Which building type is exempt from requiring a fire department connection under NFPA 13?

Which building type is exempt from requiring a fire department connection under NFPA 13?

• A. Single-story building not exceeding 2000 square feet
• B. Two-story building with dry system
• C. Building with standpipe only
• D. Underground Parking Garage

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how NFPA 13 treats the need for an external fire department connection (FDC). An FDC is used to supply the sprinkler system from an outside water source, but NFPA 13 provides an exception for very small, simple buildings. A single-story building not exceeding 2000 square feet is considered small enough that the sprinkler system’s hydraulic demand is limited, and the internal water supply (or the overall system design) can meet protection needs without an external connection. Adding an FDC for such a small space would add cost and complexity without providing meaningful additional protection. In contrast, the other scenarios involve higher complexity or greater demand—two-story dry systems, buildings with standpipes, and underground parking garages—where external water supply is more critical to ensure adequate protection, so they are not exempt.

The key idea here is how NFPA 13 treats the need for an external fire department connection (FDC). An FDC is used to supply the sprinkler system from an outside water source, but NFPA 13 provides an exception for very small, simple buildings. A single-story building not exceeding 2000 square feet is considered small enough that the sprinkler system’s hydraulic demand is limited, and the internal water supply (or the overall system design) can meet protection needs without an external connection. Adding an FDC for such a small space would add cost and complexity without providing meaningful additional protection.

In contrast, the other scenarios involve higher complexity or greater demand—two-story dry systems, buildings with standpipes, and underground parking garages—where external water supply is more critical to ensure adequate protection, so they are not exempt.