Town of Conway, NH Article III Sprinkler Systems

[Adopted 3-1988; amended 3-10-1992[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: The Town took action 4-11-2017 ATM by Art. 6 to accept the renumbering of and revisions to this article.

§ 23-6 Installation required; plans to be submitted.

A. In addition to the requirements of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Codes and the State Building Code, this article shall augment or further require the installation of fire suppression sprinkler systems. Where any two requirements conflict, the more restrictive shall apply.

B. When sprinkler systems are required, two complete sets of plans shall be submitted when applying for a building permit. Plans shall be reviewed and approved or denied by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall review plans with the Fire Chief and approve or deny said plans within 30 days of receipt.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 91-2 of the prior Code, Use groups, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 4-11-2017 ATM by Art. 6.

§ 23-7 Installation and maintenance requirements.

[Amended 3-10-1992; 4-11-2017 ATM by Art. 6]

Fire suppression systems shall be installed and maintained in full operating condition in accordance with the provisions of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, current edition.

§ 23-8 Residential requirements.

A. Fire suppression systems shall be installed and maintained in full operating condition in accordance with the provisions of NFPA 13D, Sprinkler Systems, One- and Two-Family Dwellings, current edition as adopted by the State of New Hampshire.

[Amended 4-11-2017 ATM by Art. 6]

B. Sprinkler systems shall be installed in all new structures as indicated in this section or in existing structures undergoing alterations or expansion whereby the total cost for such alterations or expansion is 50% or larger of the most recent property and structure evaluation or whereby occupancy changes from one use group to another or whereby alterations exceed 50% of the square footage of the structure, all floors included, therefore indicating that the more restrictive provision shall apply.

(1) Use Group R.

(a) Residential sprinkler systems shall be installed in all buildings or structures or portions thereof of Use Group R-2.

(b) Exceptions shall be as follows:

[1] Use Group R-3.

[2] Not required in Use Group R-2 when each room or unit has its own exit to the outside and when the structure is no more than one story.

§ 23-9 Water supply requirements.

The amount of water required for sprinkler systems is as listed below. In all cases, the most restrictive requirement applies:

A. Water supply required to be stored on site for systems installed as per § 23-7 of this article in areas where municipal water service is not available:

(1) Supply for five activated sprinkler heads for 30 minutes' duration.

(2) Supply 20 gallons per minute per sprinkler head with at least 50 pounds net head pressure at the operating sprinkler heads.

B. Water supply required to be stored on site for systems installed as per § 23-8 of this article in areas where municipal water service is not available:

(1) Supply 500 gallons for every three units. Systems must be equipped with an automatic pump.

C. Water supply for systems installed as per § 23-7 or 23-8 of this article where municipal water is available:

(1) No supply required to be stored on site.

(2) The size of the incoming water supply shall be as agreed upon by the Fire Chief and Building Inspector.

D. In all cases, should municipal water supply become available to a new area, all sprinkler systems shall be attached to the municipal system if the sprinklered property has frontage on a street or road which obtains municipal water supply.

§ 23-10 Modification of requirements.

The specific requirements of this article may be modified by the Town of Conway Building Inspector or Fire Chief to allow alternative arrangements that will secure as nearly equivalent safety to life from fire as practical, but in no case shall the modification afford less safety to life than compliance with the provisions as set forth in §§ 23-6 through 23-9.

§ 23-11 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 4-11-2017 ATM by Art. 6]

Any person, persons, firm, corporation or partnership who or which shall violate any provisions of this article or who or which shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine as set from time to time by the Board of Selectmen. Each day that a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.