Rhode Island Fire Alarm Code

A.The Rhode Island Fire Alarm Code [hereinafter RIFAC] is promulgated by the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review pursuant to the authority granted in R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-28.3-3.

A.The Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review hereby adopts and incorporates as the RIFAC the provisions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2022 edition, with annexes, as published by the NFPA not including any further editions or amendments thereof and only to the extent that the provisions therein are not inconsistent with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-28.01, et seq. and any provisions added, amended or reserved in this Regulation.

1.NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2022 Edition, is protected by the copyright that has been issued to the NFPA. NFPA 72 - 2022 can be viewed and purchased here: https://www.nfpa.org/For-Professionals/Codes-and-Standards/List-of-Codes-and-Standards.

2.To properly utilize the RIFAC, NFPA 72 - 2022 must be read jointly with the provisions of this Regulation, below.

B.SEPARATION OF CERTAIN OCCUPANCIES FOR FIRE ALARM REVIEW

1.Where existing low to ordinary hazard business and/or mercantile occupancies can be separated from the remainder of a building by construction maintaining an “approved acceptable separation” as outlined herein, the fire alarm square footage calculation, for this existing separated occupancy, shall be limited to the space within the “approved acceptable separation.”

a.In addition to the “approved acceptable separations” listed below, any properly installed Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories listed two (2) hour fire rated assembly shall be deemed to provide proper separation of these occupancies.

b.For the purposes of determining whether a fire alarm system is required within a separated low to ordinary hazard business or mercantile space, a wall assembly, consisting of double five eighth inch (5/8”) type-x gypsum board over an existing wall and fastened to the structure, shall be deemed to be an “approved acceptable separation.”

c.For the purposes of determining whether a fire alarm system is required within a separated low to ordinary hazard business or mercantile space, a ceiling and/or floor assembly, consisting of a layer of five eighth inch (5/8”) type-x gypsum board attached to the existing floor joists and separated from a second (2nd) required layer of five eighth inch (5/8”) type-x sheetrock, by three quarter inch (3/4”), or deeper, metal furring strip or stud, shall be deemed to be an “approved acceptable separation.”

d.The Board recognizes that full continuity of construction, and/or full support for the rated assemblies, may never be achieved in retrofitting an existing business and/or mercantile occupancy with an “approximate” two (2) hour fire rated assembly. However, the authority having enforcement jurisdiction may request reasonable additional construction safeguards, such as the filling of any visible voids between wall and floor/ceiling assemblies with non-combustible materials and/or reasonable alternative structural support if necessary.

e.A building owner may request review of such “additional construction safeguards” to the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review pursuant to the procedures outlined in § 1.7 of this Subchapter.