Research session started · Project: Riverside Medical Center · Sacramento, CA Feb 27, 2026 · 10:14 AM PST
SC
Riverside Medical Center California

What fire sprinkler requirements apply to the new patient tower? It's a Type I-A high-rise over 75 feet.

Based on the California Building Code (CBC) and IBC 2021, a Type I-A high-rise healthcare occupancy over 75 feet requires:

Automatic Sprinkler Systems per IBC §903.2.1.1 1:

  • Throughout all floors, including mechanical rooms and elevator shafts
  • NFPA 13 compliant design required

High-Rise Provisions per IBC §403.3 2:

  • Secondary water supply required
  • Fire pump with emergency power backup
  • Standpipe system per IBC §905.3.1 3

California Amendments per CBC §903.2.1.1.1 4:

  • More stringent than base IBC: sprinklers required in all occupancies over 5,000 sq ft
  • Seismic bracing per OSHPD requirements 5

Note: Since this is healthcare (I-2 occupancy), OSHPD has additional jurisdiction. The fire alarm system must integrate with the nurse call system per NFPA 72 §24.5 6.

SC

How does this compare to New York requirements? We're considering a similar project there.

New York has notable differences from California for this building type:

Requirement California (CBC) New York (NYC BC)
Sprinkler trigger All occupancies >5,000 sf 4 High-rise >75ft only 7
Seismic bracing OSHPD required 5 Not required 8
Fire pump Emergency power backup 2 Dual power feeds 7
Standpipe Class III required 3 Class III + additional hose 9

Key conflict: NYC requires dual independent water supply connections, while California allows a single connection with on-site tank backup.

Would you like me to generate a full comparison report, or dive deeper into any specific requirement?

SC
IBC 2021 New York

What about the smoke control requirements? I'm particularly concerned about atrium spaces.

Smoke control for atriums in high-rise healthcare is governed by several intersecting codes:

IBC §909 Smoke Control Systems 10:

  • Atriums connecting more than 2 stories require engineered smoke control
  • System must maintain tenable conditions for 20 minutes minimum
  • Makeup air velocity ≤ 200 fpm at any door

NYC-Specific Requirements 11:

  • NYC BC §909.1 requires peer review of smoke control design by a registered design professional
  • More stringent testing requirements: 3 annual tests vs. IBC's 1

Critical Design Note:

For healthcare atriums, NFPA 92 §4.4 12 governs the engineering analysis. The exhaust rate calculation must account for:

  • Sprinklered vs. non-sprinklered fire
  • Fuel load of furnishings (per NFPA 92 Table A.2.4.2)
  • Glass atrium enclosure thermal breakage risk
Regulatory Update Alert
NFPA 92 was updated in 2024 with revised calculation methods for atrium smoke exhaust rates. The new edition reduces the assumed steady-state fire size for sprinklered buildings. Verify which edition your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) accepts before finalizing the smoke control design.
View Alert Details
Context
Projects
Riverside Medical Center Sacramento, CA
Metro Transit Hub Portland, OR
Harbor View Data Center Seattle, WA
Regulations
IBC 2021 Int'l Building Code
NFPA 13 Sprinkler Standard
NFPA 92 Smoke Control
ADA Standards Accessibility
Jurisdictions
California CBC + OSHPD
New York NYC Building Code
Texas TX Amendments
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