2024 IFC Additions and Amendments

Chapter 1

Addition 105.5.34 Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles

•  A Heart of America (HOA) operational inspection sticker is required for mobile food preparation vehicles equipped with appliances that produce smoke or grease laden vapors.

Addition to 110.3

Records of all system inspections, tests, and maintenance (ITM) of the following must be submitted electronically through who has been contracted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), and track compliance of the fire code as it pertains to the following:

• Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Special Suppression Systems
• Fire Pumps
• Stand Pipes
• Paint Booths
• Hood and Ducts
• Cleaning of Hood and Ducts
• Commercial Fire Alarms
• Fire doors
• Emergency Responder Radio Coverage equipment

Chapter 5

503.1.1 Buildings and Facilities

• Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements of this section and shall extend to within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of the building as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.
  • Addition: The approved apparatus access road will be designed to withstand the weight of a 90,000-pound vehicle.

506 Key Boxes

• Addition to 506.1 where required
  • Any business with an automatic sprinkler system or fire alarm system shall install a Knox Box Key Box
• Amend 506.2 Key boxes
  • 506.1.2 Key boxes for elevator keys. Key boxes provided for elevator keys shall comply with Section 506.1 and all of the following:
    1. The key box shall be compatible with an existing rapid entry key box system in use in the jurisdiction and approved by the fire code official.
    2. The front cover shall be permanently labeled with the words “”Fire Department Use Only-Elevator Keys.””
    3. The key box shall be mounted at each elevator bank at the lobby nearest to the lowest level of fire department access.
    4. The key box shall be mounted 5 feet 6 inches above the finished floor and within 10 feet of the elevator bank. The mounting location shall not be visually obstructed.
    5. Contents of the key box are limited to fire service elevator keys. Additional elevator access tools, keys and information pertinent to emergency planning or elevator access shall be permitted where authorized by the fire code official.
    6. In buildings with two or more elevator banks, a single key box shall be permitted to be used where such elevator banks are separated by not more than 30 feet. Additional key boxes shall be provided for each individual elevator or elevator bank by more than 30 feet.
  • 506.2 Key box maintenance. The key box shall be maintained in working order by the operator of the building. The operator of the building shall immediately notify the fire code official and provide the new key where a lock is changed or rekeyed. The key to such lock shall be secured in the key box.”

507.3 Fire Flow

• Fire-flow requirements for buildings or portions of buildings and facilities shall be determined by an approved method.
  • Amend to state Fire-flow requirements for buildings or portions of buildings and facilities shall be determined by using the current adopted IFC code appendix B.

507.5 Fire Hydrant Systems

• Addition 507.5.1.1 – The minimum number of hydrants shall be determined by using the current adopted IFC code appendix C.
  • Number of hydrants can be reduced by code official if deemed appropriate.
    • Example: Building with automatic extinguishing system

510- Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES)

Requires all new buildings to have emergency responder radio coverage. It is understood that some buildings, based on size, would not require a signal strength grid test or field test. The following is an addition to IFC Section 510:

• Any building meeting the following criteria shall be required to perform a signal strength test as described in IFC 510.
  • Any structure with an overall square footage of 12,000 square feet or larger
  • Any structure with a height of 30’ or more above grade level
  • Any structure with a level below grade
  • Any structure determined to be of concern regarding proper radio communication, CJCFPD can request a signal strength study to be completed
• If a signal strength test is required, it shall not be performed until all walls, roof, windows with glass, doors, and operational equipment have been completed and are in place.
• Amended 510.4.1.1 Minimum signal strength into the building
  • A minimum signal strength of -95 dBm shall be available within the building in 95 percent of general areas and 99 percent of critical areas. A DAQ score may be provided with signal testing, however the DAQ score will not be utilized to determine the need for an Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System (ERCES). An equivalent bit error rate (BER) of ≤ 2.5%, and a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of ≥ 18 dB can be used to predict acceptable coverage in areas not meeting the negative -95 dBm requirement.
• Amended 510.4.1.2 Minimum signal strength out of the building
  • A minimum signal strength of -95 dBm shall be received by the agency’s radio system when transmitted from within the building. A DAQ score may be provided with signal testing, however the DAQ score will not be utilized to determine the need for an Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System (ERCES). An equivalent bit error rate (BER) of ≤ 2.5%, and a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of ≥ 18 dB can be used to predict acceptable coverage in areas not meeting the negative -95 dBm requirement.
• Should a radio coverage survey show a received signal strength of less than -95 dBm OR an equivalent bit error rate (BER) of ≤ 2.5%, and a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of ≥ 18 dB resulting in the inability for speech to be understandable without repetition, an ERCES shall be installed to provide sufficient usable radio communication throughout the coverage area.
• All other requirements for Emergency Responder Radio Coverage will follow IFC 510, NFPA 72, NFPA 1221, and UL 2425 as written in the current adopted code.
• All BDA installations will follow the following:
  • Cover 700 and 800 megahertz
  • Install an annunciator
  • Install a document box that contains installation plans, and pre- and post-survey test results

Chapter 9

901 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

• Amended 901.4.4 Fire Areas: Fire walls, fire barriers, party walls, and horizontal assemblies shall not be used to determine automatic sprinkler system thresholds based on fire areas per section 903.2. Fire barriers are permitted to be considered when determining allowable building height and area limits, as specified in Section 503.3.1 of the International Building Code, as adopted and amended.

903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems

•  Addition to IFC Section 903:
  • Any building requiring an automatic sprinkler system as required by IFC 903, or that is voluntarily installed and meets the following criteria, must install a separate water flow switch that is addressable through the fire alarm system.
    • Any building that has an automatic sprinkler system with multiple addresses or suites that is greater than two (2)
  • Any building requiring an automatic sprinkler system as required by IFC 903 or that is voluntarily installed shall have a permanent, maintained water source within 100’ of the fire department connection.
• Amended section 903.2, Where required: Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12. In addition, all occupancies shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system whenever the building has a total combined building area of 12,000 Square feet or greater, or is more than two stories. Firewalls, fire barriers, party walls, and horizontal assemblies shall not be used to determine automatic sprinkler system thresholds based on fire areas, as per Section 903.2. Fire barriers are permitted to be considered when determining allowable building height and area limits per section 503.3.1 of the International Building Code as adopted and amended.

903.4.3 Alarms

An approved audible device, located on the exterior of the building in an approved location, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler waterflow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler systems shall actuate the building fire alarm system.

• Addition 903.4.3.1 shall read: Notification Devices
  • Where an automatic extinguishing system is installed in a building, audible and visible notification appliances shall be installed throughout the building as follows:
    1. Audible notification appliances shall be installed so as to be audible at 15 dBa above average sound pressure level throughout the building.
    2. Visible notification appliances shall be installed in all public and common use areas, restrooms and corridors in accordance with the spacing requirements of NFPA 72.
    3. Visible notification devices can be eliminated in normally unoccupied portions of buildings where permitted by the code official.
       • Exception: The requirements of this Section do not apply to Group R-3 occupancies.”

905 Standpipe Systems

• Amended 905.3
  • Required installations. Standpipe systems shall be installed where required by Sections 905.3.1 through 905.3.8. Standpipe systems are allowed to be combined with automatic sprinkler systems.
  • Exception: Standpipe systems are not required in Group R-3 occupancies and Group R-2 occupancies 3 stories or less that have individual units egress directly to the exterior, or unenclosed stairwells.

907.2.7.1.1

• Section Removed During times that the building is occupied, the initiation of a signal from a manual fire alarm box or from a waterflow switch shall not be required to activate the alarm notification appliances when an alarm signal is activated at a constantly attended location from which evacuation instructions shall be initiated over an emergency voice/alarm communication system installed in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.

907.6.6 Monitoring

• Amended as follows:
  • Fire alarm systems required by the International Fire Code, International Building Code, or voluntarily installed shall be monitored by a listed central station as defined in NFPA 72. A certificate or placard shall be issued by a recognizing organization that has listed the prime contractor for the newly installed fire alarm systems in commercial occupancies in accordance with NFPA 72. This regulation shall apply to all fire alarm systems that are newly installed in commercial occupancies that reside within the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Any existing fire alarm system in a commercial occupancy wherein the fire alarm control panel and/or alarm system components are to be replaced, including emergency replacement, shall be considered newly installed for the purpose of this section. Also, where there is reasonable cause due to noncompliance or faulty conditions, the fire code official may require an existing fire alarm system meet the same requirements as a newly installed system. Central station service in full compliance with the 2022 Edition of NFPA 72, Chapter 26, shall be maintained at the protected property, so long as the requirement for the fire alarm exists.

912.3 Fire Hose Threads

• Amended – All connections to supply fire sprinkler systems and/or standpipe systems shall be fitted with an approved five-inch (5″) Storz quick coupling connector with thirty (30) degree downturn

Chapter 33

3307 Fire Department Site Access and Water Supply

• Addition – The approved apparatus access road will be designed to withstand the weight of a 90,000-pound vehicle.

Appendix

The International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, including Appendices B, C, and D as amended, E, F, H, I, and O published by the International Code Council, Inc., are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this Chapter and Article save and except such parts or portions thereof as are specifically deleted, added or changed in this Article

• Amend Appendix B
  • Table B105.2 Change Chart value to 50% from 25%
    • Allowing only 50% fire flow reduction for sprinklers versus 75%
  • Section B104
    • Amended B104.2 to the following: Portions of buildings that are separated by fire walls, fire barriers, party walls, and horizontal assemblies shall not be allowed to be considered as separate fire-flow calculations.
• Amend Appendix C
  • Add C103.1.1 Hydrant spacing for Fire Department Connections
    • A fire hydrant shall be located within 100’ of all Fire Department Connections. Exception: The distance shall be permitted to exceed 100 feet where approved by the fire code official.
• Amend Appendix D
• Amend D102.1 – Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, concrete or other approved driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing up to 90,000 pounds (45 kg), to include all paved areas within 50 feet of a structure, along with all designated fire access routes. Engineered grass paver type systems shall not be used for fire apparatus access roads.