IBC - FLS - Fire & Smoke Protection

(LAST UPDATED TO IBC 2021, IFC 2021)

This guide is intended to give a general framework of the code and outlines commonly referenced sections to aid in becoming familiar with the code. There may be requirements in the code that apply to your project that are not outlined below. Please become familiar with the entire code with this as just a starting point.

FIRE PROTECTION OF BUILDING ELEMENTS

• 704 Fire-Resistance Rating of Structural Members

• Table 601 Fire-Resistance Rating Req’s for Building Elements

• 705 Exterior Walls and Table 705.5

  • 705.2 Projections

  • 705.5 Fire-Resistance Ratings exterior walls with fire separation distance more than 10’ are required to be rated from the inside only. Less than that is required from both sides. (This includes walls that are required to be rated by table 601 as well as those required by 705.5 given the way the first part of the paragraph is written.)

DETERMINE FIRE SMOKE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS

706 Fire Walls | A fire-resistance-rated wall having protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall. - IBC Definition

• 706.1.1 Party Walls

707 Fire Barriers | A fire-resistance-rated wall assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in which continuity is maintained. - IBC Definition

• 707.3.1 Shaft Enclosures and 713.14 Elevator, Dumbwaiter and Other Hoistways (also 3002.1)

  • 713.4 for Req’d Fire Rating and 713.6 for specific rules for Exterior Walls

• 707.3.2 Interior Exit Stairway and Ramp Construction

  • 1023.2 for Req’d Fire Rating and 1023.7 for specific rules for Exterior Walls

• 707.3.3 Enclosures for Exit Access Stairways

  • 713.4 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.3.4 Exit Passageway

  • 1024.3 for Req’d Fire Rating and 1024.8 for specific rules for Exterior Walls

• 707.3.5 Horizontal Exit

  • 1026.2 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.3.6 Atriums

  • 404.6 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.3.7 Incidental Uses see also 711.2.4.5 for horizontal separation

  • Table 509.1 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.3.8 Control Areas

  • 414.2.4 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.3.9 Separated Occupancies see also 711.2.4.1 for horizontal separation

  • 508.4 and Table 508.4 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.3.10 Fire Areas see also 711.2.4.2 for horizontal separation

  • Table 707.3.10 for Req’d Fire Rating

• 707.4 Exterior Walls Outlines rules for exterior shaft walls generally

708 Fire Partitions | A vertical assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in which openings are protected. - IBC Definition

• 708.1 General outlines the wall types that are to be Fire Partitions. 708.3 Fire Resistance Rating sets the min allowed fire resistance ratings for this type of wall

  • 420.2 Separation Walls - Dwelling Units and Sleeping Units Separation see 711.2.4.3 For horizontal separation

  • 402.4.2.1 Tenant Separations - In Covered Mall and Open Mall Buildings

  • Corridor walls as required by 1020.2 Construction of Corridors (typo in the code says 1020.3 but that doesn’t make any sense)

  • Enclosed elevator Lobby separation as required by 3006.3 Hoistway Opening Protection

  • 1021 Egress Balconies (essentially exterior corridor’s, usually open on one side) as req’d by 1021.2 Wall Separation

  • Walls separating ambulatory care facilities from adjacent spaces, corridors or tenant as req’d by 422.2 Separation for Ambulatory Care Facilities

  • Walls separating dwelling and sleeping units in Groups R-1 and R-2 in accordance with 907.2.8.1 and 907.2.9.1 (Manual Fire Alarm Req’s, this seems super strange and redundant)

  • Vestibules in accordance with 1028.2 Exit Discharge

• 708.5 Exterior Walls Outlines rules for exterior partition walls generally

711 Floor and Roof Assemblies (Horizontal Separation)

• 711.2.4 Fire Resistance Rating for Horizontal Assemblies

  • 711.2.4.1 Separating Mixed Occupancies

  • 711.2.4.2 Separating Fire Areas

  • 711.2.4.3 Dwelling Units and Sleeping Units

  • 711.2.4.4 Separating Smoke Compartments

  • 711.2.4.5 Separating Incidental Uses

  • 711.2.4.6 Other Separations

• 711.2.5 Ceiling Panels

• 711.2.6 Unusable Space

709 Smoke Barriers | A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor or ceiling assembly, that is designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke. - IBC Definition

• 709.3 Fire-Resistance Rating

Places in the code where Smoke Barriers are Required

• 405 Under Ground Buildings see sections 405.4.2 and 405.4.3

• 407 Group I-2 see section 407.5

• 408 Group I-3 see section 408.6 and 408.7

• 420.6 Group I-1, Condition 2

• 422 Ambulatory Care Facilities see section 422.3 and 422.3.3

• 909.5 Smoke Barrier Construction of barriers in Smoke Control Systems

• 1009.6.4 Separation for Areas of Refuge

• 3007.6 Fire Service Access Elevator Lobby see section 3007.6.2

• 3008.6 Occupant Evacuation Elevator Lobby see section 3008.6.2, 3008.6.3

710 Smoke Partitions | A wall assembly that extends from the top of the foundation or floor below to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above or to the underside of the ceiling above where the ceiling membrane is constructed to limit the transfer of smoke. - IBC Definition

• 710.3 Fire-Resistance Rating

Places in the code where Smoke Partitions are Required

• 404.6 Enclosure of Atriums Exception 1

• 407 Group I-2 see sections 407.3 and 407.4.4.2

• 3006.3 Hoistway Opening Protection option 2

718 Concealed Spaces requires fire-blocking and draft-stopping in concealed locations

1027 Exterior Exit Stairways and Ramps

• 1027.6 Exterior Exit Stairway and Ramp Protection

1029 Egress Courts

• 1029.3 Construction and Openings for fire resistance rating requirements