Section SPS 362.0903 - Automatic fire sprinkler systems(1) GROUP A- 1. Substitute the following wording for condition 3 in IBC section 903.2.1.1: None of the stories in which the fire area is located include a level of exit discharge.(2) GROUP A- 2. Substitute the following wording for condition 3 in IBC section 903.2.1.2: None of the stories in which the fire area is located include a level of exit discharge.(3) GROUP A- 3. Substitute the following wording for condition 3 in IBC section 903.2.1.3: None of the stories in which the fire area is located include a level of exit discharge.(4) GROUP E. Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.2.3: (a) Except as provided in par. (b), an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies as follows:1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 20,000 square feet in area.2. Throughout every story of educational buildings that is located below a story which includes the lowest level of exit discharge.(b) An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any fire area, or in any story that is located below a story which includes the lowest level of exit discharge, where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.(5) GROUP R. Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.2.8: (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (cm), an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with IBC section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area.(b) An automatic sprinkler system installed in a multifamily dwelling may conform with sub. (10) provided the multifamily dwelling complies with all of the following: 1. The multifamily dwelling does not contain more than 20 dwelling units. Note: See s. 101.971(2), Stats., for the definition of "multifamily dwelling".
Note: See s. 101.14(4m), Stats., for requirements relating to automatic fire sprinkler systems for a multifamily dwelling.
2. The multifamily dwelling is not more than 2 stories above grade plane in height.3. The multifamily dwelling is not served by either a community water system or a municipal water system as defined under s. NR 811.02. Note: Under s. NR 811.02"community water system means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Any water system serving 7 or more homes, 10 or more mobile homes, 10 or more apartment units or 10 or more condominium units shall be considered a community water system unless information is provided by the owners indicating that 25 year-round residents will not be served."
Note: Under s. NR 811.02"municipal water system means a community water system owned by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility district, public inland lake and rehabilitation district, municipal water district or a federal, state, county or municipal owned institution for congregate care or correction, or a privately owned water utility serving the foregoing."
(cm) An automatic sprinkler system installed in a building with a Group R-3 fire area may conform with sub. (10) provided the Group R-3 use complies with all of the following: 1. The Group R-3 use is limited to a single-room bunkhouse type sleeping unit.2. The fire area does not exceed 1,500 square feet.3. The fire area is not more than one story above grade plane in height.4. The fire area has an occupant load of 10 or less.5. The Group R-3 use is not served by either a community water system or a municipal water system as defined under s. NR 811.02. Note: Under s. NR 811.02, "community water system" means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Any water system serving 7 or more homes, 10 or more mobile homes, 10 or more apartment units or 10 or more condominium units shall be considered a community water system unless information is provided by the owners indicating that 25 year-round residents will not be served."
Note: Under s. NR 811.02, "municipal water system" means a community water system owned by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility district, public inland lake and rehabilitation district, municipal water district or a federal, state, county or municipal owned institution for congregate care or correction, or a privately owned water utility serving the foregoing."
(6) STUDENT HOUSING. These are department rules in addition to the requirements in IBC section 903.2.8: (a)Definition. In this paragraph, "private student residential building" has the meaning as given under s. 101.14(4) (b) 1m, Stats. Note: Section 101.14(4) (b) 1m, Stats., reads: "In this paragraph, "private student residential building" means a privately owned and operated residential building that has a capacity of at least 100 occupants, that is occupied by persons at least 80 percent of whom are enrolled in an institution of higher education, and that has attributes usually associated with a student residence hall or dormitory such as a food service plan or occupancy by a resident advisor."
(b)Existing housing.1. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided by January 1, 2014 throughout every residence hall and dormitory greater than 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before January 7, 2006, that is owned or operated by an institution of higher education, other than a residence hall or dormitory owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.2. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided by January 1, 2014 throughout every private student residential building greater than 60 feet in height, the initial construction of which was begun before January 7, 2006.3. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided by January 1, 2014 throughout every student residential facility operated by a fraternity, sorority or other organization authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, the initial construction of which was begun before January 7, 2006.(c)New housing.1. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every residence hall and dormitory, the initial construction which is begun on or after April 26, 2000, that is owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.2. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every residence hall and dormitory, the initial construction which is begun on or after January 7, 2006, that is owned or operated by an institution of higher education, other than a residence hall or dormitory owned or operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.3. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every student residential facility, operated by a fraternity, sorority or an organization authorized or sponsored by an institution of higher education, the initial construction of which is begun on or after January 7, 2006.4. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided throughout every private student residential building, the initial construction of which is begun on or after January 7, 2006.(7) BUILDINGS OVER 60 FEET IN HEIGHT. This is a department rule in addition to the requirements in IBC section 903.2.11.3:(a) Except as provided in par. (b), pursuant to s. 101.14(4) (b) 1r, Stats., automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed throughout buildings and structures that are more than 60 feet in height.(b) An automatic fire sprinkler system is not required to be provided in any of the following buildings or structures or portions of buildings or structures that are more than 60 feet in height: 1. Airport control towers.2. Open parking structures complying with IBC section 406.3.3. Telecommunications equipment spaces used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated electrical power distribution equipment and standby engines, provided that those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic fire detection system in accordance with IBC section 907.2 and are separated from the remainder of the building with fire barriers consisting of 1-hour fire-resistance-rated walls and 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assemblies.4. Special industrial occupancies complying with the criteria outlined in IBC section 503.1.1.5. Occupancies of Group F-2 when omission of the automatic fire sprinkler system is approved in accordance with s. SPS 361.22.(8) EXEMPT LOCATIONS. Substitute the following wording for exempt location 2 in IBC section 903.3.1.1.1: Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents, where approved by the department.(9) BALCONIES. Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.3.1.2.1: Sprinkler protection complying with NFPA 13 shall be provided for exterior balconies, decks and ground-floor patios of dwelling units where the building is of Type V construction, provided there is a roof or deck above. Sidewall sprinklers that are used to protect such areas shall be permitted to be located such that their deflectors are within 1 inch to 6 inches below the structural members, and a maximum distance of 14 inches below the deck of the exterior balconies and decks that are constructed of open wood joist construction.(10) NFPA 13D SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. (a) Substitute the following wording for the requirements in IBC section 903.3.1.3: Where allowed, automatic sprinkler systems in townhouses and multifamily dwellings shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D, except as provided in par. (b).(b)1. The requirements in NFPA 13D section 6.3.2 are not included as part of chs. SPS 361 to 366.2. Fire department connections are prohibited in multi-purpose piping systems. Note: Multi-purpose piping systems must conform with the applicable provisions of the Plumbing Code, chs. SPS 381 to 387.
(11) TESTING AND MAINTENANCE. Substitute the following informational note for the requirements in IBC section 903.5: Note: See ch. SPS 314 for requirements for inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems(12) UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE. The requirement in IBC section 903.2.9 condition 5 is not included as part of chs. SPS 361 to 366.(13) RECYCLING CHUTES. The requirements of IBC section 903.2.11.2 shall apply to recycling chutes in addition to rubbish and linen chutes.(14) ALTERNATE AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARD. This is a department rule in addition to the requirements of IBC section 903.3.1.1: When the provisions of chs. SPS 361 to 366 require that a building or portion thereof be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers may be installed throughout in accordance with the alternate design standard of the FM Global Loss Prevention Data Sheets 2-0 Installation Guidelines for Automatic Sprinklers and 8-9 Storage of Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and Plastic Commodities.(15) FAIRGROUND BUILDINGS. Pursuant to s. 101.14(4), Stats., no city, village, or town may enact or enforce an ordinance that requires a county or organized agricultural society, association, or board to install or maintain an automatic fire suppression system in a building on a fairgrounds if all of the following apply:(a) The building is open to the public only for seasonal or temporary event use for 180 cumulative days or fewer per year.(b) Public access to the building is provided by garage style doors that remain open when the building is open to the public.(16) ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCIES ON ROOFS. The requirements in IBC section 903.2.1.6 are not included as part of chs. SPS 361 to 366.(17) LIMITED AREA SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. Substitute the following wording for IBC Section 903.3.8.1: Limited area sprinklers may not exceed 20 sprinklers in any single fire area.(18) BUILDINGS WITHOUT ACCESS TO MUNICIPAL WATER.(a)Exemptions. These are department exceptions to the automatic fire sprinkler system requirements in IBC section 903: An automatic fire sprinkler system is not required for a building that meets all of the requirements of this section.(b)Building types and occupancies. These are department rules in addition to requirements in IBC section 903.2: An automatic fire sprinkler system is not required under this section in a building that does not have access to a municipal water supply.1. A Group A-2 occupancy banquet hall, restaurant, tavern, or bar that is not already exempt under IBC section 903.2.1.2 when all of the following apply:a. The fire area does not exceed 12,000 square feet.b. The occupant load of the fire area does not exceed 300.c. The fire area is located on a floor with exit discharge at grade.2. Buildings and structures that are on a farm premises used for farming purposes and temporarily or permanently repurposed as a Group A-2 occupancy that is not already exempt under IBC section 903.2.1.2 when all of the following apply: a. The building is used for assembly purposes no more than 180 cumulative days per calendar year.b. The fire area does not exceed 12,000 square feet.c. The occupant load of the fire area does not exceed 300.d. The fire area is located on a floor with exit discharge at grade.3. A Group A-3 occupancy place of religious worship, or an accessory to a place of worship as specified in IBC section 303.1.4, that is not already exempt under IBC section 903.2.1.3 when all of the following apply:a. The building is used for a place of worship no more than 180 cumulative days per calendar year.b. The fire area does not exceed 12,000 square feet.c. The occupant load of the fire area does not exceed 300.d. The fire area is located on a floor with exit discharge at grade.4. A single story Group R occupancy cabin or camp lodge building, or a building or space that is used for assembly purposes at a camp when all of the following apply:a. The building or space is used no more than 180 cumulative days per calendar year.b. The fire area does not exceed 12,000 square feet.c. The occupant load of the fire area does not exceed 300.d. The fire area is located on a floor with exit discharge at grade.e. All sleeping rooms have a direct exit to the exterior.(c)Additional requirements. These are department rules in addition to the requirements in IBC section 903.2 for the buildings in par. (b): A building that meets the requirements of par. (b) shall also comply with all of the following:1. The occupant load shall be displayed in accordance with IBC section 1004.3.2. All open flames, including smoking, shall be prohibited in the building and within 50 feet or less from the building, except for flame equipment used to reheat or maintain food temperatures.3. A smoke detection and fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with IBC section 907.4. Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in accordance with IBC section 906.5. A municipal fire and building inspection position statement shall be submitted to the department on an approved form indicating the municipality's review and approval of the proposed building design. The position statement shall be completed by the fire code official if there is no commercial building inspector for the jurisdiction.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 362.0903
CR 00-179: cr. Register December 2001 No. 552, eff. 7-1-02; CR 04-016: renum. (2) to (5) to be (6), (7), (11) and (12), cr. (2) to (5), (8) to (10) and (13) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 04-043: cr. (1m) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; emerg. renum. (6) to be (6) (a) and am. (6) (a) (intro.), cr. (6) (intro.) and (b), eff. 3-4-06; CR 06-040: renum. (6) to be (6) (a) and am. (6) (a) (intro.), cr. (6) (intro.) and (b), r. (7) Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 06-120: r. (1m) and (12), r. and recr. (5) and (6), cr. (6m), (11), (13) and (14), am. (8) to (10), renum. (11) and (13) to be (12) and (15) Register February 2008 No. 626, eff. 3-1-08; corrections in (6) (a) and (d) and (11) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register February 2008 No. 626; CR 10-103: r. (1), (6) (b), Table 62.0903, (6m) (b) 1. and 2., (8) to (10) and (14) (b), r. and recr. (5) (c), cr. (5) (d), (10) (b), renum. (2) to (5) to be (1) to (4), (6) (intro.), (a), (c) and (d) to be (5) (intro.), (a), (b) and (c), (6m) (intro.) (a), (b) 3. to 5. and (c) to be (6) (intro.) (a), (b) 1. to 3. and (c), (11) to (13) to be (7) to (9), (14) to be (10), (15) to be (11) and am. (4) (intro.), (5) (intro.), (b) (intro.), (c) 3. (intro.) and 3. b., (6) (intro.), (7) (intro.), (b) 4. and (9), Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11, r. and recr. (5) (c) Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 7-1-14; correction in (7) (b) 5. made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.2015 Wis. Act 330 s. 20: am. (6) (b) 1., (c) 1., 2. Register April 2016 No. 724, eff.5/1/2016Amended by, CR 16-094: am. (5) (b) 1., r. (5) (c), renum. (5) (d) to (5) (cm), am. (10) (b) 1., cr. (12) to (18), Register April 2018 No. 748 eff. 5-1-18; correction in (5) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5/1/2018Position statement forms are available from the department's website at dsps.wi.gov.