SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY

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Emergency voice/alarm communication systems Automatic fire detection systems Fire alarm systems.

UNDERGROUND BUILDINGS
In this section I will touch upon underground building spaces and the codes that apply to them. The building spaces that I refer to have a floor level used for human occupancy more than 30 feet below the lowest level of exits. There are a few exceptions to this. They are as follows:

One- and two-family dwellings, having a compliant sprinkler system Parking garages with compliant automatic sprinkler systems Fixed guide way transit systems Grandstands, bleachers, stadiums, arenas, and similar facilities When the lowest story of a building is the only one that would qualify the building as an underground building. That building must not have an area that exceeds 1500 square feet and have an occupant load that is less than 10.

The underground portion of a building must be of Type I construction and the highest level of exit must be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system with water-flow valve switches and control valves that are supervised. Underground buildings that have a floor level or more than 60 feet (18,288 mm) below the level of exit must be divided into two compartments. These compartments must be of an approximately equal size and extend through the highest level of exit discharge that serve the underground portion of the building and the levels below. As you may have guessed, there is an exception to this. If the area does not exceed 1500 square feet and has an occupant load of less than 10, the lowest story does not need to be compartmented. Each compartment needs to be separated by a smoke barrier wall and penetrations between the compartments will be limited to plumbing and electrical piping and conduit that are fire stopped. Doorways must be protected by fire door assemblies that close automatically when smoke alarms go off. When provided, each compartment must