North Carolina State Building Code: Fire Code

1 North Carolina State Building Code: fire code (2003 IFC with North Carolina Amendments)2006 North Carolina Building code CouncilandNorth Carolina Department of Insurance1202 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, North Carolina 27699-1202 North Carolina State Building Code: fire code , 2006 EditionFirst Printing:June 2006 Second Printing:July 2006 Publication Date: June 2006 ISBN # 978-1-58001-433-5 (loose-leaf)ISBN # 1-58001-433-X (loose-leaf)COPYRIGHT 2006byINTERNATIONAL code COUNCIL, RIGHTS RESERVED. This 2006 North Carolina fire Codecontains substantial copyrighted material from the 2003 Interna-tional fire code , fifth printing, which is a copyrighted work owned by the International code Council, Inc. Without advance writtenpermission from the copyright owner, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, including, without limitation, electronic, optical or mechanical means (by way of example and not limitation, photocopying,or recording by or in an information storage retrieval system).

2 For information on permission to copy material exceeding fair use,please contact: Publications, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478-5795. Phone 1-888-ICC-SAFE(422-7233).Trademarks: International code Council, the International code Council logo and the International fire code are trademarksof the International code Council, IN THE Carolina State BUILDINGCODE COUNCILJANUARY 1, 2006 CHAIRMANDan Tingen 11(Home Builder)Tingen Construction Garvey Drive, #101 Raleigh, NC 27616919-875-2161 VICE CHAIRMANJohn Hitch, AIA 10(Architect)The Smith Sinnett Lake Boone TrailRaleigh, NC 27607919-781-8582 Tom Avery, PE 09(Structural Engineer)Structural Systems Box 1563 Wilmington, NC 28402910-763-7311 Barry Maness 09(Mechanical Contractor)Tarheel Contracting Box 2636 Asheboro, NC 27204336-626-3754 Tim Reynolds 07(Electrical Contractor)GT Reynolds ConstructionPO Box 550323 Gastonia, NC 28054704-865-6262Al Bass, Jr.

3 , PE 09(Mechanical Engineer)Bass, Nixon and Kennedy6425 Chapman CourtRaleigh, NC 27612919-782-4689 Dan Murray, PE 11( State Agency) State Construction301 North Wilmington , NC 27601919-807-4135 Bob Ruffner, Jr. 09(General Contractor)Clancy and Theys ConstructionPO Box 4189 Wilmington, NC 28406910-392-5520 Lon Culbertson, PE 07(Electrical Engineer)InfraTrek Consultants, PC417 North Boylan AvenueRaleigh, NC 27603919-465-7225 Jack Neel, PE 10(Municipal Representative)City of Albemarle1007 Colonial DriveAlbemarle, NC 28001704-982-8434 Butch Simmons 09( Building Inspector)City of GreensboroPO Box 3136 Greensboro, NC 27402336-373-2329 Terry Greene 07(Gas Industry)Piedmont Natural Gas Box 29527 Greensboro, NC 27429336-378-1831 Mack Nixon 10(County Respresentative)Albemarle Home Builders199 Mill StreetElizabeth City, NC 27909252-338-5211 David Smith 10(Coastal Contractor)Cape Fear Comm. North Front StreetWilmington, NC 28401910-362-7148 Brad Lail 11(Public Representative)Hickory Furniture548 North Center StreetHickory, NC 28601828-322-3510 Alan Perdue 09( fire Services)Guilford County1002 Meadowood StreetGreensboro, NC 27409336-641-7565 Tom Turner, FAIA 10(Architect)ADEP, PA3225 Wickersham RoadCharlotte, NC 28211704-770-04752006 North Carolina fire code :\data\CODES\ State CODES\NorthCarolina\2006 North Carolina fire code \Final vp\ , June 06, 2006 8:35:57 AMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screeniv2006 North Carolina fire code North CAROLINADEPARTMENT OF INSURANCEBy statute, the Commissioner of Insurance has general supervision of the administration and enforcement ofthe North Carolina State Building code and the Engineering Division serves as the staff for the BuildingCode Council.

4 Officials of the Department of Insurance are:JIM LONGC ommissionerTIM BRADLEYS enior Deputy CommissionerWANDA EDWARDS, PEDeputy CommissionerBARRY GUPTON, PEChief code ConsultantCHRIS NOLES, PEFire code ConsultantADMINISTRATIONDan Tingen ChairmanThomas Avery, PEAl Bass, PELon Culbertson, PEJohn Hitch, AIABrad LailAlan PerdueButch SimmonsDavid SmithThomas Turner, FAIABUILDINGB utch Simmons ChairmanJohn Hitch, AIABrad LailDan Murray, PEAlan PerdueBob Ruffner, Turner, FAIAELECTRICALTim Reynolds ChairmanAl Bass, PELon Culbertson, PEBarry ManessENERGYT homas Turner, FAIA ChairmanAl Bass, PELon Culbertson, PEBarry ManessMack NixonTim ReynoldsFIRE PREVENTIONAlan Perdue ChairmanTerry GreeneBrad LailJack Neel, PEMack NixonMECHANICALAl Bass, PE ChairmanLon Culbertson, PETerry GreeneBarry ManessTim ReynoldsDavid SmithRESIDENTIALD avid Smith ChairmanThomas Avery, PEDan MurrayJack Neel, PEMack NixonTim ReynoldsButch SimmonsThomas Turner, FAIASTRUCTURALT homas Avery.

5 PE ChairmanJohn Hitch, AIADan Murray, PEBob Ruffner, :\data\CODES\ State CODES\NorthCarolina\2006 North Carolina fire code \Final vp\ , June 06, 2006 8:35:57 AMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screenPREFACEI ntroductionInternationally, code officials recognize the need for a modern, up-to-date fire code addressing conditions hazardous to life andproperty from fire , explosion, handling or use of hazardous materials and the use and occupancy of buildings and premises. TheIn-ternational fire code , in this 2003 edition, is designed to meet these needs through model code regulations that safeguard the pub-lic health and safety in all communities, large and comprehensive fire code establishes minimum regulations for fire prevention and fire protection systems using prescriptiveand performance-related provisions. It is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and newsystem designs.

6 This 2003 edition is fully compatible with all theInternational Codes( I-Codes ) published by the InternationalCode Council (ICC), including theInternational Building code , ICC Electrical code , International Energy Conservation code ,International Existing Building code , International Fuel Gas code , International Mechanical code , ICC Performance code , In-ternational Plumbing code , International Private Sewage Disposal code , International Property Maintenance code , Interna-tional Residential code , International Urban-Wildland Interface CodeandInternational Zoning fire Codeprovisions provide many benefits, among which is the model code development process that offersan international forum for fire safety professionals to discuss performance and prescriptive code requirements. This forum providesan excellent arena to debate proposed revisions. This model code also encourages international consistency in the application first edition of theInternational fire code (2000) was the culmination of an effort initiated in 1997 by a development commit-tee appointed by ICC and consisting of representatives of the three statutory members of the International code Council: BuildingOfficials and code Administrators International, Inc.

7 (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and South-ern Building code Congress International (SBCCI). The intent was to draft a comprehensive set of fire safety regulations consistentwith and inclusive of the scope of the existing model codes. Technical content of the latest model codes promulgated by BOCA,ICBO and SBCCI was utilized as the basis for the development, followed by public hearings in 1998 and 1999 to consider proposedchanges. This 2003 edition presents the code as originally issued, with changes approved through the ICC code Development Pro-cess through 2002. A new edition such as this is promulgated every three the development and publication of the family ofInternational Codesin 2000, the continued development and maintenanceof the model codes individually promulgated by BOCA ( BOCA National Codes ), ICBO ( Uniform Codes ) and SBCCI ( Stan-dard Codes ) was discontinued. This 2003 International fire code , as well as its predecessor the 2000 edition, is intended to bethe successor fire code to those codes previously developed by BOCA, ICBO and development of a single set of comprehensive and coordinated family ofInternational Codeswas a significant milestone inthe development of regulations for the built environment.

8 The timing of this publication mirrors a milestone in the change in struc-ture of the model codes, namely, the pending Consolidation of BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI into the ICC. The activities and servicespreviously provided by the individual model code organizations will be the responsibility of the Consolidated code is founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of a fire code that adequately pro-tects public health, safety and welfare; provisions that do not unnecessarily increase construction costs; provisions that do not re-strict the use of new materials, products or methods of construction; and provisions that do not give preferential treatment toparticular types or classes of materials, products or methods of fire Codeis available for adoption and use by jurisdictions internationally. Its use within a governmental jurisdic-tion is intended to be accomplished through adoption by reference in accordance with proceedings establishing the jurisdiction slaws.

9 At the time of adoption, jurisdictions should insert the appropriate information in provisions requiring specific local informa-tion, such as the name of the adopting jurisdiction. These locations are shown in bracketed words in small capital letters in the codeand in the sample ordinance. The sample adoption ordinance on page v addresses several key elements of a code adoption ordi-nance, including the information required for insertion into the code fire Codeis kept up to date through the review of proposed changes submitted by code enforcing officials, indus-try representatives, design professionals and other interested parties. Proposed changes are carefully considered through an opencode development process in which all interested and affected parties may North Carolina fire code :\data\CODES\ State CODES\NorthCarolina\2006 North Carolina fire code \Final vp\ , June 06, 2006 8:37:59 AMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screenThe contents of this work are subject to change both through the code Development Cycles and the governmental body that en-acts the code into law.

10 For more information regarding the code development process, contact the code and Standard DevelopmentDepartment of the International code the development procedure of theInternational fire Codeassures the highest degree of care, ICC and the founding mem-bers of ICC BOCA, ICBO, SBCCI their members and those participating in the development of this code do not accept any lia-bility resulting from compliance or noncompliance with the provisions because ICC and its founding members do not have thepower or authority to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this code . Only the governmental body that enacts the codeinto law has such Designations in Front of Section NumbersIn each code development cycle, proposed changes to this code are considered at the code Development Hearing by the Interna-tional fire code Development Committee, whose action constitutes a recommendation to the voting membership for final action onthe proposed change.