§ 4-158. Fire Protection Systems; Section 903, Automatic Sprinkler Systems.

(a)

Section 903.1, General. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in this Section. For the purposes of this Section, the fire area is defined as the aggregate floor area enclosed and bounded by firewalls and exterior walls of a building.

(b)

Section 903.2.1.1, Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a Group A-1 occupancy and intervening floors of the building where one of the following conditions exists:

(1)

The fire area exceeds six thousand (6,000) square feet;

(2)

The fire area has an occupant load of three hundred (300) or more;

(3)

The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge serving such occupancies; or

(4)

The fire area contains a multi-theatre complex.

(c)

Section 903.2.1.3, Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a Group A-3 occupancy and intervening floors of the building where one of the following conditions exists:

(1)

The fire area exceeds six thousand (6,000) square feet;

(2)

The fire area has an occupant load of three hundred (300) or more; or

(3)

The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.

(d)

Section 903.2.1.4, Group A-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout a fire area containing a Group A-4 occupancy and intervening floors of the building where one of the following conditions exists:

(1)

The fire area exceeds six thousand (6,000) square feet;

(2)

The fire area has an occupant load of three hundred (300) or more; or

(3)

The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.

Exception: Sprinklers shall not be required directly over participant floor areas or swimming areas of buildings occupied exclusively for indoor participant sports such as tennis, skating, swimming and equestrian activities, provided that the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit, and the building owner furnishes to the Director or the Director's designee a notarized statement acknowledging that the future use of the unprotected sporting floor areas of the facility will be limited to sporting activities of a low hazard nature with minimal occupant loadings and no combustibility of the contents and furnishings other than necessary to the sporting events.

(e)

Section 903.2.7, Group M. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings where the fire area containing a Group M occupancy exceeds six thousand (6,000) square feet, or where more than two (2) stories in height or where the combined fire area on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds twelve thousand (12,000) square feet or when used for the sales or display of upholstered furniture or mattresses over five thousand (5,000) square feet.

(f)

Section 903.2.7.1, High-Piled Storage. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in all buildings of Group M where storage of merchandise is in high-piled or rack storage arrays. High-piled storage shall be considered storage in excess of twelve (12) feet above the floor for purposes of this Section.

(g)

Section 903.2.8, Group R-2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings with a Group R-2 fire area. The following reductions in construction requirements are permitted when a building of use Group R-2 is fully sprinklered and is not over four (4) stories above grade on any side of the building:

(1)

Attic sprinklers may be omitted provided that the ceiling of the top level is of five-eighths (5/8) inch fire code type gypsum board and the attic is draftstopped at each two (2) units maximum and all ceiling ductwork penetrations are provided with UL listed ceiling dampers;

(2)

Section 11-258 of the County Code (County Fire Safety Law) requiring heat detectors in apartments is not applicable;

(3)

Balconies of apartments may be of combustible construction, provided the balconies are sprinklered;

(4)

Sprinklers may be omitted from open-air exterior stair enclosures provided that a Class A finish is used in the stairs;

(5)

Standpipes are not required for apartments of three (3) or less stories. Four- (4) story apartments may utilize dry standpipes; and

(6)

Balcony soffit vents in unsprinklered attics are permitted.

(h)

Section 903.2.9, Group S-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings where the fire area containing a Group S-1 occupancy exceeds six thousand (6,000) square feet, or where a Group S-1 fire area used for the storage of commercial motor vehicles where the fire area exceeds five thousand (5,000) square feet, or where a Group S-1 occupancy used for the storage of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet.

(i)

Section 903.3.5.3, Cross Connection. A connection from a sprinkler system designed in accordance with NFPA 13D to a single remote commode (water closet) shall be permitted. Such connection shall be from the sprinkler system piping to the water closet supply piping.

(j)

Section 903.3.9, Riser and Water Supply Requirements. Every building which is required to be fully sprinklered shall be provided with a complete and separate sprinkler system riser. The riser shall include an alarm check valve or indicating device and check valve, a drain and connection for a fire department pumping connection and a control valve. The arrangement and location shall be subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction. A separate main supply source shall be required for each system riser. The system supply shall be based upon the low hydraulic grade shown on the Hydraulic Information Sheet, as determined by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. The demand for the automatic sprinkler system plus 5 psi must be below the available water supply curve.

(k)

Section 903.6, Zones. Automatic fire suppression system zones shall coincide with the fire alarm zones required in Section 907.6.4 of this Code unless specifically exempted by the Director or the Director's designee.

(l)

Section 903.7, Thermal Protection. Heat tracing tape shall not be an acceptable means of thermal protection for any portion of a fire suppression system.

Exception: Wet pipe suppression systems with heat trace tape specifically listed for intended application and installed in accordance with the listing as acceptable as approved by the Director or the Director's designee.

(m)

Section 903.3.7.1, Mechanical Protection. All piping comprising any portion of a fire protection system shall be protected against reasonable mechanical vehicular damage.

(CB-121-1985; CB-145-1987; CB-97-1989; CB-98-1991; CB-63-1995; CB-54-2002; CB-73-2005; CB-13-2009; CB-45-2012; CB-90-2015)