THE 2018 IBC SPRINKLER CHEATSHEET
A summary of requirements under the 2018 IBC. For more, visit www.meyerfire.com/subscribe.
Max
Where Max Fire Area Other Requirement(s) Basis
Occupant
By Occupancy
· Where an occupied roof has assembly occupancy over
A: All S1 - 300 + 903.2.1.6
300 (or 100 for Group A-2)2
· Where multiple A-1, A-2, A-3, or A-4 Areas share exit
A: All B3 - 300 + 903.2.1.7
access and the combined occupant load is 300 or more
A: Smoke-
Protected A4 - - · Where area is used as smoke-protected seating 1029.6.2.3
Seating
· Where A-1 Area is on a floor other than level of exit
A-1 S1 12,000 ft2 300 + discharge, or 903.2.1.1
· Contains multi-theater complex
· Where A-2 is located on a floor other than a level of exit
discharge 903.2.1.2
A-2 S1 5,000 ft2 100 +
· Where an occupied roof has assembly occupancy over 903.2.1.6
100
· Where A-3 is located on a floor other than a level of exit
A-3 S1 12,000 ft2 300 + 903.2.1.3
discharge
· Where A-4 is located on a floor other than a level of exit
A-4 S1 12,000 ft2 300 + 903.2.1.4
discharge
· Space under grandstands required if over 1,000 sqft or is
A-5 O5 1,000 ft2 - 903.2.1.5
not constructed in accordance with 1029.1.1.1.
· 4 + incapable of self-preservation, or
B: Ambulatory
F6 - - · 1 + incapable of self-preservation that is not on the level 903.2.2
Care
of exit discharge
E B3 12,000 ft2 300 + · If E area is located on floor other than level of discharge7
2,500 ft2 (upholstered 903.2.4
· If Group F-1 is more than 3 stories above grade plane
furniture or mattresses) 903.2.4
· Throughout all F-1 areas containing wood-working
F-1 B3 12,000 ft2 (single) - 903.2.4
operations over 2,500 sqft that generate finely divided
24,000 ft2 (combined F-
combustible waste or material
1) 903.2.4.1
· Throughout any high-hazard occupancy 903.2.5.1
H O8 0 ft2 - · Provided where nitrate film or pyroxylin plastics are
manufactured, stored, or handled above 100 lbs 903.2.5.3
H-5 B3 0 ft2 - · Throughout buildings containing H-5 Occupancy 903.2.5.2
I B3 0 ft2 - · Throughout buildings with Group I9 903.2.6
I-2 - - - · Through any smoke compartment with sleeping room 407.7
5,000 ft2 (upholstered
· Where more than 3 stories above grade plane
furniture / mattresses) 903.2.7
M B3 - · Where storage of merchandise is in high-piled or rack
12,000 ft2 (single) 903.2.7.1
storage array
24,000 ft2 (combined)
R B3 0 ft2 - · Throughout all buildings with Group R fire area 903.2.8
1 S: System Required on floor containing occupancy, level of exit discharge, and all floors in-between
2 Except Type I or Type II Open Parking Garages, per 903.2.1.6
3 B: System Required Throughout Building
4 A: System Required Throughout Enclosed Areas, except floor area where roof is more than 50 feet above floor level, press boxes less than 1,000 sqft, and
outdoor seating where means of egress in seating area are essentially open to the outside
5 O: System Required Throughout all enclosed A-5 accessory use areas in excess of 1,000 sqft
6 F: System Required Throughout Entire Floor containing the occupancy
7 Except sprinklers are not required on the level below classrooms if every classroom has an exterior exit at ground level
8 O: System Required Throughout the Occupancy
9 Except where I-4 care are at level of exit discharge and where every room has at least one exterior door, per 903.2.6. For I-4 day care areas on a level other
than exit discharge, sprinkler systems are only required on the I-4 floor, exit discharge floor, all floors in-between, and all floors below the discharge level.
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2,500 ft2 (up. furniture)
5,000 ft2 (commercial
S-1 B3 motor vehicles) - · Where located more than 3 stories above grade plane 903.2.9
12,000 ft2 (single area)
24,000 ft2 (combined)
0 ft2 (if in basement)
S-1 Repair 5,000 ft2 (comm. repair) - Two or more stories above grade plane with fire
B3 903.2.9.1
Garage 10,000 ft2 (2+ story) area containing repair garage over 10,000 sqft
12,000 ft2 (1 story)
S-1 Tire
B3 20,000 cubic ft - - 903.2.9.2
Storage
S-2 Enclosed
B3 12,000 ft2 - · Where located beneath other groups (except R-3) 903.2.10
Parking Garage
S-2 Commercial
B3 5,000 ft2 - - 903.2.10.1
Parking Garage
Other
Aircraft Hangers B3 - - · Designed under NFPA 409 based on classification 412.3.6
· Throughout entire building, except where atrium is
Atriums B3 - - separated per 707, or 711, or in atrium where atrium is 55 404.3
ft or taller
Commercial · Installed where sprinkler system is used to comply with
Hood - - 903.2.11.5
Cooking IBC Section 904.
Drying Rooms - - - · In any high-hazard drying room 417.4
· Where required by IMC for ducts conveying hazardous
Hazardous Duct
Duct - - exhaust or flammable/combustible materials, except where 903.2.11.4
Exhaust
duct is under 10-inches.
Highrise B3 - - · Installed throughout highrise buildings 403.3
Lab Suites - - - · Throughout Higher-Ed laboratory suites 428.3.9
Live/Work Units - - - · Throughout the unit 419.5
Mall B3 - - · Installed throughout covered and open mall buildings 402.5
Special · Throughout, except when less than 1,000 sqft and exit
B3 1,000 ft2 - 411.4
Amusement access travel distance is less than 50 feet
Spray Booths - - - · In all spray rooms and spray booths 416.5
Stages T10 - - · See footnote10 410.6
Stories w/o
B3 1,500 ft2 · See 903.2.11.1 for minimum opening dimension & access 903.2.11.1
Openings
· Where one or more stories with occupant load of 30 or
more with finished floor 55 ft or more above lowest level of
Tall Buildings B3 903.2.11.3
FD access, except open parking structures and
occupancies in Group F-2
Traffic Control B3 - - · Occupied floor level over 35 ft above FD vehicle access 412.2.4
Trash/Linen · Where trash and linen chutes are provided: required at
Chute - - 903.2.11.2
Chutes top of chute, in rooms, and alternate floors. See ref.
Underground · Where floor level is more than 30 feet below finished floor
S1 - - 405.3
Structures of the lowest level of exit discharge
Inclusion of sprinkler systems may also be mandated by insurance companies, local code ordinances, or preferred by the building owner.
Where appliable, see the International Fire Code Table 903.2.11.6 for additional required fire protection applications. These include dry cleaning, fuel-
dispensing areas, dip tanks, HPM facilities, lumber production, recycling facilities, ovens, storage of flammable and combustible liquids, gas rooms, exhaust
enclosures, hazardous materials, aerosol product warehouses, medical gas storage, propellant storage, toxic gases, and pyroxylin plastics.
Aside from many documented life-safety and building protection benefits for fire sprinkler systems, their inclusion can also offer the following code benefits:
Increased Allowable Building Height, Increased Allowable Number of Stories, Increased Allowable Building Area, Egress Width & Exit Discharge Decreases,
Travel Distance Increases, Rating Reductions for Separated Occupancies, Rating Reductions for Fire Partitions, Rating Reductions for Corridor Walls, Rating
Reductions for Incidental Uses, Draftstopping Reductions, Removal of Manual Pull Stations, Hazardous Material Storage Increases, Atrium Use Allowances,
Unlimited Area Buildings, Allowable Area of Openings, Vertical Separation of Openings, Interior Finish Reductions, and Floor Finish Reductions
10T: Required under roof, gridiron, catwalks, and galleries over the stage, in dressing rooms, performer lounges, shops and storerooms accessory to stages.
Exceptions for short separated stages, small stages, or portable orchestra enclosures. See 410.6.
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