Group M occupancy - notification appliances required if no manual fire alarm system?

[Bakken]

In a Group M occupancy that requires a sprinkler system but not a manual fire alarm system, are occupant notification devices (horns and strobes) still required?

Specifically in this case - a one story store is fully sprinkled and has a dedicated function fire alarm panel tied to a central station for monitoring the sprinkler system (with a smoke detector above it and one manual station beside it and an outdoor notification device). The city code is IFC 2012. Would horn/strobes be required throughout the building?

According to IFC 2012 section 907.2.7 Group M:

"A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907.5 shall be installed in Group M occupancies where one of the following conditions exist:
1. The combined Group M occupant load of all floors is 500 or more persons.
2. The Group M occupant load is more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge."

Where neither of those cases apply a "manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system" would not be required. But is an occupant notification system still required?

In NFPA 72 a "dedicated function" fire alarm system is allowed for monitoring sprinkler systems without requiring occupant notification (2013 section 23.3.3.2.1: "In facilities without a building fire alarm system, a dedicated function fire alarm system shall be permitted and shall not be required to include other functions or features of a building fire alarm system").

 

[mgookin]

You'll need to check with the fire marshal for that jurisdiction. I'd hate to ill advise you based on what we do down here in FL.

 

[nhfire77]

What model codes are adopted in the jurisdiction this occupancy resides in?

The IFC may not be the only governing document, and as previously stated check with the AHJ/Fire Marshall.

You are describing a sprinkler supervisory system if it won't require notification. It's rare in my area, but I don't know the midwest

 

[gadfly56]

Ring Them Bells

Ring Them Bells

If you look at IFC 2012 section 907.5.4 you will see that automatic fire suppression systems are required to sound occupant notification. This would be because the dedicated function system is required to monitor the sprinkler system, hence "required by another section of this code". The IFC in this case tells you what to do, NFPA 72 tells you how to do it. IMO, you need occupant notification even though NFPA 72 would let you slide otherwise.