Section 445. Chapter 17 Retrofit requirements

A. Add IEBC Section 1701 General.

B. Add Section 1701.1 to the IEBC to read:

1701.1 Scope. In accordance with Section 103.7 of the VCC and as set out herein, the following buildings are required to be provided with certain fire protection equipment or systems or other retrofitted components.

C. Add Section 1701.2 to the IEBC to read:

1701.2 Smoke detectors in colleges and universities. In accordance with § 36-99.3 of the Code of Virginia, college and university buildings containing dormitories for sleeping purposes shall be provided with battery-powered or AC-powered smoke detector devices installed therein in accordance with this code in effect on July 1, 1982. All public and private college and university dormitories shall have installed such detectors regardless of when the building was constructed. The chief administrative office of the college or university shall obtain a certificate of compliance with the provisions of this subsection from the building official of the locality in which the college or university is located or, in the case of state-owned buildings, from the Director of the Virginia Department of General Services. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dormitory at a state-supported military college or university that is patrolled 24 hours a day by military guards.

D. Add Section 1701.3 to the IEBC to read:

1701.3 Smoke detectors in certain juvenile care facilities. In accordance with § 36-99.4 of the Code of Virginia, battery-powered or AC-powered smoke detectors shall be installed in all local and regional detention homes, group homes, and other residential care facilities for children and juveniles that are operated by or under the auspices of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, regardless of when the building was constructed, by July 1, 1986, in accordance with the provisions of this code that were in effect on July 1, 1984. Administrators of such homes and facilities shall be responsible for the installation of the smoke detector devices.

E. Add Section 1701.4 to the IEBC to read:

1701.4 Smoke detectors for the deaf and hearing-impaired. In accordance with § 36-99.5 of the Code of Virginia, smoke detectors providing an effective intensity of not less than 100 candela to warn a deaf or hearing-impaired individual shall be provided, upon request by the occupant to the landlord or proprietor, to any deaf or hearing-impaired occupant of any of the following occupancies, regardless of when constructed:

1. All dormitory buildings arranged for the shelter and sleeping accommodations of more than 20 individuals;

2. All multiple-family dwellings having more than two dwelling units, including all dormitories and boarding and lodging houses arranged for shelter and sleeping accommodations of more than 5 individuals; or

3. All buildings arranged for use as one-family or two-family dwelling units.

A tenant shall be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the smoke detector in the tenant's unit.

A hotel or motel shall have available no fewer than one such smoke detector for each 70 units or portion thereof, except that this requirement shall not apply to any hotel or motel with fewer than 35 units. The proprietor of the hotel or motel shall post in a conspicuous place at the registration desk or counter a permanent sign stating the availability of smoke detectors for the hearing impaired. Visual detectors shall be provided for all meeting rooms for which an advance request has been made.

F. Add Sections 1701.5, 1701.5.1, and 1701.5.2 to the IEBC to read:

1701.5 Assisted living facilities (formerly known as adult care residences or homes for adults). Existing assisted living facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services shall comply with this section.

1701.5.1 Fire protective signaling system and fire detection system. A fire protective signaling system and an automatic fire detection system meeting the requirements of the USBC, Volume I, 1987 Edition, Third Amendment, shall be installed in assisted living facilities by August 1, 1994.

Exception: Assisted living facilities that are equipped throughout with a fire protective signaling system and an automatic fire detection system.

1701.5.2 Single-station and multiple-station smoke detectors. Battery or AC-powered single-station and multiple-station smoke detectors meeting the requirements of the USBC, Volume I, 1987 Edition, Third Amendment, shall be installed in assisted living facilities by August 1, 1994.

Exception: Assisted living facilities that are equipped throughout with single-station and multiple-station smoke detectors.

G. Add Section 1701.6 to the IEBC to read:

1701.6 Smoke detectors in buildings containing dwelling units. AC-powered smoke detectors with battery backup or an equivalent device shall be required to be installed to replace a defective or inoperative battery-powered smoke detector located in buildings containing one or more dwelling units or rooming houses offering to rent overnight sleeping accommodations when it is determined by the building official that the responsible party of such building or dwelling unit fails to maintain battery-powered smoke detectors in working condition.

H. Add Section 1701.7 to the IEBC to read:

1701.7 Fire suppression, fire alarm, and fire detection systems in nursing homes and facilities. Fire suppression systems as required by the edition of this code in effect on October 1, 1990, shall be installed in all nursing facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Health by January 1, 1993, regardless of when such facilities or institutions were constructed. Units consisting of certified long-term care beds located on the ground floor of general hospitals shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.

Fire alarm or fire detector systems, or both, as required by the edition of this code in effect on October 1, 1990, shall be installed in all nursing homes and nursing facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Health by August 1, 1994.

I. Add Section 1701.8 to the IEBC to read:

1701.8 Fire suppression systems in hospitals. Fire suppression systems shall be installed in all hospitals licensed by the Virginia Department of Health as required by the edition of this code in effect on October 1, 1995, regardless of when such facilities were constructed.

J. Add Section 1701.9 to the IEBC to read:

1701.9 Identification of disabled parking spaces by above grade signage. All parking spaces reserved for the use of persons with disabilities shall be identified by above grade signs, regardless of whether identification of such spaces by above grade signs was required when any particular space was reserved for the use of persons with disabilities. A sign or symbol painted or otherwise displayed on the pavement of a parking space shall not constitute an above grade sign. Any parking space not identified by an above grade sign shall not be a parking space reserved for the disabled within the meaning of this section. All above grade disabled parking space signs shall have the bottom edge of the sign no lower than 4 feet (1219 mm) nor higher than 7 feet (2133 mm) above the parking surface. Such signs shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 11 of this code. All disabled parking signs shall include the following language: "PENALTY, $100-500 Fine, TOW-AWAY ZONE." Such language may be placed on a separate sign and attached below existing above grade disabled parking signs, provided that the bottom edge of the attached sign is no lower than 4 feet above the parking surface.

K. Add Section 1701.10 to the IEBC to read:

1701.10 Smoke detectors in hotels and motels. Smoke detectors shall be installed in hotels and motels as required by the edition of VR 394-01-22, USBC, Volume II, in effect on March 1, 1990, by the dates indicated, regardless of when constructed.

L. Add Section 1701.11 to the IEBC to read:

1701.11 Sprinkler systems in hotels and motels. By September 1, 1997, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in hotels and motels as required by the edition of VR 394-01-22, USBC, Volume II, in effect on March 1, 1990, regardless of when constructed.

M. Add Section 1701.12 to the IEBC to read:

1701.12 Fire suppression systems in dormitories. An automatic fire suppression system shall be provided throughout all buildings having a Group R-2 fire area that are more than 75 feet (22,860 mm) or 6 stories above the lowest level of exit discharge and are used, in whole or in part, as a dormitory to house students by any public or private institution of higher education, regardless of when such buildings were constructed, in accordance with the edition of this code in effect on August 20, 1997, and the requirements for sprinkler systems under the edition of the NFPA 13 standard referenced by that code. The automatic fire suppression system shall be installed by September 1, 1999. The chief administrative office of the college or university shall obtain a certificate of compliance from the building official of the locality in which the college or university is located or, in the case of state-owned buildings, from the Director of the Virginia Department of General Services.

Exceptions:

1. Buildings equipped with an automatic fire suppression system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 of the 1983 or later editions of NFPA 13.

2. Any dormitory at a state-supported military college or university that is patrolled 24 hours a day by military guards.

3. Application of the requirements of this section shall be modified in accordance with the following:

3.1. Building systems, equipment, or components other than the fire suppression system shall not be required to be added or upgraded except as necessary for the installation of the fire suppression system and shall only be required to be added or upgraded where the installation of the fire suppression system creates an unsafe condition.

3.2. Residential sprinklers shall be used in all sleeping rooms. Other sprinklers shall be quick response or residential unless deemed unsuitable for a space. Standard response sprinklers shall be used in elevator hoistways and machine rooms.

3.3. Sprinklers shall not be required in wardrobes in sleeping rooms that are considered part of the building construction or in closets in sleeping rooms when such wardrobes or closets (i) do not exceed 24 square feet (2.23 m²) in area, (ii) have the smallest dimension less than 36 inches (914 mm), and (iii) comply with all of the following:

3.3.1. A single-station smoke detector monitored by the building fire alarm system is installed in the room containing the wardrobe or closet that will activate the general alarm for the building if the single station smoke detector is not cleared within five minutes after activation.

3.3.2. The minimum number of sprinklers required for calculating the hydraulic demand of the system for the room shall be increased by two and the two additional sprinklers shall be corridor sprinklers where the wardrobe or closet is used to divide the room. Rooms divided by a wardrobe or closet shall be considered one room for the purpose of this requirement.

3.3.3. The ceiling of the wardrobe, closet, or room shall have a fire resistance rating of not less than 1/2 hour.

3.4. Not more than one sprinkler shall be required in bathrooms within sleeping rooms or suites having a floor area between 55 square feet (5.12 m²) and 120 square feet (11.16 m²), provided the sprinkler is located to protect the lavatory area and the plumbing fixtures are of a noncombustible material.

3.5. Existing standpipe residual pressure shall be permitted to be reduced when the standpipe serves as the water supply for the fire suppression system, provided the water supply requirements of NFPA 13-94 are met.

3.6. Limited service controllers shall be permitted for fire pumps when used in accordance with their listing.

3.7. Where a standby power system is required, a source of power in accordance with Section 701-11 (d) or 701-11 (e) of NFPA 70-96 shall be permitted.

N. Add Section 1701.13 to the IEBC to read:

1701.13 Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in SRCFs. SRCFs shall be provided with at least one approved type ABC portable fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A10BC installed in each kitchen. In addition, SRCFs shall provide at least one approved and properly installed battery operated smoke detector outside of each sleeping area in the vicinity of bedrooms and bedroom hallways and on each additional floor.

O. Add Section 1701.14 to the IEBC to read:

1701.14 Smoke detectors in adult day care centers. Battery-powered or AC-powered smoke detector devices shall be installed in all adult day care centers licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services, regardless of when the building was constructed. The location and installation of the smoke detectors shall be determined by the provisions of this code in effect on October 1, 1990. The licensee shall obtain a certificate of compliance from the building official of the locality in which the center is located or, in the case of state-owned buildings, from the Director of the Virginia Department of General Services.

P. Add Section 1701.15 to the IEBC to read:

1701.15 Posting of occupant load. Every room or space that is an assembly occupancy, and where the occupant load of that room or space is 50 or more, shall have the occupant load of the room or space as determined by the building official posted in a conspicuous place, near the main exit or exit access doorway from the room or space. Posted signs shall be of an approved legible permanent design and shall be maintained by the owner or owner's authorized agent.

Q. Add Section 1701.16 to the IEBC to read:

1701.16 ALFSTs. Existing ALFSTs, regardless of when constructed, shall by October 1, 2011, meet the applicable requirements of API 653 and TFI RMIP for suitability for service and inspections and shall provide a secondary containment system complying with Section 425.3 of the VCC.

R. Add Section 1701.17 to the IEBC to read:

1701.17 Standards for replacement glass. In accordance with § 36-99.2 of the Code of Virginia, any replacement glass installed in buildings constructed prior to the first edition of the USBC shall meet the quality and installation standards for glass installed in new buildings as are in effect at the time of installation. In addition, as a requirement of this code, the installation or replacement of glass in buildings constructed under any edition of the USBC shall be as required for new installations.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. July 14, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 36-98 of the Code of Virginia.