It has come up recently by a fire inspector that you are required to match the fire alarm zoning per floor with the fire sprinkler system.  Has any one come across this.  We have a 2 story school building that is 9800k sq ft per floor.  It was supplied with a single control valve and flow switch assembly.  This is correct per NFPA 13. 

The inspector is requiring a separate flow switch for the 2nd floor because the fire alarm system is zoned per floor.  Has any one else run into this?   

I am referring to requiring the fire sprinkler zoning to match the fire alarm zoning.  NFPA 13 allows both floors to be provided with a single control valve and flow switch.  But, the inspector is stating that we have to have a flow switch for the upper floor as well because the fire alarm code requires it.

as you are finding here in this situation, Building Codes and locally adopted Ordinances ALWAYS trump the NFPA 13 Standard (NOT a Code).  In general, I think many believe (not necessarily You) and incorrectly so, that NFPA 13 is it, and if they comply with NFPA 13, they are finished.

The reality is that NFPA 13 is a Standard (not a Code) that is a reference document to the Building Code.  If there is a local Ordinace with additional requirements, that exceed NFPA 13, then so be it.

Otherwise you are correct, NFPA 13 would not require this.  As a point of discussion, The IBC Building Code would nor require this either, UNLESS you have a standpipe system, and youare using a standpipe riser as a combination riser, THEN the IBC Building Code would require this on each floor.

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