Fire Questions

[jonathanwilkins]

I'm doing the structural plan for an apartment building...2 stories, wood-framed. I'm trying to figure out the roof framing and if/where draft-stopping is required. The units will be sprinkled and fire-rated. Code is 2009 NC Building Code (IBC 2006 w/ revisions).

708.4 talks about continuity. Exception #5 addresses draft stops in the attic. Does this mean that the attic needs to be broken into sections of 3000ft2 or less? This would affect the roof framing plan...where the trusses stop, etc.

Exception #6 talks about sprinklers...I read this to mean that there is no draft stopping required when the attic is sprinkled? I think it'd be better to provide draft-stopping in the attic instead of sprinkling it.

Thanks; Jonathan

 

[JRGse]

Draftstopping is required unless to meet the exceptions listed in 717.4.2. 708.4 applies to fire partions not draftstopping.