Excerpts from 2000 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE®

907.2.6 Group I.

A manual fire alarm system and an automatic fire detection system shall be installed in Group I occupancies. An electrically supervised, automatic smoke detection system shall be provided in waiting areas that are open to corridors.

Exception: Manual fire alarm boxes in patient sleeping areas of Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies shall not be required at exits if located at all nurse’s control stations or other constantly attended staff locations, provided such stations are visible and continuously accessible and that travel distances required in Section 907.3.1 are not exceeded.

907.2.6.1 Group I-2.

Corridors in nursing homes (both intermediate care and skilled nursing facilities), detoxification facilities and spaces open to the corridors shall be equipped with an automatic fire detection system.

Exceptions:

1. Corridor smoke detection is not required where patient sleeping rooms are provided with smoke detectors that comply with UL 268. Such detectors shall provide a visual display on the corridor side of each patient room and shall provide an audible and visual alarm at the nursing station attending each room.

2. Corridor smoke detection is not required where patient room doors are equipped with automatic door-closing devices with integral smoke detectors on the room sides installed in accordance with their listing, provided that the integral detectors perform the required alerting function.

907.2.6.2 Group I-3.

Group I-3 occupancies shall be equipped with a manual and automatic fire alarm system installed for alerting staff.

907.2.6.2.1 System initiation.

Actuation of an automatic fire-extinguishing system, a manual fire alarm box or a fire detector shall initiate an approved fire alarm signal which automatically notifies staff. Presignal systems shall not be used.

907.2.6.2.2 Manual fire alarm boxes.

Manual fire alarm boxes are not required to be located in accordance with Section 907.3 where the fire alarm boxes are provided at staff-attended locations having direct supervision over areas where manual fire alarm boxes have been omitted. Manual fire alarm boxes shall be permitted to be locked in areas occupied by detainees, provided that staff members are present within the subject area and have keys readily available to operate the manual fire alarm boxes

907.2.6.2.3 Smoke detectors.

An approved automatic smoke detection system shall be installed throughout resident housing areas, including sleeping areas and contiguous day rooms, group activity spaces and other common spaces normally accessible to residents.

Exceptions:

1. Other approved smoke-detection arrangements providing equivalent protection including, but not limited to, placing detectors in exhaust ducts from cells or behind protective guards listed for the purpose are allowed when necessary to prevent damage or tampering.

2. Sleeping rooms in Use Conditions II and III.

3. Smoke detectors are not required in sleeping rooms with four or fewer occupants in smoke compartments that are equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system.