Code Section
IFC 904.13
Change type
Modification
CHANGE SUMMARY
Requires an automatic fire-extinguishing system to protect domestic cooking appliances in care facilities.
2018 Code
904.13 Domestic cooking systems. in Group I-2 Condition 1. In Group I-2 Condition 1 occupancies where cooking facilities are installed in accordance with Section 407.2.6 of the International Building Code, the domestic cooking hood provided over the cooktop or range shall be equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system of a type recognized for protection of domestic cooking equipment. Preengineered automatic extinguishing systems shall be tested in accordance with UL 300A and listed and labeled for the intended application. The system shall be installed in accordance with this code, its listing and the manufacturer’s instructions. Cooktops and ranges installed in the following occupancies shall be protected in accordance with Section 904.13.1:
904.13.1 Manual system operation and interconnection. Manual actuation and system interconnection for the hood suppression system shall be in accordance with Sections 904.12.1 and 904.12.2, respectively.
904.13.1 Protection from fire. Cooktops and ranges shall be protected in accordance with Section 904.13.1.1 or 904.13.1.2.
904.13.1.1 Automatic fire-extinguishing system. The domestic recirculating or exterior vented cooking hood provided over the cooktop or range shall be equipped with an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system complying with the following:- The automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be of a type recognized for protection of domestic cooking equipment. Preengineered automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 300A and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Manual actuation of the fire-extinguishing system shall be provided in accordance with Section 904.12.1.
- Interconnection of the fuel and electric power supply shall be in accordance with Section 904.12.2.
904.13.1.2 Ignition prevention. Cooktops and ranges shall include burners that have been tested and listed to prevent ignition of cooking oil with burners turned on to their maximum heat settings and allowed to operate for 30 minutes.
904.13.2 Portable fire extinguishers for domestic cooking equipment in Group I-2 Condition 1. A portable fire extinguisher complying with Section 906 shall be installed within a 30-foot (9144 mm) distance of travel from domestic cooking appliances.
Change Significance
This change correlates fire protection requirements for domestic cooking in alcohol and drug treatment centers, assisted living facilities, group homes, halfway houses, social rehabilitation facilities and similar occupancies (Group I-1) for more than 16 persons who live there on a 24-hour basis in a supervised environment and receive custodial care.
Occupants of these facilities are often capable of preparing small meals in cooking spaces less sophisticated than a full-scale commercial cooking operation. Even though a smaller scale, hazards still exist and those not involved with the cooking operation still need to be protected.
Section 904.13.1 provides an option, either provide a fire-extinguishing system or install a cooking appliance meeting specific heating limitations. Section 904.13.1.1 provides the criteria for design of an automatic fire-extinguishing system. The system must be designed and tested to UL 300A “Outline of Investigation for Extinguishing System Units for Residential Range Top Cooking Surfaces.” This standard is not equivalent to the UL 300 standard for commercial cooking facilities.
Option 2 is in Section 904.13.2. This section requires the cooktops and ranges to meet specific heating limitations. These cooking appliances have listed ignition-resistant burners that do not allow cooking oils to ignite during testing.
Recent work by the Fire Protection Research Foundation confirms that burners meeting these specifications are highly unlikely to ignite cooking materials. Their report can be found at: http://www.nfpa.org/research/fire-protection-research-foundation/reports-andproceedings/other-research-topics/analytical-modeling-of-pan-and-oil-heating-on-anelectric-coil-cooktop. UL 858, “Standard for Safety for Household Electric Ranges” was recently revised to include a new Section 60A that evaluates the ability of burners to not ignite cooking oil. Section 904.13.2 is shown as deleted, but it is only deleted from this section. The requirement for portable fire extinguishers near domestic cooking appliances is now found in Section 906.1, Item 2.