Fire alarm horn/strobes required in warehouse?

[mvsubstation]

I am looking at another engineer's design drawings for a warehouse facility and do not see any horn/strobes anywhere in the building. Is fire alarm notification not required in warehouses? From looking in the IBC I did not see any exceptions in section 907.9 for this type of building?

 

[stookeyfpe]

I'm assuming:

- your warehouse is clssified as a Group S-1 occupancy
- the warehouse is used for high-piled combustible storage and has an area > 12K square feet
- the building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system
- you are reviewing the 2006 IFC.

Based on these assumptions IFC Section 907.2 (same section in the IBC) does not require a manual fire alarm system nor does it require alarm signaling devices.

If your warehouse is a mixed use occupancy (e.g., B/F-1/S-1) or its a Group H, or its not sprinklered and being used for high piled combustible storage, advise me because the fire alarm and detection system requirements will be different.

 

[DonPhillips]

It is not unsual in many jurisdictions for the building drawings to not have a fire alarm system shown. These are typically designed by the installing contractor. The cover sheet of the architectural drawings should have mentioned the need for a fire alalrm system. I usually issue a phased approval until the fire alarm (and sprinklers also) working plans are submitted.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[stookeyfpe]

Depends on where you are. I've seen EEs doing FA layouts on TIs - some projects go that fast. And, he didn't tell us what he was looking at. I'm assuming he's doing a due diligence on some shop drawings.

And I question a lot of architects on a lot of things. His question is valid since the codes do a pretty poor job of saying "its not required." It would be nice if a design professional could open up the IFC, look up fire alarms in Group S occupancies and see the phrase "no requirement for a fire alarm."

I wonder how many consultants would be unemployed with such simple, concise language?

 

[mvsubstation]

It is a mixed use facility. The storage is S-1, in addition there is a manufacturing area that is an F-1, plus there is a small portion of the warehosue that is an H classified area. The entire building will be sprinklered.

In light of those facts, section 907.10.2 Audible Alarms in the IFC, states that audible alarms are required. I don't see anywhere in the IFC that gives an exception to this requirement (except that visuals may be used in lie of audible alarms).

 

[cdafd]

Did you start at section 907 IFC

s-1: not required

f-1 Not required till over 500

H: required for H-5

So unless the building meets the above or system required for other reasons besides monitoring nor a/v inside is required.

Read the entire chapter do not skip

 

[sfallows]

Some conflicts that I can think (off the top of my head) of are with NFPA 101 and ADA rules that address areas that are "public areas" (as in 2 or more persons) should contain notification equipment


I am going to do some research (i have been working in the fire sprinkler field lately) so I will that this as a good opportunity to brush up on some of my fire alarm knowledge.