​When it comes to fire safety within a building, fire extinguishers are not typically the first protection method that comes to mind. Fire sprinklers, fire alarm systems, smoke detectors – all are much more commonly considered when evaluating the fire safety of a building or space. However, portable fire extinguishers do play a role in the overall protection strategy of a building and are still required by the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC) in most buildings. This post will explore the specific requirements, installation guidelines, and considerations for architects, designers, and building safety professionals.

All code references in this post are to the 2021 IBC and IFC or the 2022 Edition of NFPA 10, the Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

If you have ever worked on the design of a high-rise building, you almost certainly have come across a stairway pressurization system. Fans located on the roof, a shaft next to the stair, extra ductwork – all are common in high-rise design. But even though nearly all high-rise buildings have these systems, there are many wide-spread misconceptions and misunderstanding about stair pressurization.

For example, did you know that stairway pressurization is not actually required by the IBC?
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What?!?

Or did you know that there is a detailed analysis that must be conducted as part of the stair pressurization design process?
In this article, we will dispel some of these common misconceptions and misunderstandings about stair pressurization systems.

If you need help with your stair pressurization system,  including obtaining a rational analysis report, contact our partners at Campbell Code Consulting.

If you have been involved in the design or installation of a fire alarm system, whether as an architect, engineer, or owner, you have probably asked the question, "Is a strobe required here?" Like all engineering questions, the answer depends on a number of factors. In this post, I will walk through the code path step-by-step to help you understand where fire alarm strobes are required.