standard 14, Group H.
Standard for the Installation of Standpipe Private Hydrant Group I.
and Hose Systems, shall be allowed. Group M having an occupant load of 500 or more per-
904.4 Hose connection location. Hose connections for sons or more than 100 persons above or below the
standpipes shall be in accordance with NFPA 14. street floor level.
Group R.
904.5 Standpipes during construction. See 3311.3 for Rl occupancies having accommodations for more than
standpipes required during construction. 15 guests.
904.6 Supervisory facilities. Where a building fire alarm R2 Apartment houses four or more stories in height,
system is provided, the closing of any standpipe water supply and dormitories or rooming houses (not transient)
valve including any valves associated with a fire pump instal- having more than 15 sleeping accommodations.
lation shall cause an audible supervisory signal to sound at R4 occupancies.
the fire alarm annunciator or at a constantly attended loca- Exceptions:
tion. If the building does not have a fire alarm system, locks 1. Group Rl and R2. Where each guest room in Rl
shall be provided on all valves and shall be of a type accept- occupancies, dormitories and rooming houses
able to the building official.

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 905.1.2-905.2.5

has a direct exit to the outside of the building and [Link] Audible Alarms. Audible alarm indicating
the building is three stories or less in height. appliances shall provide a distinctive sound which shall
2. Groups A, B, E, F, H, M, and Rl, R2, R3 and R4 not be used for any purpose other than that of a fire
Small Facilities. The manual fire alarm boxes alarm. Such devices shall provide a sound pressure
required in 905.1 may be omitted in buildings level of 15 dBA above the average ambient sound level
meeting all of the following requirements: in every occupied space within the building. The mini-
1. The building is equipped with an automat- mum sound pressure levels shall be: 70 dBA in build-
ic fire detection or automatic sprinkler sys- ings of Group R occupancy, 90 dBA in mechanical
tem covering all areas. equipment rooms; and 60 dBA in all other occupancy
2. Actuation of the automatic fire detection or classifications. The maximum sound pressure level for
automatic sprinkler system will activate the audible alarm indicating appliances shall not exceed
fire alarm system. 130 dBA at the minimum hearing distance from the
3. Provisions are made to manually activate audible appliance.
the fire alarm system at a minimum of one
centrally located station. [Link] Accessibility. Alarm systems required to
be accessible by 11-4.1 shall comply with 11-4.28.
905.1.2 Manual fire alarm boxes shall be located not more
than 5 ft (1524 mm) from the entrance to each exit. 905.2 Automatic fire detection
905.1.3 Each floor shall be zoned separately. No one zone 905.2.1 Approved single-station or multiple-station smoke
may exceed 15,000 sq ft (1394 m2). A zone indicator detectors shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72,
panel shall be located at grade level at the normal point of Chapter 2, within every dwelling and every dwelling unit
fire department access or at a constantly attended building within an apartment house, condominium or townhouse;
security control center. and every guest or sleeping room in a motel, hotel or dor-
mitory and sleeping rooms in residential care/assisted liv-
Exception: Automatic sprinkler system zones shall not ing occupancies. Where more than one detector is
exceed the area permitted by NFPA 13. required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit,
the detectors shall be wired in such a manner that the actu-
905.1.4 Upon completion of the fire alarm system, all ation of one alarm will actuate all of the alarms in the indi-
alarm initiating devices and circuits, alarm indicating vidual unit.
appliances and circuits, supervisory signal initiating
devices and circuits, signaling line circuits and primary 905.2.2 In dwellings and dwelling units, a smoke detector
and secondary power supplies shall be subjected to a 100 shall be mounted on the ceiling or wall at a point central-
percent acceptance test in accordance with NFPA 72. ly located in the corridor or area giving access to each
group of rooms used for sleeping purposes. Where the
905.1.5 Alarm indicating appliances dwelling or dwelling unit contains more than one story,
[Link] Required. Alarm indicating appliances list- detectors are required on each story including basements,
ed for the purpose shall be provided. but not including uninhabitable attics, and shall be located
in close proximity to the stairway leading to the floor
[Link] Accessibility. Every required fire alarm above.
system shall include visible alarm indicating appli-
ances in public and common areas. For more specific
905.2.3 In dwelling units with split levels and without an
accessibility requirements related to alarm indicating
intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke
appliances, refer to [Link] and 11-4.28.
detector installed on the upper level shall suffice for the
adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less
[Link] Activation. The alarm indicating appliances than one full story below the upper level.
shall be automatically activated by all of the following
where provided: 905.2.4 Smoke detectors connected to a fire alarm system
1. Smoke detectors, other than single-station or shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
multiple-station smoke detectors, as required by
905.2. Activation of the alarm system by smoke 905.2.5 In dwelling, dwelling units and sleeping rooms in
detectors shall be by either two cross-zoned residential care/assisted living occupancies, smoke detec-
smoke detectors within a single protected area or tors shall be hardwired into an ac electrical power source
a single smoke detector monitored by an alarm and shall be equipped with a monitored battery backup in
verification zone or an approved equivalent all new construction. A monitored battery power source
method. shall be permitted in existing construction.
2. Sprinkler water-flow devices;
3. Manual fire alarm boxes; and
4. Other approved types of automatic fire detection
device suppression systems.

FLORIDA BUILDING CODE — BUILDING 9.5

9.6 FLORIDA BUILDING CODE — BUILDING