Section 907.2/Where Fire Alarm Systems Are Required
IFC 907.2 establishes which occupancies and building types require a fire alarm system.
A fire alarm system is required in Group A occupancies with an occupant load of 300 or more, Group B ambulatory care facilities, Group E educational occupancies with occupant loads exceeding 50, Group F factory occupancies exceeding specific thresholds, Group H high-hazard occupancies, Group I institutional occupancies, Group R-1 hotels and motels, Group R-2 apartments with 16 or more dwelling units, and buildings with occupied floors more than 75 feet above the lowest fire department access. The system must include manual pull stations, automatic detection where required, and notification appliances.
Why this section exists
Fire alarm systems provide early warning to occupants and notification to the fire department. Not every building requires a fire alarm system; the triggers are based on the risk profile: more occupants, higher buildings, and more vulnerable populations (hospitals, schools, hotels) require alarm systems. The IFC triggers parallel the IBC Section 907.2 requirements but are enforced through the fire code for existing buildings and operational compliance.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers check the code analysis for the occupancy group and occupant load to determine if a fire alarm system is required. They verify the system includes manual pull stations at exits, notification appliances in all occupied spaces, and automatic detection where required by the specific occupancy subsection. They check the fire alarm riser diagram for monitoring and annunciation.