Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) Study Guide

1. Code Structure & Application

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code applies to **new and existing buildings**, covering construction, protection, and occupancy features to minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, and panic.
Core chapters (Ch. 1-11): Apply to all occupancies. Occupancy chapters (e.g., Assembly, Business) override core if more restrictive.
Mandatory language: “Shall” indicates a required provision. “Should” is a recommendation.
When conflicting requirements exist: Occupancy chapter prevails.
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ): Interprets, enforces, and approves code requirements and equivalencies.
Code Equivalency: Alternative methods allowed if they provide equal or better safety, with documentation and AHJ approval.

Major Occupancy Types: Assembly, Educational, Health Care, Residential, Detention/Correctional, Business, Mercantile, Industrial, Storage, Day-Care, Board and Care.
Classification is based on intended use, number of occupants, and building features.
Mixed Occupancy: Most restrictive code applies unless occupancies are separated by rated construction.
Day-Care: Minimum 4 clients for classification.
Health Care: Inpatient medical/treatment; Residential Board & Care: long-term living, not related to owner.
Mercantile: Sales to public; Business: offices, professional services.
Existing buildings: Must comply with new code as required by AHJ, sometimes after a grace period.
Hazard Classification: Low, Ordinary, High hazard—governs requirements for protection and egress.
See quick ref below for more on occupancy thresholds, definitions, and examples.

Means of Egress: Continuous, unobstructed path from any point to a public way.
Components: Exit access, exit, exit discharge.
Exit Access Travel Distance: Maximum distance to exit is based on occupancy (e.g., 150 ft for business, see table).
Number of Exits: Determined by occupant load and travel distance. Minimum 2 exits from most occupancies; exceptions for small loads or specific occupancies.
Exit Door Requirements:
- Minimum clear width: 32 inches (new), 36" for aisles serving assembly seating.
- Must swing in direction of egress if serving >50 people.
- Panic hardware required for large assembly areas (≥50 people).
- Key-operated locks are NOT allowed on required exits.
Emergency Lighting: Required for windowless corridors, stairs, and large assembly/business areas; must provide 1 foot-candle at floor level for at least 30 minutes.
Exit Signs: Must be illuminated and visible under normal and emergency power.
Defend-in-Place: Used in health care occupancies: horizontal evacuation, smoke barriers, areas of refuge.

When required: Varies by occupancy, size, and hazard. Some storage/mercantile may be exempt under certain conditions.
Activation Methods: Manual pull stations, automatic detection, extinguishing system operation. Building intercoms NOT permitted as sole means.
Initiating Circuits: Class A (looped, survives a single open) vs. Class B (open disables all downstream). EOL resistor required for supervision.
Notification Circuits: Must be supervised; Class A preferred for integrity. Voltage drop must be within spec.
Alarm Types: Alarm (fire), Trouble (fault), Supervisory (system abnormality but not fire).
Audibility: Minimum 75 dBA in sleeping areas of hotels.
Testing: Smoke detectors require annual sensitivity testing, functional testing (must ensure smoke enters sensing chamber), and records kept for review.
Impairment Protocol: If system out of service >8 hours: Notify AHJ, provide fire watch or evacuate.
Documentation: As-builts, test reports, and record of completion required for acceptance.

Records: System record documents must be labeled and kept on site for life of the system; available to AHJ.
Testing: Acceptance and routine tests per NFPA 72; written test reports required.
Maintenance: Building owner is responsible for ongoing maintenance and testing.
Acceptance Testing: Notify AHJ prior to test. Functional and sensitivity test for all devices. Test of circuit supervision and notification appliance circuits.
Annual Activities: Smoke detector sensitivity, battery load testing, functional tests on all appliances.
Emergency Lighting: Monthly function and annual duration test (30 min).

Equivalency: AHJ may approve alternatives if supported by documentation and provide equal or greater life safety.
Deviation Requests: Must be in writing and supported by code, not just for convenience or cost.
ADA: Is a federal law, not a building code. Enforced by complaint/lawsuit, not inspector.
Listed/Labeled Equipment: Only listed and labeled equipment is permitted unless approved by AHJ.
Modifications: Existing buildings: AHJ may grant leniency where strict application is impractical.

Occupancy	Definition / Example	Notes
Assembly	Theater, church, banquet hall	≥50 people or ≥750 ft²
Educational	Schools through 12th grade	≥6 people, 4+ hours/week
Business	Offices, clinics	Doctor’s office is business; university classroom is not
Health Care	Hospitals, nursing homes	Inpatient treatment, medical care
Day-Care	Child or adult care centers	≥4 clients for classification
Residential Board & Care	Group homes, not related to owner	Sleeping + services
Mercantile	Stores, malls	Display/sell to public

Means of Egress	Requirement
Exit access travel distance (business)	150 ft
Exit width (new doors)	32 in. clear
Minimum exits	2 (most cases)
Exit signage	Illuminated, 1 fc at sign
Emergency lighting	1 fc at floor, 30 min duration
Panic hardware	Assembly: ≥50 people

Fire Alarm Circuits	Feature
Class A	Looped, survives single open
Class B	Open disables all downstream devices
Addressable	Pinpoint ID at panel, uses SLC
Supervision	EOL resistor, ground fault monitoring