Page 592 - 2018_IFC

APPENDIX L

REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE FIGHTER
AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS

The provisions contained in this appendix are not mandatory unless specifically referenced in
the adopting ordinance or legislation of the jurisdiction.

User note:
About this appendix: Appendix L provides for the design, installation and maintenance of permanently installed fire fighter breathing air sys-
tems in buildings designated by the jurisdiction. Breathing air is critical for fire-fighting operations. Historically, fire departments have supplied
air bottles by means of a “bottle brigade,” whereby fire fighters manually transport air bottles up stairways, which is an extraordinarily fire
fighter-intensive process and takes fire fighters away from their primary mission of rescue and fire fighting. Technology now exists to address
the issue using in-building air supply systems. Fire fighter breathing air systems were introduced in the late 1980s and are now required in a
number of communities throughout the United States. The system has been called a “standpipe for air” and consists of stainless steel, high-
pressure piping that is supplied by on-site air storage or fire department air supply units. Air filling stations are then strategically located
throughout the building, allowing fire fighters to refill breathing air cylinders inside the fire building, negating the required “bottle brigade,” and
making more fire fighters available for search, rescue and fire suppression operations.

SECTION L101 SECTION L103
GENERAL PERMITS
L101.1 Scope. Fire fighter air replenishment systems (FARS) L103.1 Permits. Permits shall be required to install and
shall be provided in accordance with this appendix. The maintain a FARS. Permits shall be in accordance with Sec-
adopting ordinance shall specify building characteristics or tions L103.2 and L103.3.
special hazards that establish thresholds triggering a require- L103.2 Construction permit. A construction permit is
ment for the installation of a FARS. The requirement shall be required for installation of or modification to a FARS. The
based on the fire department’s capability of replenishing fire construction permit application shall include documentation
fighter breathing air during sustained emergency operations. of an acceptance and testing plan as specified in Section
Considerations shall include:
L105.
1. Building characteristics, such as number of stories L103.3 Operational permit. An operational permit is
above or below grade plane, floor area, type of con- required to maintain a FARS.
struction and fire-resistance of the primary structural
frame to allow sustained fire-fighting operations based
on a rating of not less than 2 hours. SECTION L104
2. Special hazards, other than buildings, that require DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
unique accommodations to allow the fire department to L104.1 Design and installation. A FARS shall be designed
replenish fire fighter breathing air. and installed in accordance with Sections L104.2 through
3. Fire department staffing level. L104.15.3.
4. Availability of a fire department breathing air replen- L104.2 Standards. Fire fighter air replenishment systems
ishment vehicle. shall be in accordance with Sections L104.2.1 and L104.2.2.
L104.2.1 Pressurized system components. Pressurized
system components shall be designed and installed in
SECTION L102 accordance with ASME B31.3.
DEFINITIONS
L104.2.2 Air quality. The system shall be designed to
L102.1 Definitions. For the purpose of this appendix, certain convey breathing air complying with NFPA 1989.
terms are defined as follows:
L104.3 Design and operating pressure. The minimum
FIRE FIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEM design pressure shall be 110 percent of the fire department’s
(FARS). A permanently installed arrangement of piping, normal SCBA fill pressure. The system design pressure shall
valves, fittings and equipment to facilitate the replenishment be marked in an approved manner at the supply connections,
of breathing air in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and adjacent to pressure gauges on any fixed air supply com-
for fire fighters engaged in emergency operations.
ponents. Pressure shall be maintained in the system within 5
percent of the design pressure.

2018 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE ® 559
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