Section 362.0903. Automatic fire sprinkler systems.

 

(1)   Group a – 1. Substitute the following wording for condition 3 in IBC section 903.2.1.1: None of the stories in which the fire area is located include a level of exit discharge.

(2)   Group a – 2. Substitute the following wording for condition 3 in IBC section 903.2.1.2: None of the stories in which the fire area is located include a level of exit discharge.

(3)   Group a – 3. Substitute the following wording for condition 3 in IBC section 903.2.1.3: None of the stories in which the fire area is located include a level of exit discharge.

(4)   Group e. Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.2.3:

(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies as follows:

1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 20,000 square feet in area.

2. Throughout every story of educational buildings that is located below a story which includes the lowest level of exit discharge.

(b) An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any fire area, or in any story that is located below a story which includes the lowest level of exit discharge, where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.

(5)   Group r. Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.2.8:

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d) , an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with IBC section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area.

(b) An automatic sprinkler system installed in a multifamily dwelling may conform with sub. (10) provided the multifamily dwelling complies with all of the following:

1. The multifamily dwelling does not contain more than 4 dwelling units.

2. The multifamily dwelling is not more than 2 stories above grade plane in height.

3. The multifamily dwelling is not served by either a community water system or a municipal water system as defined under s. NR 811.02 .

(c) An automatic sprinkler system installed in a townhouse may conform with sub. (10) provided the townhouse complies with all of the following:

1. The townhouse does not exceed more than 3 stories above grade plane in height.

2. Each dwelling unit within the townhouse is separated from other dwelling units by at least one hour fire-resistive-rated separation walls constructed in accordance with the requirements of IBC section 706 and do not contain any openings or have any plumbing equipment or mechanical equipment within. The separation wall does not have to comply with the structural stability requirements of IBC section 706.2 and the horizontal continuity requirements of IBC section 706.5.

(d) An automatic sprinkler system installed in a building with a Group R-3 fire area may conform with sub. (10) provided the Group R-3 use complies with all of the following:

1. The Group R-3 use is limited to a single-room bunkhouse type sleeping unit.

2. The fire area does not exceed 1,500 square feet.

3. The fire area is not more than one story above grade plane in height.

4. The fire area has an occupant load of 10 or less.

5. The Group R-3 use is not served by either a community water system or a municipal water system as defined under s. NR 811.02 .

(6)   Student housing. These are department rules in addition to the requirements in IBC section 903.2.8:

(a) Definition. In this paragraph, "private student residential building" has the meaning as given under s. 101.14 (4) (b) 1m. , Stats.

(b) Existing housing.

1. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided by January 1, 2014 throughout every residence hall and dormitory greater than 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before January 7, 2006, that is owned or operated by an institution of higher education, other than a residence hall or dormitory owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

2. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided by January 1, 2014 throughout every private student residential building greater than 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before January 7, 2006.

3. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided by January 1, 2014 throughout every student residential facility operated by a fraternity, sorority or other organization authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, the initial construction of which was begun before January 7, 2006.

(c) New housing.

1. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every residence hall and dormitory, the initial construction which is begun on or after April 26, 2000, that is owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

2. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every residence hall and dormitory, the initial construction which is begun on or after January 7, 2006, that is owned or operated by an institution of higher education, other than a residence hall or dormitory owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

3. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every student residential facility, operated by a fraternity, sorority or an organization authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, the initial construction of which is begun on or after January 7, 2006.

4. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every private student residential building, the initial construction of which is begun on or after January 7, 2006.

(7)   Buildings over 60 feet in height. This is a department rule in addition to the requirements in IBC section 903.2.11.3:

(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , pursuant to s. 101.14 (4) (b) 1r. , Stats., automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed throughout buildings and structures that are more than 60 feet in height.

(b) An automatic fire sprinkler system is not required to be provided in any of the following buildings or structures or portions of buildings or structures that are more than 60 feet in height:

1. Airport control towers.

2. Open parking structures complying with IBC section 406.3.

3. Telecommunications equipment spaces used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated electrical power distribution equipment and standby engines, provided that those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic fire detection system in accordance with IBC section 907.2 and are separated from the remainder of the building with fire barriers consisting of 1-hour fire-resistance-rated walls and 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assemblies.

4. Special industrial occupancies complying with the criteria outlined in IBC section 503.1.1.

5. Occupancies of Group F-2 when omission of the automatic fire sprinkler system is approved in accordance with s. SPS 361.22 .

(8)   Exempt locations. Substitute the following wording for exempt location 2 in IBC section 903.3.1.1.1: Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents, where approved by the department.

(9)   Balconies. Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.3.1.2.1: Sprinkler protection complying with NFPA 13 shall be provided for exterior balconies, decks and ground-floor patios of dwelling units where the building is of Type V construction, provided there is a roof or deck above. Sidewall sprinklers that are used to protect such areas shall be permitted to be located such that their deflectors are within 1 inch to 6 inches below the structural members, and a maximum distance of 14 inches below the deck of the exterior balconies and decks that are constructed of open wood joist construction.

(10)   NFPA 13d sprinkler systems.

(a) Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.3.1.3: Where allowed, automatic sprinkler systems in townhouses and multifamily dwellings shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D, except as provided in par. (b) .

(b)

1. The requirements in NFPA 13D section 6.3 (4) are not included as part of this code.

2. Fire department connections are prohibited in multi-purpose piping systems.

(11)   Testing and maintenance. Substitute the following informational note for the requirements in IBC section 903.5:

CR 00-179 : cr. Register December 2001 No. 552 , eff. 7-1-02; CR 04-016 : renum. (2) to (5) to be (6), (7), (11) and (12), cr. (2) to (5), (8) to (10) and (13) Register December 2004 No. 588 , eff. 1-1-05; CR 04-043 : cr. (1m) Register December 2004 No. 588 , eff. 1-1-05; emerg. renum. (6) to be (6) (a) and am. (6) (a) (intro.), cr. (6) (intro.) and (b), eff. 3-4-06; CR 06-040 : renum. (6) to be (6) (a) and am. (6) (a) (intro.), cr. (6) (intro.) and (b), r. (7) Register September 2006 No. 609 , eff. 10-1-06; CR 06-120 : r. (1m) and (12), r. and recr. (5) and (6), cr. (6m), (11), (13) and (14), am. (8) to (10), renum. (11) and (13) to be (12) and (15) Register February 2008 No. 626 , eff. 3-1-08; corrections in (6) (a) and (d) and (11) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register February 2008 No. 626 ; CR 10-103 : r. (1), (6) (b), Table 62.0903, (6m) (b) 1. and 2., (8) to (10) and (14) (b), r. and recr. (5) (c), cr. (5) (d), (10) (b), renum. (2) to (5) to be (1) to (4), (6) (intro.), (a), (c) and (d) to be (5) (intro.), (a), (b) and (c), (6m) (intro.) (a), (b) 3. to 5. and (c) to be (6) (intro.) (a), (b) 1. to 3. and (c), (11) to (13) to be (7) to (9), (14) to be (10), (15) to be (11) and am. (4) (intro.), (5) (intro.), (b) (intro.), (c) 3. (intro.) and 3. b., (6) (intro.), (7) (intro.), (b) 4. and (9), Register August 2011 No. 668 , eff. 9-1-11, r. and recr. (5) (c) Register August 2011 No. 668 , eff. 7-1-14; correction in (7) (b) 5. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 ; 2015 Wis. Act 330 s. 20 : am. (6) (b) 1., (c) 1., 2. Register April 2016 No. 724 , eff. 5-1-16.

Note

Under s. NR 811.02 "community water system means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year–round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year–round residents. Any water system serving 7 or more homes, 10 or more mobile homes, 10 or more apartment units or 10 or more condominium units shall be considered a community water system unless information is provided by the owners indicating that 25 year–round residents will not be served." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Under s. NR 811.02 "municipal water system means a community water system owned by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility district, public inland lake and rehabilitation district, municipal water district or a federal, state, county or municipal owned institution for congregate care or correction, or a privately owned water utility serving the foregoing." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Under s. NR 811.02 , "community water system" means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year–round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year–round residents. Any water system serving 7 or more homes, 10 or more mobile homes, 10 or more apartment units or 10 or more condominium units shall be considered a community water system unless information is provided by the owners indicating that 25 year–round residents will not be served." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Under s. NR 811.02 , "municipal water system" means a community water system owned by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility district, public inland lake and rehabilitation district, municipal water district or a federal, state, county or municipal owned institution for congregate care or correction, or a privately owned water utility serving the foregoing." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Section 101.14 (4) (b) 1m. , Stats., reads: "In this paragraph, "private student residential building" means a privately owned and operated residential building that has a capacity of at least 100 occupants, that is occupied by persons at least 80 percent of whom are enrolled in an institution of higher education, and that has attributes usually associated with a student residence hall or dormitory such as a food service plan or occupancy by a resident advisor." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Multi-purpose piping systems must conform with the applicable provisions of the Plumbing Code, chs. SPS 381 to 387 . Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Note: See ch. SPS 314 for requirements for inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1