Section 1.

4 ● Equivalency 7

modifications were made to limit the resulting disruption and Exhibit 1.5
financial impact on existing buildings while providing the
intended minimum level of life safety. The requirements appli-
cable to new construction are often more stringent than those
for existing buildings, because providing appropriate life safety
requirements is considered less disruptive and more cost-
effective during construction. If no modification for existing
buildings appears within a Code requirement, the same provi-
sion applies for new construction and existing buildings (i.e.,
existing situations).
See also 4.6.5, 4.6.6, and 4.6.9 and the definitions of existing
and existing building in 3.3.84 and 3.3.37.5, respectively.

1.3.2 Vehicles and Vessels. The Code shall apply to vehicles, vessels,
or other similar conveyances, as specified in Section 11.6, in which case
such vehicles and vessels shall be treated as buildings.

1.4* Equivalency
Nothing in this Code is intended to prevent the use of systems, methods,
or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance,
effectiveness, durability, and safety over those prescribed by this Code.

A.1.4 Before a particular mathematical fire model or evaluation system

is used, its purpose and limitations need to be known. The technical
documentation should clearly identify any assumptions included in the Atrium. (Courtesy of Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, CO)
evaluation. Also, it is the intent of the Committee on Safety to Life to
recognize that future editions of this Code are a further refinement of
this edition and earlier editions. The changes in future editions will
reflect the continuing input of the fire protection/life safety community
in its attempt to meet the purpose stated in this Code. criteria. It is stipulated, however, that equivalency must be dem-
onstrated by appropriate technical documentation. The evalua-
Section 1.4, Equivalency, presents a powerful design alternative
tion and approval of such systems and approaches are the
that permits individual and multiple specification-based require-
responsibility of the authority having jurisdiction.
ments to be satisfied by components and systems that the
Exhibit 1.5 depicts the atrium at the Brown Palace Hotel in
authority having jurisdiction is convinced meet the goals, objec-
Denver, Colorado. The atrium was built as part of the original
tives, and intended level of life safety of the Code. Where all life
hotel in 1892. Building and life safety codes in the United States
safety systems, rather than individual and multiple specification-
addressed atrium buildings for the first time in approximately
based systems, are engineered to meet the goals and objectives
1980. An atrium constructed prior to 1980 might have utilized
of the Code, true performance-based design is permitted in
the equivalency concept to overcome what otherwise would
accordance with Chapter 5. In other words, equivalency deals
have been an unprotected vertical opening that could spread
with discrete, manageable pieces of the overall life safety sys-
the effects of fire from floor to floor.
tem; performance-based design treats the system as a whole.
The Code contemplates the several forms of equivalency
Section 4.4 permits a complete performance-based design
that follow.
approach in accordance with Chapter 5. However, the traditional,
widely accepted specification-based approach is maintained as 1. Code-specified alternative. In some instances, the Code
an option. The vast majority of building projects will continue to presents a written requirement and then provides an alternative
use this traditional approach. The performance-based design method of obtaining the desired level of protection, usually via
approach is complex and expensive and, therefore, usually an exemption. For example, for new educational occupancies,
applied to only very large developments. 14.3.6 requires that interior corridors be constructed of 1-hour
Section 1.4 recognizes that, although the majority of the fire resistance–rated assemblies. However, 14.3.6(2) allows the
Code uses specification language as the basis for enforcement, it 1-hour rating requirement to be reduced to that of a nonrated
should not inhibit the use of alternative or equivalent systems or smoke partition if the building is protected throughout by an
design approaches to comply with Code-specified performance approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system. Thus, the Code

Life Safety Code Handbook 2018