Administration
5%of exam
Code Official AuthorityPlan ReviewRecordkeepingAlternative Methods
Occupancy & Construction
15%of exam
Occupancy ClassificationConstruction TypesOccupant LoadAllowable AreaMixed Occupancy
Hazardous Materials
20%of exam
MAQ TablesControl AreasHMMP/HMISFlammable LiquidsCompressed Gases
Fire Protection Systems
35%of exam
Sprinkler ThresholdsNFPA 13 DesignStandpipesFire Alarm/NFPA 72Fire Apparatus Access
Egress Safety
25%of exam
Travel DistanceDoors & HardwareStairsCorridorsEmergency Lighting
Quick Facts
- Exam
- ICC F3
- Credential
- Fire Plans Examiner
- Questions
- 60
- Time
- 3.5 hours
- Pass Score
- 75 (scaled)
- Format
- Open-book
- Codes
- 2024 IFC/IBC
- Fee
- $219
Occupant Load Factor Set
Business 150, Mercantile 60, Storage 300 gross sq ft
Business: 150 grossMercantile: 60 grossStorage: 300 gross
Fire Barrier vs Fire Partition
Fire Barrier
- Floor-to-roof/floor continuity
- Includes concealed spaces
- More stringent rating
Fire Partition
- Floor-to-ceiling/deck only
- Lower continuity bar
- Corridors & dwelling units
Barrier stricter than partition
Occupancy Classification Picker
- Assembly, load <50→Group B(303.1.2)
- Assembly, load ≥50→Group A-1 to A-5
- Accessory use >10% floor→Separated/non-separated(508.2.1)
- Multiple uses, one building→Non-separated or separated(508.3/508.4)
Occupancy Classification Rules
- Group A-3 threshold
- 50+ occupants, assembly use
- Under 50 assembly
- Classified as Group B
- Group A-2
- Food/drink, 50+ occupants
- Group H-1
- Detonation hazard materials
- Group H-2
- Deflagration hazard materials
- Group H-3
- Combustion-supporting materials
- Group H-4
- Health hazard materials
- Accessory occupancy cap
- 10% of story area
Non-Separated vs Separated Occupancy
Non-Separated
- Most restrictive rule applies
- No rated separation needed
Separated
- Rated assemblies required
- Area fractions sum to 1
One rule set vs split
Construction Type, Area & Height
- Type IIA frame rating
- 1-hour protected noncombustible
- Type IIB frame rating
- 0-hour unprotected noncombustible
- Table 506.2
- Allowable area by group/type
- Frontage increase cap
- 75% maximum (506.3)
- Table 504.3
- Height by group/type/sprinkler
- Sprinkler height bonus
- +20 ft typical increase
- Non-separated occupancy
- Most restrictive rule governs
- Separated occupancy
- Rated walls, area fractions sum
Occupant Load Factors (Table 1004.5)
- Business use
- 150 gross sq ft/occupant
- Mercantile use
- 60 gross sq ft/occupant
- Storage use
- 300 gross sq ft/occupant
- Assembly concentrated
- 7 net sq ft/occupant
- Assembly unconcentrated
- 15 net sq ft/occupant
- Assembly standing space
- 5 net sq ft/occupant
- Commercial kitchen
- 200 gross sq ft/occupant
MAQ Increase Stack
Sprinklers add 100%, cabinets add 100%, combined 400%
Sprinklers alone: +100%Cabinets alone: +100%Combined: 400% of base
Control Area vs Group H
Control Area
- Qty within MAQ
- Stays base occupancy
Group H
- Qty exceeds MAQ
- Occupancy reclassified
Under MAQ vs over MAQ
Group H Classification Picker
- Qty under base MAQ→Stays base occupancy
- Qty over MAQ, no increases→Classify Group H(IBC 307)
- Sprinklered + cabinets applied→MAQ x4 allowed(400% increase)
- Qty exceeds increased MAQ→Classify Group H(Mandatory)
MAQ & Control Area Limits
- Class IA flammable MAQ
- 30 gallons, storage
- Class IB flammable MAQ
- 120 gallons, storage
- Class II combustible MAQ
- 120 gallons, storage
- Sprinkler MAQ increase
- +100%
- Cabinet MAQ increase
- +100%, cumulative with sprinklers
- Control area definition
- Bounded space, within MAQ
- Control areas, 1st floor
- Max 4 per floor
- Control area floor rating
- 2-hour (first floor)
- Control area wall rating
- 1-hour barrier (first floor)
Hazmat Documentation & Storage Rules
- HMMP
- Hazmat management plan
- HMIS
- Hazmat inventory statement
- SDS submittal
- Classifies material hazard type
- Release reporting
- Any unauthorized release, no minimum
- Secondary containment
- Largest vessel + 20-min flow
- Inside liquid room rating
- 2-hour fire separation
- Cylinder securing
- Prevent falling or impact
- Physical hazard class
- Flammable, oxidizer, reactive
- Health hazard class
- Toxic, corrosive, carcinogen
Sprinkler Water Duration Ladder
Light 30, Ordinary 60, Extra 90 to 120 minutes
Light hazard: 30 minOrdinary hazard: 60 minExtra hazard: 90-120 min
NFPA 13 vs NFPA 13R
NFPA 13
- Full coverage, all areas
- Any occupancy type
NFPA 13R
- Group R only
- Max 4 stories/60 ft
Full building vs limited R
Sprinkler Requirement Picker
- Group R, any size→Sprinkler required(903.2.8)
- Group A-1 >12,000 sf→Sprinkler required(903.2.1.1)
- Group E >12,000 sf→Sprinkler required(903.2.3)
- Group M >12,000 sf→Sprinkler required(903.2.7)
- Floor >30 ft below discharge→Sprinkler required(903.2.11)
- None of above met→Check other 903.2 triggers
Sprinkler Requirement Thresholds (903.2)
- Group A-1 trigger
- 12,000 sf or 300 load
- Group E trigger
- 12,000 sf
- Group M trigger
- 12,000 sf
- Group R
- All R occupancies, no minimum
- Below exit discharge
- >30 ft triggers sprinklers
- Standpipe height trigger
- >30 ft above access (905.3.1)
Standpipe Class I vs Class III
Class I
- 2.5-inch hose valve
- Fire department use only
Class III
- 1.5-inch + 2.5-inch valves
- Occupant & dept use
Dept-only vs dual-use
Standpipe & Fire Access Picker
- Highest floor >30 ft up→Class I standpipe(905.3.1)
- Floor >30 ft below grade→Class I standpipe(905.3.1)
- Dead-end road >150 ft→Add turnaround(503.2.5)
- Fire flow >1,500 gpm→26 ft road width(Aerial access)
- Building <30 ft tall→20 ft road width(Baseline)
NFPA 13 Sprinkler Design Values
- Light hazard coverage
- 225 sf per head
- Ordinary hazard coverage
- 130 sf per head
- Max head spacing
- 15 ft, light hazard
- Max wall distance
- 7.5 ft (half spacing)
- Light hazard duration
- 30-min water supply
- Ordinary hazard duration
- 60-min water supply
- NFPA 13R limit
- 4 stories, 60 ft
- NFPA 13D use
- 1- & 2-family dwellings
Standpipes, Alarms & Fire Access
- Class I hose connection
- Every floor landing
- Pull station spacing
- 200 ft travel, 5 ft exit
- Audible alarm level
- 15 dBA above ambient
- Visible notification gap
- Not required in elevators
- Fire road width
- 20 ft (26 ft aerial)
- Vertical clearance
- 13 ft 6 inches
- Dead-end road limit
- 150 ft, then turnaround
- Hydrant spacing, 2,500 gpm
- 450 ft maximum
- FDC location rule
- Street side, hydrant within 100 ft
- Fire command center size
- 200 sf, 10 ft min dim
- Fire pump room rating
- 1-hr (2-hr high-rise)
- Atrium smoke control
- >2 stories triggers system
- Extinguisher travel, Class A
- 75 ft maximum
Dead-End Corridor Pair
20 feet unsprinklered, 50 feet sprinklered, Group B
Unsprinklered: 20 ftSprinklered: 50 ft
Common Path vs Travel Distance
Common Path
- Single route only
- Before second option exists
Travel Distance
- Total route length
- To nearest available exit
One-path limit vs full length
Exits, Doors & Hardware Rules
- Single exit cap
- 49 occupants, Group B
- Second exit trigger
- 50+ occupants
- Door swing rule
- 50+ occ, swings egress direction
- Panic hardware trigger
- 50+ occ, Groups A/E/H
- Min door clear width
- 32 inches
- Door opening force
- 30 lb release/set/open
- Common path, Group B
- 75 ft (100 ft sprinklered)
Fifty-Occupant Rule
50 occupants triggers exits, swing, and panic hardware
50+: requires two exits50+: door swings out50+: panic hardware (A/E/H)
Handrail vs Guard Height
Handrail
- 34 to 38 inches
- Grip surface for stairs
Guard
- 42 inches minimum
- Fall-protection barrier
Grip height vs fall barrier
Travel Distance & Corridor Width
- Group B travel, unsprinklered
- 200 ft maximum
- Group B travel, sprinklered
- 300 ft maximum
- Standard sprinklered travel
- 250 ft sprinklered (A/M/R)
- F-2/S-2/U travel
- 400 ft, sprinklered
- Dead-end, unsprinklered Group B
- 20 ft maximum
- Dead-end, sprinklered Group B
- 50 ft maximum
- Corridor width, 50+ occ
- 44 inches minimum
- Hospital corridor (I-2)
- 96 inches, bed movement
Stairs, Lighting & Enclosure Ratings
- Max riser / min tread
- 7 in / 11 in
- Stair headroom
- 6 ft 8 in minimum
- Handrail height
- 34 to 38 inches
- Guard height
- 42 inches minimum
- Stair egress capacity
- 0.3 in/occ (0.2 sprinklered)
- Exit sign spacing
- 100 ft maximum
- Emergency light duration
- 90 minutes minimum
- Egress illumination level
- 1 foot-candle average
- Exit enclosure ≥4 stories
- 2-hour barrier rating
- Exit enclosure <4 stories
- 1-hour barrier rating
Common Traps
Fire barrier ≠ fire partition
Barrier: floor-to-roof slab ≠ Partition: floor-to-ceiling only
Control area ≠ area limit
Regulated by quantity, not sf ≠ No IFC square-footage cap
NFPA 13R ≠ full NFPA 13
13R: Group R, 4 stories ≠ 13: any occupancy, unlimited height
Accessory occupancy ≠ separated occupancy
Accessory: under 10% floor area ≠ Separated: rated assemblies required
Exit sign spacing ≠ travel distance
Signs: 100 ft spacing ≠ Travel: 200-400 ft to exit
Handrail height ≠ guard height
Handrail: 34-38 inches ≠ Guard: 42 inches minimum
Class I standpipe ≠ Class III
Class I: fire dept only ≠ Class III: dept plus occupant
Last Minute
- 1.Weights: 5/15/20/35/25%
- 2.60 Qs, 3.5 hrs, open book
- 3.Pass at scaled score 75
- 4.References: 2024 IFC and IBC
- 5.50 occupants triggers second exit
- 6.All Group R needs sprinklers
- 7.MAQ increase: sprinklers +100%, cabinets +100%
- 8.Road width: 20 ft (26 aerial)
- 9.Vertical clearance: 13 ft 6 in
- 10.Dead-end turnaround required past 150 ft
- 11.Emergency lighting lasts 90 minutes
- 12.Exit signs spaced 100 ft max
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