Appendix L — REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS

The provisions contained in this appendix are not mandatory unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance or legislation of the jurisdiction.

User notes:

About this appendix: Appendix L provides for the design, installation and maintenance of permanently installed firefighter breathing air systems in buildings designated by the jurisdiction. Breathing air is critical for firefighting operations. Historically, fire departments have supplied air bottles by means of a “bottle brigade,” whereby firefighters manually transport air bottles up stairways, which is an extraordinarily firefighter-intensive process and takes firefighters away from their primary mission of rescue and firefighting. Technology now exists to address the issue using in-building air supply systems. Firefighter breathing air systems were introduced in the late 1980s and are now required in a number of communities throughout the United States. The system has been called a “standpipe for air” and consists of stainless steel, high-pressure piping that is supplied by on-site air storage or fire department air supply units. Air filling stations are then strategically located throughout the building, allowing firefighters to refill breathing air cylinders inside the fire building, negating the required “bottle brigade,” and making more firefighters available for search, rescue and fire suppression operations.

ICC code development note: Code change proposals to this appendix will be considered by the IFC Code Development Committee during the 2024 (Group A) Code Development Cycle.