38A-112 30 VHR NFPA 13 info
30 Village Hill Rd. Attic Sprinklers
I believe that sprinklers are required in the attic space of the building at 30 Village Hill Road.
The building is of Type IIIB construction, completely residential, with an aggregate floor area
greater than 12,000 sf; per Mass amended table 903.2 the building requires a NFPA 13
sprinkler system (903.3.1.1). Mass amendments replace the exemptions allowed by IBC 903.2.
Based on my understanding that the roof is constructed with timber trusses, steel purlins and a
wood plank roof deck, the attic contains combustible materials I find no allowance in NFPA 13 to
omit sprinklers in a concealed space with combustible materials (see NFPA definition of
noncombustible, below).
I will certainly reconsider if I’ve missed something in my review.
IBC 903.3.1.1.1:
903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations. Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms
or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an approved automatic fire detection
system in accordance with Section 907.2 that will respond to visible or invisible particles of
combustion. Sprinklers shall not be omitted from any room merely because it is damp, of fire-
resistance-rated construction or contains electrical equipment.
1. Any room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire
hazard.
2. Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the
contents, when approved by the fire code official.
3. Generator and transformer rooms separated from the remainder of the building by walls and
floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
4. Rooms or areas that are of noncombustible construction with wholly noncombustible
contents. (This is the IBC code section that potentially exempts noncombustible attics from
sprinklers. This exception is not in Mass amended chapter 9.)
5. Fire service access elevator machine rooms and machinery spaces.
Mass 8th amendment 903.3.1.1.1
903.3.1.1.1 Replace as follows:
903.3.1.1.1 Exempt Locations. See 903.2 Exceptions 1. through 7. And section 903.1.1.
903.2 Replace the exception as follows:
Exceptions: Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms or areas where
such rooms or areas are protected with an approved automatic fire detection system and
notification in accordance with section 907 that will respond to visible or invisible particles of
combustion. Sprinklers shall not be omitted from any room merely because it is damp, of
fireresistance-rated construction or contains electrical equipment.
1. Spaces or areas in telecommunications buildings used exclusively for telecommunications
equipment, associated electrical power distribution equipment, batteries and standby engines,
provided those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic smoke detection
and notification system in accordance with section 907.2 and are separated from the remainder
of the building by not less than 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with section 707
or not less than two-hour horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with section 712, or
both.
2. Any room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire
hazard and protected by an alternative automatic fire-extinguishing system in accordance with
Section 904.
3. Portions of buildings that comply with Chapter 4 for open parking structures less than 70 feet
in height above grade plane.
4. Machine rooms of traction/drum hydraulic elevators, elevator hoistways, or elevator pits.
Such elevator machine rooms, hoistways, or pits shall be constructed to meet the fireresistance
rating specified in Table 601 and otherwise as required by the applicable sections of Chapter 7.
Where Table 601 requires a higher fireresistance rating for elevator machine rooms, hoistways,
or pits, such rating must be provided unless such ratings are governed by other sections of this
code. For elevator installation within atriums also see Chapter 4 for additional fireresistance
rating guidance. Where the elevator machine room is determined to be a true penthouse roof
structure, also refer to section 1509.0 for additional fireresistance rating requirements.
5. Noncombustible and limited combustible concealed spaces and plenums that contain
electrical, data, communications and other cables that are of the types and in the configurations
permitted in such spaces by 527 CMR 12.00: 2008 Massachusetts Electrical Code
(Amendments).
6. Transformer Vaults where all the following conditions are satisfied:
a. The cable within the vault is flame retardant or limited combustible.
b. The dielectric fluid is a limited combustible fluid.
c. The vault is enclosed in three hour fire resistance rated construction.
d. The vault is at grade or no more than one level below grade. Access to the vault is
directly from the exterior or via a dedicated two hour passageway.
e. The vault is protected with automatic smoke detection connected to the building fire
alarm system which notifies the fire department upon activation.
f. The room is limited to the sole use of the transformer equipment and is limited in size
to accommodate said equipment only. Storage is prohibited in the vault enclosure.
g. The vault is provided with spill containment.
h. An emergency fire plan has been developed with and approved by the fire
department.
i. Continuous ventilation is provided for the vault enclosure in accordance with the
ventilation requirements of NFPA 30.
j. The ventilation equipment is dedicated to serve the vault only.
k. Standby emergency power, in addition to the normal power source, is provided for
the ventilation equipment.
l. The vault is no larger in area than 2400 sq. ft.
7. Transformer Vaults where an alternative suppression system is provided for the vault in
accordance with section 904 and Exception 6. Conditions I., j., and k. are met.
903.3.1.1 NFPA 13 sprinkler systems.
Where the provisions of this code require that a building or portion thereof be equipped
throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers shall
be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13 except as provided in Section 903.3.1.1.1.
NFPA 13
8.1* Basic Requirements:
8.1.1* The requirements for spacing, location, and position of sprinklers shall be based on the
following principles:
(1) Sprinklers shall be installed throughout the premises.
(2) Sprinklers shall be located so as not to exceed the maximum protection area per sprinkler.
(3) Sprinklers shall be positioned and located so as to provide satisfactory performance with
respect to activation time and distribution.
(4) Sprinklers shall be permitted to be omitted from areas specifically allowed by this standard.
(5) When sprinklers are specifically tested and test results demonstrate that deviations from
clearance requirements to structural members do not impair the ability of the sprinkler to control
or suppress a fire, their positioning and locating in accordance with the test results shall be
permitted.
(6) Clearance between sprinklers and ceilings exceeding the maximums specified in this
standard shall be permitted, provided that tests or calculations demonstrate comparable
sensitivity and performance of the sprinklers to those installed in conformance with these
sections.
3.3.17 Noncombustible Material.
A material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will not
ignite, burn, support combustion, or release flammable vapors, when subjected to fire or heat;
materials that are reported as passing ASTM E 136, Standard Test Method for Behavior of
Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C, shall be considered noncombustible materials.
3.3.16* Limited-Combustible (Material). Refers to a building construction material not complying
with the definition of noncombustible material that, in the form in which it is used, has a potential
heat value not exceeding 3500 Btu/lb (8141 kJ/kg), where tested in accordance with NFPA 259,
and includes either of the following:
(1) materials having a structural base of noncombustible material, with a surfacing not
exceeding a thickness of 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) that has a flame spread index not greater than 50; or
(2) materials, in the form and thickness used, having neither a flame spread index greater than
25 nor evidence of continued progressive combustion, and of such composition that surfaces
that would be exposed by cutting through the material on any plane would have neither a flame
spread index greater than 25 nor evidence of continued progressive combustion, when tested in
accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method of Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials, or ANSI/UL 723, Standard Test Method of Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials.
Louis Hasbrouck
City of Northampton
Building Department