International Building Code Section 904 – International Building Code 2006 Discussions

International Building Code 904.1

General. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems,
other than automatic sprinkler systems, shall be designed,
installed, inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with
the provisions of this section and the applicable referenced
standards.

International Building Code 904.10

Clean-agent systems. Clean-agent fire-extinguishing
systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically
inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 2001 and their
listing.

International Building Code 904.11

Commercial cooking systems. The automatic
fire-extinguishing system for commercial cooking systems
shall be of a type recognized for protection of commercial
cooking equipment and exhaust systems of the type and
arrangement protected. Preengineered automatic dry- and
wet-chemical extinguishing systems shall be tested in accordance
with UL 300 and listed and labeled for the intended
application. Other types of automatic fire-extinguishing systems
shall be listed and labeled for specific use as protection for
commercial cooking operations. The system shall be installed
in accordance with this code, its listing and the manufacturer’s
installation instructions. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems
of the following types shall be installed in accordance with the
referenced standard indicated, as follows:
1. Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems, NFPA 12.
2. Automatic sprinkler systems, NFPA 13.
3. Foam-water sprinkler system or foam-water spray systems,
NFPA 16.
4. Dry-chemical extinguishing systems, NFPA 17.
5. Wet-chemical extinguishing systems, NFPA 17A.
Exception: Factory-built commercial cooking recirculating
systems that are tested in accordance with UL 710B and
listed, labeled and installed in accordance with Section
304.1 of the International Mechanical Code.

Manual system operation. A manual actuation
device shall be located at or near a means of egress from
the cooking area a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) and a
maximum of 20 feet (6096 mm) from the kitchen exhaust
system. The manual actuation device shall be installed not
more than 48 inches (1200 mm) or less than 42 inches (1067
mm) above the floor and shall clearly identify the hazard
protected. The manual actuation shall require a maximum
force of 40 pounds (178 N) and a maximummovement of 14
inches (356 mm) to actuate the fire suppression system.
Exception: Automatic sprinkler systems shall not be
required to be equipped with manual actuation means.

System interconnection. The actuation of the
fire suppression system shall automatically shut down the
fuel or electrical power supply to the cooking equipment.
The fuel and electrical supply reset shall be manual.

Carbon dioxide systems. When carbon dioxide
systems are used, there shall be a nozzle at the top of the
ventilating duct. Additional nozzles that are symmetrically
arranged to give uniform distribution shall be installed
within vertical ducts exceeding 20 feet (6096 mm) and horizontal
ducts exceeding 50 feet (15 240 mm). Dampers shall
be installed at either the top or the bottom of the duct and
shall be arranged to operate automatically upon activation
of the fire-extinguishing system. Where the damper is
installed at the top of the duct, the top nozzle shall be immediately
below the damper. Automatic carbon dioxide
fire-extinguishing systems shall be sufficiently sized to protect
against all hazards venting through a common duct
simultaneously.

Ventilation system. Commercial-type
cooking equipment protected by an automatic carbon
dioxide-extinguishing system shall be arranged to shut
off the ventilation system upon activation.

Special provisions for automatic sprinkler
systems. Automatic sprinkler systems protecting commercial-
type cooking equipment shall be supplied from a separate,
readily accessible, indicating-type control valve that is
identified.

Listed sprinklers. Sprinklers used for
the protection of fryers shall be tested in accordance with
2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 179
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
UL 199E, listed for that application and installed in
accordance with their listing.

International Building Code 904.11.1

International Building Code 904.11.2

International Building Code 904.11.3

Ventilation system. Commercial-type
cooking equipment protected by an automatic carbon
dioxide-extinguishing system shall be arranged to shut
off the ventilation system upon activation.

International Building Code 904.11.3.1

Ventilation system. Commercial-type
cooking equipment protected by an automatic carbon
dioxide-extinguishing system shall be arranged to shut
off the ventilation system upon activation.

International Building Code 904.11.4

International Building Code 904.11.4.1

International Building Code 904.2

Where required. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems
installed as an alternative to the required automatic sprinkler
systems of Section 903 shall be approved by the fire code
official. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall not be considered
alternatives for the purposes of exceptions or reductions
allowed by other requirements of this code.

Commercial hood and duct systems. Each
required commercial kitchen exhaust hood and duct system
required by the International Fire Code or the International
Mechanical Code to have a Type I hood shall be protected
with an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system
installed in accordance with this code.

International Building Code 904.2.1

International Building Code 904.3

Installation. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems
shall be installed in accordance with this section.

Electrical wiring. Electrical wiring shall be in
accordance with the ICC Electrical Code.

Actuation. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems
shall be automatically actuated and provided with a
manual means of actuation in accordance with Section
904.11.1.

System interlocking. Automatic equipment
interlocks with fuel shutoffs, ventilation controls, door
closers, window shutters, conveyor openings, smoke and
heat vents and other features necessary for proper operation
of the fire-extinguishing system shall be provided as
required by the design and installation standard utilized for
the hazard.

Alarms and warning signs. Where alarms are
required to indicate the operation of automatic fire-extinguishing
systems, distinctive audible and visible alarms and
warning signs shall be provided to warn of pending agent
discharge. Where exposure to automatic-extinguishing
agents poses a hazard to persons and a delay is required to
ensure the evacuation of occupants before agent discharge,
a separate warning signal shall be provided to alert occupants
once agent discharge has begun. Audible signals shall
be in accordance with Section 907.9.2.

Monitoring. Where a building fire alarm system
is installed, automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall
be monitored by the building fire alarm system in accordance
with NFPA 72.

International Building Code 904.3.1

Electrical wiring. Electrical wiring shall be in
accordance with the ICC Electrical Code.

International Building Code 904.3.2

Actuation. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems
shall be automatically actuated and provided with a
manual means of actuation in accordance with Section
904.11.1.

International Building Code 904.3.3

International Building Code 904.3.4

International Building Code 904.3.5

Monitoring. Where a building fire alarm system
is installed, automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall
be monitored by the building fire alarm system in accordance
with NFPA 72.

International Building Code 904.4

Inspection and testing. Automatic fire-extinguishing
systems shall be inspected and tested in accordance with
the provisions of this section prior to acceptance.

Inspection. Prior to conducting final acceptance
tests, the following items shall be inspected:
1. Hazard specification for consistency with design hazard.
178 2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
2. Type, location and spacing of automatic- and manual-
initiating devices.
3. Size, placement and position of nozzles or discharge
orifices.
4. Location and identification of audible and visible
alarm devices.
5. Identification of devices with proper designations.
6. Operating instructions.

Alarm testing. Notification appliances, connections
to fire alarm systems and connections to approved
supervising stations shall be tested in accordance with this
section and Section 907 to verify proper operation.

Audible and visible signals. The audibility
and visibility of notification appliances signaling
agent discharge or system operation, where required,
shall be verified.

Monitor testing. Connections to protected premises
and supervising station fire alarm systems shall be
tested to verify proper identification and retransmission of
alarms from automatic fire-extinguishing systems.

International Building Code 904.4.1

International Building Code 904.4.2

Audible and visible signals. The audibility
and visibility of notification appliances signaling
agent discharge or system operation, where required,
shall be verified.

International Building Code 904.4.2.1

Audible and visible signals. The audibility
and visibility of notification appliances signaling
agent discharge or system operation, where required,
shall be verified.

International Building Code 904.4.3

International Building Code 904.5

Wet-chemical systems. Wet-chemical extinguishing
systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically
inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 17A and their
listing.

International Building Code 904.6

Dry-chemical systems. Dry-chemical extinguishing
systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected
and tested in accordance with NFPA 17 and their listing.

International Building Code 904.7

Foam systems. Foam-extinguishing systems shall be
installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested in
accordance with NFPA 11 and NFPA 16 and their listing.

International Building Code 904.8

Carbon dioxide systems. Carbon dioxide extinguishing
systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically
inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA12 and their listing.

International Building Code 904.9

Halon systems. Halogenated extinguishing systems
shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested
in accordance with NFPA 12A and their listing.