International Building Code Section 908

International Building Code 908.1

Group H occupancies. Emergency alarms for the
detection and notification of an emergency condition in Group
H occupancies shall be provided in accordance with Section
414.7.

International Building Code 908.2

Group H-5 occupancy. Emergency alarms for notification
of an emergency condition in an HPM facility shall be
provided as required in Section 415.8.4.6. A continuous
gas-detection system shall be provided for HPM gases in
accordance with Section 415.8.7.

International Building Code 908.3

Highly toxic and toxic materials. A gas detection
system shall be provided to detect the presence of gas at or
below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) or ceiling limit of
the gas for which detection is provided. The system shall be
capable of monitoring the discharge from the treatment system
at or below one-half the immediately dangerous to life and
health (IDLH) limit.
Exception: A gas-detection system is not required for toxic
gases when the physiological warning threshold level for
the gas is at a level below the accepted PEL for the gas.

Alarms. The gas detection system shall initiate
a local alarm and transmit a signal to a constantly attended
control station when a short-term hazard condition is
detected. The alarm shall be both visible and audible and
shall provide warning both inside and outside the area
where gas is detected. The audible alarm shall be distinct
from all other alarms.
Exception: Signal transmission to a constantly attended
control station is not required when not more than one
cylinder of highly toxic or toxic gas is stored.

Shutoff of gas supply. The gas detection system
shall automatically close the shutoff valve at the source
2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 189
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
on gas supply piping and tubing related to the system being
monitored for whichever gas is detected.
Exception: Automatic shutdown is not required for
reactors utilized for the production of highly toxic or
toxic compressed gases where such reactors are:
1. Operated at pressures less than 15 pounds per
square inch gauge (psig) (103.4 kPa).
2. Constantly attended.
3. Provided with readily accessible emergency shutoff
valves.

Valve closure. The automatic closure of shutoff
valves shall be in accordance with the following:
1. When the gas-detection sampling point initiating the
gas detection system alarm is within a gas cabinet or
exhausted enclosure, the shutoff valve in the gas cabinet
or exhausted enclosure for the specific gas
detected shall automatically close.
2. Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the
gas detection system alarm is within a gas room and
compressed gas containers are not in gas cabinets or
exhausted enclosures, the shutoff valves on all gas
lines for the specific gas detected shall automatically
close.
3. Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the
gas detection system alarm is within a piping distribution
manifold enclosure, the shutoff valve for the
compressed container of specific gas detected supplying
the manifold shall automatically close.
Exception: When the gas-detection sampling point initiating
the gas-detection system alarm is at a use location
or within a gas valve enclosure of a branch line downstream
of a piping distribution manifold, the shutoff
valve in the gas valve enclosure for the branch line
located in the piping distribution manifold enclosure
shall automatically close.

International Building Code 908.3.1

Alarms. The gas detection system shall initiate
a local alarm and transmit a signal to a constantly attended
control station when a short-term hazard condition is
detected. The alarm shall be both visible and audible and
shall provide warning both inside and outside the area
where gas is detected. The audible alarm shall be distinct
from all other alarms.
Exception: Signal transmission to a constantly attended
control station is not required when not more than one
cylinder of highly toxic or toxic gas is stored.

International Building Code 908.3.2

Shutoff of gas supply. The gas detection system
shall automatically close the shutoff valve at the source
2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 189
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
on gas supply piping and tubing related to the system being
monitored for whichever gas is detected.
Exception: Automatic shutdown is not required for
reactors utilized for the production of highly toxic or
toxic compressed gases where such reactors are:
1. Operated at pressures less than 15 pounds per
square inch gauge (psig) (103.4 kPa).
2. Constantly attended.
3. Provided with readily accessible emergency shutoff
valves.

International Building Code 908.3.3

Valve closure. The automatic closure of shutoff
valves shall be in accordance with the following:
1. When the gas-detection sampling point initiating the
gas detection system alarm is within a gas cabinet or
exhausted enclosure, the shutoff valve in the gas cabinet
or exhausted enclosure for the specific gas
detected shall automatically close.
2. Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the
gas detection system alarm is within a gas room and
compressed gas containers are not in gas cabinets or
exhausted enclosures, the shutoff valves on all gas
lines for the specific gas detected shall automatically
close.
3. Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the
gas detection system alarm is within a piping distribution
manifold enclosure, the shutoff valve for the
compressed container of specific gas detected supplying
the manifold shall automatically close.
Exception: When the gas-detection sampling point initiating
the gas-detection system alarm is at a use location
or within a gas valve enclosure of a branch line downstream
of a piping distribution manifold, the shutoff
valve in the gas valve enclosure for the branch line
located in the piping distribution manifold enclosure
shall automatically close.

International Building Code 908.4

Ozone gas-generator rooms. Ozone gas-generator
rooms shall be equipped with a continuous gas-detection system
that will shut off the generator and sound a local alarm
when concentrations above the PEL occur.

International Building Code 908.5

Repair garages. A flammable-gas detection system
shall be provided in repair garages for vehicles fueled by
nonodorized gases in accordance with Section 406.6.6.

International Building Code 908.6

Refrigerant detector. Machinery rooms shall contain
a refrigerant detector with an audible and visual alarm. The
detector, or a sampling tube that draws air to the detector, shall
be located in an area where refrigerant from a leak will concentrate.
The alarm shall be actuated at a value not greater than the
corresponding TLV-TWA values for the refrigerant classification
indicated in the International Mechanical Code. Detectors
and alarms shall be placed in approved locations.