(1) Chapter 9 of the 2018 International Building Code is hereby adopted.

(2) Chapter 9, Section 903.2.11.3 of the International Building Code as adopted by this chapter is amended to read as follows:

903.2.11.3. Buildings 24 feet or more in height. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings that have one or more stories with an occupant load of 30 or more located 24 feet (7 315 mm) or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, measured to the finished floor.

Exceptions:

a. Open parking structures.

b. Occupancies in Group F-2.

(3) Chapter 9, Section 903.2.11, of the International Building Code as adopted by this chapter is amended to add the following section:

903.2.11.7. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in new construction, in every story or basement of all buildings classified as Assembly Group A-1, Assembly Group A-2, Business Groups B and Mercantile Group M occupancies, where the floor area exceeds 2,500 square feet. This section does not supersede the provisions of Section 903 of the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code, including adopted state amendments, where said fire code imposes a stricter requirement as to the provision of automatic sprinkler systems.