A. Construction Documents. Section 901.2 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Construction documents,” is amended by adding the following new subsection:

Section 901.2.2 Plans. In addition to the requirements in the building and fire codes, all plans for automatic fire extinguishing systems, including sprinkler system underground piping, shall bear the stamp and signature of a Washington State professional engineer who is registered as qualified in fire protection engineering, or registered as a certified sprinkler contractor through the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office, or as approved by the fire code official.

B. Fire Areas. Section 901.4.3 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Fire areas,” is amended by adding the following new subsection:

Sec. 901.4.3.1 Fire Area Applicability. For purposes of this chapter, a “fire wall,” “fire barrier,” or “horizontal assembly” shall only be considered to separate a building so as to not exceed the limits established for requiring an automatic fire extinguishing system and only upon approval of the building official and/or the fire code official.

C. General. Section 903.1 of the International Fire Code, entitled “General,” is amended by substituting with the following:

903.1 General. Automatic sprinkler systems shall comply with this section. Systems shall be installed and maintained in an operable condition as specified in this chapter in the following locations as determined by the building and fire code official:

a. All new buildings that do not have adequate fire flow to achieve the minimum fire flows required by the City of Algona Public Works Standards or do not have adequate emergency fire vehicle access as required in the fire code and as determined by the fire code official. Additional fire suppression or other safety measures may be required when additional fire flows are required by the fire code official as referenced in Appendix B of the International Fire Code.

b. All new buildings except those classed as Group R-3 and Group U, when any of the following occur:

1. The building has more than 10,000 square feet of floor area, or is higher than 30 feet, or requires more than 2,500 gallons per minute of fire flow.

c. All new buildings that contain more than 8,000 square feet of Group A occupancies.

d. All buildings which undergo any alteration, or repair which changes the character of the occupancy or use and which increases the fire or life safety or structure hazard.

e. All buildings which undergo any additions that increase the floor area of a building beyond the thresholds above. For such additions, exiting building areas shall comply with this chapter.

D. Speculative Use Warehouses. Section 903.2.11 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Specific buildings areas and hazards,” is amended by adding the following new subsection:

Sec. 903.2.11.1.4 Speculative use warehouses. Where the occupant, tenant, or use of the building or storage commodity has not been determined or it is otherwise a speculative use warehouse or building, the automatic sprinkler system shall be designed and installed in accordance with the following:

1. The design area shall be not less than 2,000 square feet.

2. The density shall be not less than that for class IV non-encapsulated commodities on wood pallets, with no solid, slatted, or wire mesh shelving, and with aisles that are 8 feet or more in width and up to 20 feet in height.

3. Sprinkler piping that is 4 inches and larger in width shall be used and the structural engineer of record shall provide written verification approving of the point and dead loads.

E. Automatic Sprinkler Riser Rooms. Section 903 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Automatic Sprinkler Systems,” is amended by adding the following new subsection:

Sec. 903.7. Automatic sprinkler riser rooms. All automatic sprinkler system risers shall be located in a dedicated room. The room enclosure shall meet minimum code requirements for applicable fire resistive ratings and be provided with an exterior door, lighting, heat, and a smoke barrier ceiling. This requirement shall include any NFPA 13 and 13R fire sprinkler systems.

EXCEPTION: Fire sprinkler systems installed according to the IRC shall have an approved location for the riser.

F. International Fire Code Chapter 9 for fire alarms is amended to read as follows:

907.1.3 Equipment. Equipment systems and their components shall be listed and approved for the purposes for which they were installed. All new systems shall be addressable. Each device shall have its own address and annunciate individual device addresses at a UL Central Station.

907.1.4 Approved Fire Alarm and Detection Systems. In addition to any requirement of 907.2 or 907.3, all new buildings exceeding 5,000 square feet gross floor area or additions increasing the total area to greater than 5,000 square feet shall be required to provide an approved automatic fire detection and alarm system. Fire walls shall not be considered to separate a building to enable deletion of the required fire detection system.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Group “U” Occupancies.

907.5.2.3.1 Employee Work Areas. Visible and audible alarm notification appliances shall be provided in employee work areas.

G. For purposes of this chapter, a “fire wall,” “fire barrier,” or “horizontal assembly” shall not be considered to separate a building so as to avoid the required automatic fire alarm and detection system. A building shall have a minimum distance of five feet from any point of the building to any point of another building and from the property line in order to be considered a separate building. (Ord. 1187-21 § 3, 2021).