Fire Sprinkler Systems for Residential Buildings

Fire Sprinkler system design is one of the most significant requirements across all the states of the United States. Huge destruction can be brought by sudden fire attacks. The absence of these fire sprinkler systems may bring certain damages, injuries, and a great loss to the life of an individual as well as the property. Fire safety has become the burning question nowadays. It may bring great destruction to the lives of human beings and their families and can ruin their valuable assets and property. In California, the installation of a fire sprinkler system design in the new homes, as well as the residential buildings, has now become the legal requirement that has to be followed by the property owner. In case of any negligence to adhere to these laws and regulations, the residential property owner is legally accountable. In this article, we will break down the need for fire sprinkler system design in residential buildings in California. 

Fire Sprinkler System is one of the best approaches in the protection against fire attacks. These systems have contributed a major part to offer protection to the lives of human beings as well as their property. The installation of these fire sprinkler systems has now become the foremost requirement across all the states of the United States. The major component in the fire sprinkler system is the sprinkler head which is responsible to discharge the water as soon as the effect of the fire has been detected. In California, it is mandatory to install the fire sprinkler system design in the residential buildings that provide a large area or floor for dwelling purposes.  

Adopting the International Residential Code (IRC) Requirements for Fire Sprinkler Systems

The International Residential Code (IRC) for the fire sprinkler system has been adopted by the states of California as well as many other local authorities when they upgrade their code and regulations. Home Builder Associations in many states have made all possible efforts to stop the implementation of the IRC Fire Sprinkler law. However, the States of California is one of the most noteworthy exceptions where the IRC code of Fire Sprinkler system has been adopted by the building industry association with the introduction of the residential fire sprinkler system requirement involved. Today, a period after requiring all the residential buildings as well as new homes to have fire sprinklers, the real-estate markets in California are flourishing, and new homes having the fire protection systems feature installed provide home-builders with the benefit over resale real-estates that do not have fire sprinkler systems installed. 

Legal Accountability can be considered as one of the main issues that may eventually change the point of view of home-builder towards the introduction of residential fire sprinkler systems. The installation of residential fire sprinkler system design has now become the primary requirement of every nation’s code to protect the lives of occupants as well as their property.  

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IRC Requirements Supported

Fire and Residential Code in California

In California, the first fire sprinkler code, “Fire and Residential Code” has been passed by the Office of the State Fire Marshal across all the states of the United States. Initially, this code was passed for the 2010 buildings. This code has been approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 1^st, 2011. The primary objective of this code is to ensure the installation of the fire sprinkler system design in all the new residential homes that provide the purpose of one-and two-family dwellings in California. 

California Residential Code

• 18.10.030 Section R313.2

According to the California Residential Code, 18.10.030 Section R313.2, it is mandatory to install automatic residential fire sprinkler systems in all the newly constructed residential buildings that are provided more than half of its area or floor for one- and two-family dwellings. 

Exception: 

The California Residential Code, 18.10.030 Section R313.2 has the following exception: 

• Separated those building structures that are situated in the excess area of 10 feet from the leading house or the main house. The separated structure for Fire Sprinklers shall be considered as the part of the main house when structures are not disconnected per the California Building Code (Section 705.3). 

Woodside Municipal Code

In California, the chief objective of Woodside Municipal Code is that it demands an automatic fire sprinkler code installation in those newly constructed residential buildings that exceed an area of 1,000 square feet. There are some subsections of the Woodside Municipal Code. They are discussed below:

• Section 150.01 (E)

To decide when any new building structure, planned alteration, re-establishment of an existing structure or residential building, or addition will be required to be categorized as a new building for acquiescence with WMC Section 150.01 (E) and the approved California Building Code.

• Section 150.01 (G)

According to the WMC section 150.01 (G), when any new building structure, planned alteration, re-establishment of an existing structure or residential building, or addition will require the setup of automatic fire sprinkler systems. 

Woodside Building Alteration

Conclusion

By concluding this article, the purpose of fire sprinkler systems has become clear. The installation of the fire sprinkler systems in the newly constructed buildings or the residential structures in the states of California is the legal requirement that must be followed by the property owner. In California, numerous homes and building structures are now equipped with fire sprinkler systems following the codes and regulations.