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Modular office pods (also known as phone booths, office booths, and privacy pods) have become a popular solution for providing flexibility in modern open-office environments. However, since their inception, office pods have been the source of confusion for designers and regulatory authorities, particularly regarding requirements for fire protection.
Sprinkler systems are typically required to be installed throughout all rooms and spaces, except where specifically exempted by NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. For example, pieces of large movable furniture traditionally do not require sprinkler coverage beneath the furniture, as NFPA 13 states that sprinklers are not required beneath "obstructions that are not fixed in place, such as conference tables" (2019-NFPA 13 Section 9.5.5.3.2).
Whether office pods fall into the category of "furniture" for the purposes of applying NFPA 13 has largely been open to interpretation. Since many office pods are intended to be movable, the exemption in NFPA 13 for conference tables and similar pieces of furniture could also be considered for office pods.
However, office pods differ from other pieces of furniture in that they provide enclosed, occupiable spaces with furniture inside the pod itself. Without a specific exception addressing office pods, many designers previously opted to specify sprinklers within the pods or seek approval for alternate protection (e.g., smoke detection).
To alleviate the confusion and inconsistency in applying the standard, the 2024 edition of NFPA 13 now includes an exemption for "Small Temporarily Occupied Enclosures" (2024-NFPA 13 Section 9.2.10). As stated in the section, sprinklers can be omitted from office pods and similar enclosures where:
- the enclosure does not extend to the ceiling;
- the enclosure is "isolated";
- the maximum area of the enclosure is 24 SF; AND
- storage is not located within the enclosure.
The annex material associated with the section clarifies that miscellaneous furniture, wastebaskets, and other non-storage items are permitted within the enclosure. NFPA 13 does not specify a minimum separation distance for the enclosure to be considered "isolated". However, where multiple pods are provided, the intent is that the pods be physically separated from one another and not located adjacent to each other (2024-NFPA 13 Section A.9.2.10.1).
Questions? Reach out to our Code Consulting team for additional guidance!
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