Denver Building & Fire Code DRMC §10 adopts the 2018 International Residential Code R313 and IBC §903, requiring NFPA 13D sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses, and most multifamily buildings, plus retrofit triggers in substantial alterations.
Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 10 adopts the 2018 International Residential Code, including IRC R313, which requires automatic sprinkler systems in newly constructed one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses. Multi-family residential buildings of three or more units fall under the International Building Code §903 and require NFPA 13 or 13R systems, depending on occupancy and height. Existing buildings undergoing substantial alteration, occupancy change, or large additions can trigger retrofit obligations. Designs must use a Denver-licensed sprinkler contractor, obtain Community Planning & Development permits, and pass Denver Fire Department acceptance tests including hydrostatic pressure and flow tests. Backflow prevention and freeze protection are required for unconditioned spaces.
Building without required sprinklers blocks certificates of occupancy, and operating an occupied building without an approved system can lead to red-tagging, occupant evacuation orders, and DRMC §10 administrative penalties up to several thousand dollars per day.
Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
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