BUILDING REVIEW BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Provide Feedback on the Proposed Amendment to the 2024 International Fire Code
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Dudash, Chief Building Official
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
At the August 20, 2025 Building Review Board (BRB) meeting staff presented the major updates and proposed amendments to 2024 International Fire Code (IFC). Fire staff identified a potential amendment to the IFC and discussed with the BRB. BRB members were concerned with the effects of water on lithium ion batteries. Staff stated the main concern was thermal runaway of the batteries and sprinklers were needed until the FD arrived and determined if a chemical agent would be needed to extinguish the fire.
BACKGROUND:
Following the August 20, 2025 BRB meeting, the Fire Department is requesting an amendment to the 2024 IFC to delete Section 903.2.10 in its entirety and replace it with new language.
Section 903.2.10 requires automatic sprinkler systems for Group S-2 parking garages when they exceed certain fire area thresholds (12,000 sq ft for enclosed, 48,000 sq ft for open), or when an enclosed garage is located beneath other occupancies (except for Group R-3 occupancies).
The Fire Department would like to replace Section 903.2.10 with the following language: All new parking garages per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 88A shall be sprinklered.
Also known as the Standard for Parking Structures, NFPA 88A is a document published by the National Fire Protection Association which sets the requirements for the construction, protection and hazard control of open and enclosed parking structures to ensure fire safety.
DISCUSSION:
An NFPA 88A Group S-2 parking garage is a building or portion of a building used for the storage of motor vehicles. Requiring all parking garages to be sprinklered will increase the construction cost of a parking garage. However, responding to...
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