§1643. Fire protection sprinkler system required in existing high-rise buildings; exceptions

A. All existing high-rise buildings as defined in this Subpart shall be protected throughout by an approved fire protection sprinkler system.

B. All existing high-rise buildings shall comply with the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the fire marshal in conformity with the Administrative Procedure Act, which shall establish as minimum standards the provisions of NFPA 13 as published by National Fire Protection Association, and the fire marshal shall be the authority having jurisdiction to enforce compliance with such regulations.

C.(1) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all existing high-rise buildings as defined in this Subpart shall be protected throughout by an approved fire protection sprinkler system by January 1, 1999. However, if the state fire marshal determines that an extension can be granted without creating an undue risk to human safety, the fire marshal may grant a one-year extension to those building owners who have made a good faith effort to comply with the fire protection sprinkler system requirement.

(2) The fire marshal may grant one-year extensions of time to complete the installation of a fire protection sprinkler system to those existing high-rise buildings that were not in compliance with the fire protection sprinkler system requirement on January 1, 1999, but which have a written plan to install such a system that has been approved by the fire marshal including but not limited to shop drawings, contracts, or architectural engineering design documents, provided that the building has sufficient and adequate fire protection systems to assure that undue risk to human life and safety is not created by occupancy above the seventy-five foot level.

(3) The fire marshal may grant a reasonable extension of time for compliance with the fire protection sprinkler system requirement upon a showing of each of the following:

(a) A statement of certification that such building shall be demolished or substantially remodeled within five years after July 14, 1999.

(b) Sufficient and adequate fire protection systems to assure that undue risk to human life and safety is not created by occupancy above the seventy-five foot level.

(4) Any state-owned building utilized as a state hospital or parish prison shall have until January 1, 2005, to complete installation of the required fire sprinkler system, provided the building has sufficient and adequate fire protection systems such that human occupancy above the seventy-five foot level does not create an undue risk to human life and safety.

(5) For the purposes of this Subpart, the following shall be sufficient and adequate fire protection systems such that undue risk to human life and safety are not created:

(a) Twice the number of fire extinguishers as requested by the NFPA 10.

(b) A fire watch in accordance with the NFPA 601.

(c) A method of occupant notification of emergency conditions.

(d) Persons designated as fire wardens who have access to two-way communication systems, who are trained to use portable fire extinguishing equipment, and who know the emergency evacuation rules and procedures.

(e) Compliance with the means of egress, protection of vertical openings, emergency lighting, and alarm and detection requirements specified by the 1967 edition of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

D. The owners of existing high-rise buildings which are not, as of September 1, 1988, protected throughout by an approved fire protection sprinkler system shall submit a written master plan to the state fire marshal on or before January 1, 1991, detailing with specificity a schedule for compliance with this Subpart.

E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the state fire marshal may authorize alternative approaches for existing high-rise telephone equipment buildings occupied solely by telecommunications service providers which were not, as of September 1, 1988, protected throughout by an approved fire protection sprinkler system but which will provide an equivalent level of safety as provided by an approved automatic sprinkler system. Such alternative approaches shall be implemented on or before January 1, 1999. To obtain such approval, the telecommunications service provider shall submit a written master plan or a completed fire safety evaluation form, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, to the state fire marshal on or before January 1, 1993. Upon receipt, such master plan or fire safety evaluation shall be evaluated by the state fire marshal to ensure that the building complies with either:

(1) The 1967 edition of the NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code). Such plan or evaluation shall also indicate that an equivalent level of safety is achieved by the proposed alternative.

(2) The compartmentation exception of Section 506 of the 1988 Standard Building Code. Such compliance shall be documented by a certificate signed by a licensed architect or civil engineer.

Acts 1988, No. 422, §2; H.C.R. No. 23, 1990 R.S.; Acts 1992, No. 28, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 92, §1; Acts 1999, No. 306, §1, eff. June 14, 1999.