R313.1

Section R313.1 is titled 'Townhouse automatic fire sprinkler systems' and covers requirements for providing a water-based fire suppression system in dwelling units. The requirement for an automatic residential fire sprinkler system to be installed in newly constructed townhouses is established. The purpose of this section is to slow the spread of fire. This section has an exception which exempts additions or alterations to existing townhouses that do not already have an automatic sprinkler system from needing to install one. The purpose of this exception is to clarify that it is not the intent of this section to require automatic fire sprinkler systems for additions and alterations to townhouses, where such a system does not already exist.

The model shows an x-ray of the skin of a townhouse with enlarged fire sprinkler heads in each unit, to symbolically represent that new townhouses require automatic fire sprinkler systems.