SECTION 500.110: FIRE WALL AND FIRE SUPPRESSION REGULATIONS FOR R1-Z, R-2, R-3 ZONING AND PDD CATEGORIES A. Purpose. The intent of this regulation is to amend the current adopted edition of the International Residential and Building Codes and to ensure that all zero lot line, duplex, patio home, townhouse, apartment house, two family and multi-family dwellings constructed within the boundaries of the City of Republic have a masonry fire wall separating the units and, where required by ordinance below, to provide a fire suppression system to minimize damage in the event of fire in an adjoining unit, to provide increased safety to the dwelling s residents, and to conserve water resources. B. Definitions: 1. Fire Wall: A wall separating buildings or subdividing a building to prevent the spread of fire and having a fire resistance rating and structural stability. 2. Fire Partition Wall: Is a fire rated wall assembly which is not a fire wall. Typically, the main difference is that a fire barrier wall is not structurally stable, and does not extend through the roof, or to the underside of the floor above. 3. Firestop: Is a passive fire protection system of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire-resistance rated wall and/or floor assemblies, based on fire testing and certification listings. Fire walls must not be penetrated such that the wall is structurally weakened in a fire and could collapse. 4. Townhouse: A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units in which each unit extends from foundation to roof and with at least one side not attached to an adjacent dwelling. 5. Duplex: A duplex is a structure used for residential purposes and consisting of two living units with a common separating wall. 6. Patio Home: A Patio Home is a free-standing or paired home of no more than two attached units, each located on a small lot that has at least some private land, generally in the back and/or side yards, but also possibly a small front yard. 5. Zero Lot Line Home: A zero lot line home is a structure where two units are attached to another where the exterior wall of one home is the lot line of the other person's property/yard. 6. NFPA 13 Fire Suppression System: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (Commercial).
7. NFPA 13D Fire Suppression System: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. 8. NFPA 13R Fire Suppression System: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height. 9. R1-Z Zero Lot Line Residential District: Residential district permitting the construction of a building on any of the boundary lines of a lot, such as patio homes. 10. R2 Two Family Residential District: Residential District permitting the construction of a residence with two units sharing a common wall, such as duplex units. 11. R3 Multi-Family Residential District: Residential district permitting the construction of a residential building for use by multiple family groups such as apartments and townhouses. B. Uses Required: Any wall in zero lot line dwellings, duplexes, patio homes, townhouses, apartment houses, two-family and multi-family residential dwellings that are shared with an adjoining residence shall be a concrete masonry walls as set out in the following general regulations per zoning category. Fire Partition Walls may be substituted where allowed in R-3 zoning category. C. General Regulations. Each wall separating individual residential units shall observe the following design standards: 1. All Single-Family Dwellings in R1, R2 and PDD Zoning Categories: a. Fire Suppression System: The builder of all single family dwellings shall offer to any purchaser on or before the time of entering into the purchase contract the option, at the purchaser s cost, to install or equip NFPA13R fire sprinklers in the dwelling. 2. All Single-Family Dwellings in R1-Z, R-2 and PDD Zoning Categories: a. Two (2) Hour Concrete Masonry Fire Partition Wall: A 2-hour rated partition wall is required between all single-family attached dwellings. The fire partition wall shall be constructed using 2-hour rated 8-inch concrete masonry units (CMU) from the top of the concrete footing continuously up to the underside of the roof decking material. The roof decking material shall be 2-hour fire-retardant treated wood within 4-feet of the masonry fire partition wall. b. Fire Wall Labeling. All fire walls shall be labeled in the under floor and attic areas in letters at least 2-inches in height and no more than 10-lineal feet along
the wall and shall be placed in such a manner as to be obvious to workers in the crawl space, attic or concealed space on both sides of the wall and will read as follows: FIRE WALL: DO NOT PENETRATE OR DAMAGE. NO PENETRAR O DAÑAR ESTA PARED RESISTENTE AL FUEGO. c. Penetrations: Penetrations through any fire wall, such as for pipes and cables, shall be protected with an equivalently rated firestop. d. Openings: Any openings in any fire wall, such as doors and windows, shall have an equivalently fire rated door or window assembly. e. Fire Suppression System: The builder of all single family dwellings shall offer to any purchaser on or before the time of entering into the purchase contract the option, at the purchaser s cost, to install or equip NFPA13R fire sprinklers in the dwelling. 3. Multi-Family Housing in R-3 Zoning Category: 2-Hour Masonry Fire Partition with NFPA 13 Fire Suppression System (refer to drawing below) a. Fire walls shall have sufficient structural stability to maintain the integrity of the wall in the event of the collapse of the building construction on either side of the wall. b. Four (4) Hour Concrete Masonry Fire Partition Wall (Wall A): The midpoint common wall along the short axis of the multi-family dwelling shall be a 2- hour rated partition wall. The fire partition wall shall be constructed using 2- hour rated 8-inch concrete masonry units (CMU) from the top of the concrete footing continuously up to the underside of the roof decking material. The roof decking material shall be 2-hour fire-retardant treated wood material within 4-feet of the masonry fire partition wall. c. Two (2) Hour Concrete Masonry Fire Partition Wall (Wall B): A 2-hour rated wall assembly (positioned vertically) shall be constructed at one side of the short axis of all breezeways in all single family attached dwellings in apartment houses and multi-family dwellings. The fire partition wall shall be constructed using 2-hour rated 8-inch concrete masonry units (CMU) from the top of the concrete footing continuously up to the underside of the roof decking material. The roof decking material shall be 2-hour fire-retardant treated wood material within 4-feet of the masonry fire partition wall. d. One (1) Hour Fire Partition Wall (Wall C): A 1-hour rated wall (UL-U305 or UL-U340) assembly (positioned vertically) shall be constructed at long axis midpoint of the building from the top of the footing to the underside of the roof decking in all multi-family apartment buildings.
e. Two Hour Concrete Floor Separation: A 2-hour rated floor assembly (positioned horizontally) shall be constructed between one floor and the floor above in all single family attached dwellings in apartment houses and multifamily dwellings. f. Fire Suppression System: Each unit in the multi-family dwelling(s) shall be protected with a NFPA 13 fire suppression system (full commercial system). g. Fire Wall Labeling: All fire walls shall be labeled in the under floor and attic areas in letters at least 2-inches in height and no more than 10-lineal feet along the wall and shall be placed in such a manner as to be obvious to workers in the crawl space, attic or concealed space on both sides of the wall and will read as follows: FIRE WALL: DO NOT PENETRATE OR DAMAGE. NO PENETRAR O DAÑAR ESTA PARED RESISTENTE AL FUEGO. h. Penetrations: Penetrations through any fire wall, such as for pipes and cables, shall be protected with an equivalently rated firestop. i. Openings: Any openings in any fire wall, such as doors and windows, shall have an equivalently fire rated door or window assembly. j. Masonry walls shall be constructed in accordance with section R606 General Masonry Construction of the current adopted edition of the International Residential Code. k. Footings: Minimum sizes for concrete and masonry footings shall be as set forth in Table R403.1 of the current adopted edition of the International Residential Code. The footing width, W, shall be based on the load-bearing value of the soil in accordance with Table R401.4.1 of the current adopted edition of the International Residential Code. In areas likely to have expansive, compressible, shifting or other unknown soil characteristics, the building official shall determine whether to require a soil test to determine the soil s characteristics at a particular location. This test shall be made by an approved agency using an approved method. In lieu of a complete geotechnical evaluation, the load-bearing values in Table R401.4.1 shall be assumed.
108 106 Wall B: Two Hour Fire Partition on Either Side of Breezeway 105 104 102 Wall B: Two Hour Fire Partition on Either Side of Breezeway 101 103 107 Drawing below shows one floor of a multi-floor apartment building with each floor similar in construction requirements Wall C: One Hour Fire Partition from Footing to Underside of Roof Decking Wall A: Four Hour Masonry Fire Partition from Footing to Underside of Roof Decking