BOP Program Statement 1600.16 § 19

a. Sprinkler Systems (Installation). All new buildings, additions, and renovations must be

protected by a sprinkler system. The AHJ may approve non-sprinklered additions to existing non-sprinklered buildings on a case-by-case basis.

Exception. Small buildings outside the secure perimeter, towers, shooting range buildings, and

range canopies are not required to be protected by a sprinkler system unless specifically

mandated by Bureau policy, Building Codes, or NFC.

b. Sprinkler System (Design). New sprinkler systems must be designed and installed in

accordance with the most recent edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler

Systems.

c. Sprinkler System (Modification). Sprinkler system modifications must be made in

accordance with the most recent edition of NFPA 13.

d. Sprinkler System (Reevaluation). Any change in the sprinkler system, building, storage

arrangement, or water supply must be accompanied by a reevaluation of the sprinkler system

adequacy.

e. Sprinkler System (Approval). Approval to continue using a building after modifications

have been made to the sprinkler system, building, storage arrangement, or water supply must be

issued by the SA.

f. Sprinkler System (Existing Buildings). The following existing buildings/areas must be

protected by a sprinkler system:

■ Inmate housing units

■ Storage areas with high hazard contents

■ Buildings mandated by a regulatory requirement

g. Sprinkler System (Supervision). The following conditions must be supervised on all

sprinkler systems:

 Water flow

 Valve position

h. Sprinkler System (Monitoring). The following sprinkler system components must be

monitored through the fire alarm in the Control Center:

 Water flow alarms

1600.16 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 26

 Valve tamper switches

i. Sprinkler System (SHU Cell Isolation Valves). Up to four cells per SHU range may be

equipped with isolation valves to control the operation of sprinklers in an individual cell. The

SHU cell sprinkler control valves must be:

 Indicating valves

 Easily accessible

 Locked in the open position

 Inspected monthly by Facilities staff

Sprinkler valves isolating the head(s) in a SHU individual cell do not require valve tamper

supervision.

j. Sprinkler System (Special Housing Unit [SHU] Cell Isolation Valve Procedures). The

following procedures allow the sprinkler(s) for a single cell in SHU to be temporarily shut off:

 Operations Lieutenant must notify the SA

 All combustible contents must be removed from the cell

 Cell isolation valve is shut but not secured in the closed position

 Record the valve closure reason and time in both the Control Center and SHU logs

 Notify the Control Center the valve has been closed

 Notify SHU staff the valve has been closed

 Establish a procedure to immediately open the valve in the event of fire

k. Standpipe System (Installation). New multistory inmate housing areas must be equipped

with standpipe systems to supply water for a fire response by trained personnel.

l. Standpipe System (Hose). Pre-connected hose is not required for standpipes in sprinklered

buildings. Each institution must maintain a supply of centrally located hose, nozzles, fittings, and

tools to be available for use by staff or trained response personnel.

m. Standpipe System (Existing Non-Sprinklered Inmate Housing Areas). Existing non-sprinklered inmate housing areas must be equipped with a standpipe system.

n. Standpipe System (Non-Sprinklered Hose Requirement). Hose must be provided and

available at all standpipe system connections in non-sprinklered inmate housing areas.

o. Standpipe System (Cabinets). Standpipe cabinets may be locked if staff working in or

responding to the area have the necessary keys to open the cabinets.

1600.16 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 27

p. Fire Extinguisher (Installation). Portable fire extinguishers must be installed throughout the

facility. Extinguisher locations, inspection, testing, and maintenance must be in accordance with

NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Exception (Inmate Housing Areas Only). NFPA 101 allows portable fire extinguishers to be

located in “staff only” areas. This allowance may result in travel distances that exceed those

permitted by NFPA 10. It is critical the spacing of fire extinguishers be maintained as close as

practical to the NFPA 10 travel limits. In addition, consolidating extinguishers into a single area,

such as an officers’ station, without regard for the travel limits, is not permitted. The location of

fire extinguishers must be approved by the SA.

q. Fire Extinguisher (Cabinets). Fire extinguishers in areas subject to tampering or

unauthorized use may be installed in cabinets:

 Cabinets may have solid front doors

 Cabinets may be locked if staff working in or responding to the area have the necessary

keys to open them

 Cabinets installed in fire-rated wall assemblies must have the correct fire protection

rating

 Cabinets with a fire protection rating must not be altered

r. Fire Extinguisher (Class K). Class K fire extinguishers must be provided for the protection

of cooking appliances that use combustible cooking media (e.g., vegetable or animal oils and

fats).

s. Fire Extinguisher (Class K Signage). Where cooking appliances that use combustible

cooking media are protected by an automatic fire suppression system, a placard must be

conspicuously placed near the class K fire extinguisher that states the fire suppression system

must be actuated prior to using the extinguisher.

t. Fire Extinguisher (Class K Travel Distance). The maximum travel distance from the

combustible cooking media hazard to the class K extinguisher(s) must not exceed 30 feet.

u. Kitchen (Hood and Duct Exhaust Systems). Institution cooking equipment must be

protected by a hood and duct system that is designed, installed, operated, and maintained in

accordance with NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial

Cooking Operations.

Exemption. The following cooking operations are exempt from the hood and duct exhaust

system requirement:

 Stand-alone microwave ovens

1600.16 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 28

 Limited-use kitchens

v. Kitchen (Hood and Duct Fire-Suppression System). The following must be protected by a

fire suppression system:

 Exhaust hoods

 Exhaust ducts

 Grease removal devices

 Cooking equipment that may produce grease-laden vapors

w. Kitchen (Hood and Duct Suppression System Service). The fixed fire suppression systems

protecting cooking operations must be serviced by a competent outside contractor at least every

six months.

x. Kitchen (Hood and Duct Exhaust System Cleaning Service). Hood and duct exhaust

systems must be cleaned as often as needed to prevent a build-up of grease. The maximum time

between cleanings must not exceed 12 months.

y. Kitchen (Cooking Equipment). All institution cooking equipment must be certified by

National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International.

z. Kitchen (Cooking Equipment Installation and Maintenance). Cooking equipment

installation and repairs must be performed by qualified personnel.

aa. Fire Alarm Systems. Fire alarm systems must be installed in all areas mandated by:

 NFC

 Building codes

 Bureau policy

bb. Fire Alarm Systems (Locked Buildings). Buildings that can be locked to restrict egress

must be equipped with a fire alarm system that can be activated by manual pull stations.

cc. Fire Alarm Systems (Out Buildings). Fire alarm systems are not required in small buildings

outside the secure perimeter unless mandated by the NFC, Building Code, or Bureau policy.

dd. Fire Alarm Systems (Inmate Housing Area Pull Stations). Manual fire alarm pull stations

are required in inmate housing areas. Pull stations must be located in accordance with NFPA 72,

National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.

Pull stations may be locked if staff working in and/or responding to the area, have the keys

necessary to activate the fire alarm system.

1600.16 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 29

Manual pull stations may be located in the officers’ station, provided:

 The officers’ station is attended when the building is occupied

 The officers’ station provides a direct line of sight over the entire unit

ee. Fire Alarm Systems (Smoke Detection Systems). Smoke detectors must be installed in all

areas mandated by:

 NFC

 Building codes

 Bureau policy

ff. Fire Alarm Systems (Large Cells/Sleeping Areas). Cells and sleeping areas with five or

more occupants must be equipped with smoke detectors.

gg. Fire Alarm Systems (Supervision). Fire alarm systems must be supervised by the Control

Center staff.

hh. Fire Alarm Systems (Annunciator Panels). The main fire alarm annunciator panel must be

checked on each shift by Control Center staff. Annunciator panels in other areas must be checked

on each shift by the staff member supervising the area.

Institution Duty Officer (IDO) must check the main fire alarm annunciator panel as part of the

weekly fire, safety, and sanitation inspection.

ii. Fire Alarm Systems (Trouble/Alarms). Trouble/alarm conditions on fire alarm systems

must be reported to the SA and Facilities Manager.

jj. Fire Alarm Systems (Control Center Staff Competencies). Staff working in the Control

Center must be competent in the operation of the fire alarm system and alarm annunciator panel.

kk. Fire Alarm System (Instruction Booklet). An instruction booklet outlining the operation

of the fire alarm system and the alarm annunciator panels must be available in the Control Center

at all times.

ll. Fire Alarm Systems (Fire Department Notification). Staff working in the Control Center

must immediately notify the local fire department in event of a fire. Notification may be delayed

up to 90 seconds while staff verify an alarm from a single smoke detector.

The fire department must be notified immediately if a second alarm (e.g., water flow, heat

detectors, manual pull station) is received.

1600.16 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 30

mm. Fire Alarm System (Malfunction). The following actions must be taken when a

malfunction of the fire alarm system is detected:

 Notify the Operations Lieutenant

 Notify the Facilities Department

 Notify the Occupational Safety and Health Department

 Make an entry in the Control Center log

nn. Emergency Phone List. Staff working in the Control Center must have immediate access to

emergency telephone numbers, including the local fire department.

oo. Fire Department Entry. Fire department authorization to enter the institution must be

determined by the incident commander based on:

 Security considerations

 Severity of the incident

A written emergency response procedure outlining entry and escort protocols must be

established with the local fire department as part of the Fire Plan.