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Interpretation #6221

Original Request

  • Date: July 03, 2009
  • Requested By: Robert Maurer
  • Requester E-Mail: RMaurer@TCIConstruction.com
  • Code Version: 2007
  • Code: BUILDING
  • Code Description: Building
  • Chapter: 7
  • Section: 706
  • Topic: Fire Barriers

  • Question: Is it the intent of Florida Building Code - Building section 706 to allow the fire resistance rating of tenant separation walls in mixed occupancies, such as those separating mercantile and business tenancies, to be reduced by 1-hour when the building is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system?

Answer on 07/03/2009 at 12:32 PM

No. Florida Building Code - Building section 706 deals with
the installation requirements of Fire Barriers, not the
fire ratings of tenant separation. Florida Building Code -
Building section 708, Fire Partitions, sets the
requirements for tenant separation and there is no
allowance to reduce the required fire rating if sprinklers
are used.

Commentary:

There is no reduction permitted for the tenant separation for sprinklers, except in mini-warehouses and certain dwelling and sleeping units buildings of Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction. The system in the mini-warehouses is for Ordinary Hazard Group II as defined by NFPA 13 and is required to use quick response heads. Please note the sprinkler system cited (903.3.1.1) for the reductions in the dwellings and dwelling units is an NFPA 13 system, not an NFPA 13R system.