1 Del. Admin. Code § 702-6-2.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025

Section 702-6-2.0 - Application

2.1 Notwithstanding, any other provisions of the Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations, for all buildings or structures of less than 10,000 square feet of aggregate gross floor area, and where there is not a public water system or a central water system; the State Fire Marshal may utilize the provisions of the Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting, NFPA 1142, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations, as meeting the requirement for fire flow. (See § 7.0, Dry Hydrants, at the end of this Chapter).

2.2 A building, structure or the use of a parcel of land shall not be constructed, extended, renovated, or altered in violation of this Chapter. All provisions of this Chapter shall be met prior to the existence of the exposure or hazard unless arrangements can be made to phase the installation of the fire protection, which is acceptable to the State Fire Marshal, and would not impair the intent of this Chapter.

2.3 This Chapter applies wherein the construction, renovation, or alteration constitutes a hazard or condition which could create a self-propagating fire exposing an existing structure, fuel load, or property line that could be built upon. In the event there is no existing adjacent structure, the location of the property line shall govern.

2.4 This Chapter applies to all occupancies including one- and two-family dwellings, any hazardous processes, and the handling, storing, or use of flammable and combustible liquids and flammable gases.

Note: Any flammable and combustible liquid and gas site that falls within the scope of a specific NFPA code, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations, shall be subject to additional requirements, for water supplies, including, but not limited to, the following: NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code NFPA 30A, Automotive and Marine Service Station Code NFPA 31, Standard for the Installation of Oil Burning Equipment NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 58, Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases Any occupancy that falls within the scope of a specific NFPA code, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations, shall be subject to additional requirements for water supplies, including, but not limited to, the following: NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories using Chemicals NFPA 88A, Standard for Parking Structures NFPA 88B, Standard for Repair Garages

Exception: This Chapter does not apply to four (4) or less one- and two-family dwellings when the four (4) one- and two-family dwellings, considered as a group or one fuel station, do not create an exposure to any other structure, fuel station or property line that could be built upon.

Note: Exception: It is the intent of this exception not to require water distribution systems when four or less single-family detached dwellings are constructed in close proximity to each other (less than 100 feet). It is not the intent of this exception to allow or condone the construction of multiple groups of four (4) or less single family detached dwelling units wherein the arrangement of those groups constitutes a configuration that, in the opinion of the State Fire Marshal, would support a self-propagating fire from one fuel station to the next.

2.5 The owner or his representative shall submit adequate plans of any construction, renovation, alteration or the use of a parcel of land prior to any work being performed and obtain written approval from the State Fire Marshal. The plans shall display all necessary information and calculations in accordance with this Regulation. At the completion of construction and prior to occupancy or functional use, the owner or his representative shall supply to the State Fire Marshal a report verifying the following:

2.5.1 That the actual exposure distances on the site as constructed are within the allowable limits of this Regulation and the approved plans;

2.5.2 That the required fire flow was obtained and verified by on site flow testing, at the required minimum residual pressure;

2.5.3 That the hydrant spacing, location and arrangement is in accordance with this Regulation and the plan approval, and;

2.5.4 That the required minimum duration of flow, as required by this Regulation and the plan approval, is obtainable as verified by field calculations of the storage facilities.

Exception to § 2.5.4: When an unproven well (new well or a well that has been out of service for more than six months) is used as a water supply source, the owner may meet the requirements by one of the following methods:

1.Obtain certification from a recognized authority that the well is capable of providing the minimum required fire flow for the minimum required duration.OR

2.Provide flow test results verifying that the unproven well was tested and provided the required minimum fire flow for the required minimum duration.

1 Del. Admin. Code § 702-6-2.0

25 DE Reg. 74 (7/1/2021) (final)