This extended duration gives the fire department ample time to respond to an event while the sprinkler system is continually operational. Sprinkler systems are designed for extended suppression, with water-supply-duration requirements based on the hazard of contents plus the ability for the fire department to supplement supply to extend the duration. Again, this substitution should be carefully considered, as a sprinkler system is typically designed for life safety and building protection while a gaseous clean agent system is designed for asset or contents protection. This section states: “Clean agent fire-extinguishing systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected, and tested in accordance with NFPA 2001 and their listing.”Īs you can see, the IBC allows for the use of gaseous clean agent systems as a substitute for sprinkler systems when approved by the fire code official.
Section 904 of the IBC, entitled Alternate Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Systems, states that “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.” Gaseous clean agent systems are specifically noted in IBC Section 904.10. Section 202 of the IBC defines a clean agent as an “electrically nonconducting, volatile, or gaseous fire extinguishant that does not leave a residue upon evaporation.” Generally speaking, the IBC mirrors the requirements of the IFC, so the discussion will be based on code sections from the IBC. In addition to ICC-based requirements, some jurisdictions may adopt NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code and/or NFPA 1: Fire Code. The most common model codes for fire protection provisions in the United States are the IBC and the International Fire Code (IFC) published by the International Code Council (ICC). The substitution is not recommended because sprinkler systems are primarily designed for life safety purposes whereas gaseous clean agent systems offer protection of assets as their main objective. Although some codes do allow the substitution of gaseous clean agent systems for sprinkler systems with authority having jurisdiction approval, it is not recommended practice for most applications. Note, however, that many jurisdictions still reference earlier editions of codes and also adopt amendments to the model building codes, which must be taken into consideration before the start of any project. This article will reference the most up-to-date published codes and standards for simplicity. Much like the sprinkler system example, codes are used to identify when a gaseous clean agent system is required or when it can be used for protection.
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