12/28/2016
Life Safety Code: Sprinkler Systems in Concealed Spaces
The 2012 LSC requires all existing and newly constructed health care facilities, including long term care facilities, to be equipped with a supervised automatic sprinkler system. This regulation requires compliance with the 2010 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has received several requests for clarification concerning the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in concealed or attic spaces of health care facilities, specifically where fire retardant treated wood (FRTW) has been installed in attic spaces or used in the construction of roofs. The NFPA Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13, 2010 edition requires sprinkler protection in all areas of a building at Section 4.1. There are a few exceptions that permit sprinklers to be omitted in certain areas and still consider a building to be completely sprinkler protected; these exceptions are found at Section 8.15.1. The typical exceptions used in nursing homes are concealed spaces, with 12 examples; vertical shafts, with two examples; and exterior roofs or canopies. The exceptions for these locations are defined in a manner that limits their application to very specific instances.
Concealed spaces are non-occupied spaces that can be created by construction of the building. These spaces may contain wiring, and piping for building service equipment such as HVAC equipment and may be void of any combustible material. Concealed spaces are not required to be sprinklered as long as the storage of combustible items is not permitted. Limited access to these areas by small access panels is allowed. An attic can be a concealed space if it is constructed and used as a concealed space as outlined in 8.15.1.2.1 of NFPA 13.
Concealed spaces may be constructed of or contain noncombustible or limited combustible material such as FRTW and, spaces constructed of such material are not required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system. FRTW is allowed to be used in both “new” and “existing” construction of an attic or concealed space by the LSC as referenced at 18.1.6.2, 18.1.6.3, 19.1.6.2 and 19.1.6.3 and section 8.15.1.2 of NFPA 13.
