Under the International Building Code (IBC) Section 904.13, certain occupancies that include domestic cooking appliances are required to have a fire suppression system listed and labeled in accordance with UL 300A. This requirement aims to enhance fire safety in facilities where occupants may require assistance during emergencies.
These are not the ONLY occupancies that can benefit from UL300A protection, but they are the ones that are REQUIRED by IBC code.
Group I-1 Occupancies Requiring UL 300A Fire Suppression Systems
Group I-1 occupancies include residential board and care facilities where individuals receive custodial care. These facilities house more than 16 individuals on a 24-hour basis in a supervised environment and provide custodial care. UL 300A fire suppression systems are mandated when domestic cooking appliances are present.
When domestic cooking appliances are present, these facilities must have kitchen hoods equipped with a pre-engineered automatic fire-extinguishing system listed and labeled in accordance with UL 300A. The system must also include a means of manual actuation and interconnect the fuel and electric power supply to the cooking appliances. These include:
- Alcohol and drug centers
- Assisted living facilities
- Congregate care facilities
- Group homes
- Halfway houses
- Residential board and care facilities
- Social rehabilitation facilities
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 308.2
Group I-2 Occupancies Requiring UL 300A Fire Suppression Systems
Group I-2 facilities providing medical care on a 24-hour basis for more than five individuals who are incapable of self-preservation. UL 300A fire suppression systems are required when domestic cooking appliances are installed.
Similar to Group I-1, when domestic cooking appliances are installed in these facilities, the kitchen hoods must be equipped with a UL 300A listed fire suppression system, include manual actuation, and interconnect the fuel and electric power supply. These include:
- Foster care facilities
- Detoxification facilities
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Psychiatric hospitals
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 308.3
Group R-2 - Residential - Permanent Occupancy
Buildings containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling units where occupants are primarily permanent in nature.
When domestic cooking appliances are present, UL 300A fire suppression systems are mandated with the same conditions as the I-1 and I-2 occupancies, i.e. The system must also include a means of manual actuation and interconnect the fuel and electric power supply to the cooking appliances. These include:
- Boarding houses (nontransient) with more than 16 occupants
- Congregate living facilities (nontransient) with more than 16 occupants
- Convents
- Dormitories
- Fraternities and sororities
- Hotels (nontransient)
- Live/work units
- Monasteries
- Motels (nontransient)
- Vacation timeshare properties
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 310.3
