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Thread 'Change of Occupancy R-1 to R-2'

I have an existing old motel building that a non-profit is renovating and changing from an R-1 to an R-2 to provide affordable housing using federally funded dollars. We are a VB Construction, 8,962 sf total, single story. We will be adding a sprinkler system (NFPA 13R). Some units will be getting new flooring if they haven't been updated already. All units will be getting a small kitchenette to include small sink, fridge, and stove. (see attached plan) I have a few questions: 1. Along...

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Thread 'Mixed Occupancy F-1, A-3, B, sprinklered, IIB, Non-separated'

I have an existing F-1/B building that is partially sprinklered (currently separated with a 3-hr fire barrier). Total 36,370sf. We are going to sprinkler the whole building as we technically have a COO in expanding F-1 into the current non-sprinklered portion of the building that is open space. There is office space that is also getting expanded into the leftover open space (B). They want to add a large break room that is most likely going to be more than 750sf or 50 persons. I have a...

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Thread 'Stair(s) to Roof - Structure with Firewalls'

4 story building divided by Firewall to meet area limitations IBC 2018 1011.12 Stairway to roof. Requires a stairway for roof access Due to the Firewall this would technically be two buildings would it require a stair from each side of the firewall to extend to the roof? or is it acceptable to have only a stair on one side of firewall access roof.?

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Thread 'School Kitchen Occupancy Group'

IBC 2018 Project: K-12 school addition, including new cafeteria and kitchen This'll be an easy one, but I've managed to confuse myself. Could someone point me to where K-12 kitchens are classified? I understand that the cafeteria is an "E" -- unsure about the kitchen. Our proposed kitchen is about 2800 SF on a total floor level area of about 10,000 SF. Thanks in advance.

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Thread '2 exit stairs required?'

I’m designing a 2,900 SF 2 story sprinklered building in Florida that has a dentist office on Level 2 and an open parking lot below. There is an elevator and stair leading up to the office on the north side. I have a second exit stair leading down to grade on the south side of the building. I’m posting this to see if you all agree I need this second stair. The occupant load is 20 and if I were to remove the second stair and only use the first stair for emergency egress, the maximum...

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Thread 'Fitout years later, toilet rooms required for shell prior to fitout?'

I'm working on a project in Delaware and the client plans to build the core and shell and fit-out the building a few year later when they have more money. They will be the sole occupant so there will be no other tenants. The core and shell will include the exterior assemblies, main electrical rooms, one tele data room to support cameras, egress stairs, and elevator hoist ways (no elevators installed). The question is since this will be sitting empty for years and they will not be using it...

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Thread 'Are Fire Alarms Required in a Level 2 Alteration?'

Is a new fire alarm system required in a existing suite / building undergoing a minor alteration? The building is fully sprinklered, but there's no fire alarm other than what's required by IFC/CFC 903.4. We searched every room and didn't find a single strobe, smoke detector, or anything fire alarm related. Alterations are relatively minor, so the tenant understandably doesn't want to spend more money on a new alarm system than the alteration. Project is in a medical office suite, Group B...

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Thread 'Separated/Nonseparated Occupancy Floors in Same Building'

The 2021 IBC commentary on 506.2.2 Mixed-Occupancy Buildings, Example 3 on Page 5-20, works through a four-story building which has different types of mixed occupancy on the different floors. I worked through this example then read the commentary and disagreed with their conclusion that the third floor can be considered nonseparated occupancy. In their analysis they only discuss the allowable areas but don’t discuss allowable number of stories, I think the third floor should be separated...

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Thread 'Zoo Egress Code - The Lion Enclosure'

I just wrapped-up a meeting with an architect and a zookeeper. Where the zookeeper is wanting to violate every egress code there is :) There are 3 swinging man doors entering a Lion enclosure. Inside this enclosure there are 6 separate "dens" each den has it's own animal door leading outside to the habitat area. and the den area is separate from the human area with gates (a main gate enter the den area and each den has it's own gate). However there are times when they bring lions through the...

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Thread 'Floor dampers'

Given a 1-hr floor ceiling assembly an a VB, R2, consisting of gypsum panel on the bottom, open web floor truss, 3/4" subfloor, and gypcrete floor surface. Each unit has an air handler within the unit. The steel ducts run down from the unit into the rated floor system and supply the unit air conditioning through the floor. So no through penetrations of the FC assembly, but a top membrane penetration of the FC assembly. Each unit is isolated with its own air handler and duct system so no...

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Thread 'Spaces with One Exit'

Just verifying that I am correct in that a space enclosed by low walls is subject to the requirements of table 1006.2.1 with respect to the number of exits required. Assuming everything else is compliant, the seating area in the sketch below requires 2 exits, correct? (Assembly occupancy, sprinklered building, mixture of fixed and moveable seating).

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Thread 'Luxury Storage occupancy?'

We have a client looking to build some luxury storage units. Most likely VB, <10,000SF per building. Each building would have multiple units, each with it's own half bath, AC, etc. Ideally they would like to have the option to sell these under a horizontal property regime (TN condos). If they were purely storage they would be S-1 nbd. In addition to storage for when you have too many Porsches; many competitors are marketing them as 'man caves' or places to base a storage based business out...

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Thread 'Hotel Definition'

Hi guys, I hate to even ask this question, but can anyone help me with the IBC definition of Hotel? We are having a somewhat ridiculous discussion with lawyers and city planners, revolving around the question of short-term rentals versus hotels. I am trying to find a path in the IBC to show that this particular project is considered a hotel. Here are some quick details. There is a historic business that the fire marshal and I have designated as an R-1 Hotel. It is a bunch of bungalows...

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Thread 'Wall rating for ice vending and cleaning gear in hotel'

I am looking at an existing design , high rise hotel, where the original design shows a small recess for the ice vending machine and the cleaning staff gear room walls rated 1 hr. What would be a possible reason for that, for a fully sprinklered building? Looking at section 420.3 and table 1020.2 I understand that 30 minutes rating is adequate. Am i missing something?

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Thread 'Gunsmithing to Vehicle Repair shop'

I have business that is curious about taking over an existing building. The previous use was firearm sales and gunsmithing. The building was built in 1994. However, I do not have any plan sets for any of the previous tenants. The previous 3 tenants were all firearm sales and gunsmithing. In my opinion I believe that the gunsmithing portion of the building would be classified as a F-1 occupancy. I'm open to interpretation on a gunsmithing being an F-1 occupancy. Furthermore, do I classify the...

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Thread 'Gas canopy use?'

Does anyone really consider these an M or is it just a Ch. 31 Canopy? I have one associated with another building that needs to be sprinklered and I am not sure it has the FSD to be a separate building and not sprinklered...For the record, commercial fleet facility maintaining their own trucks... 309.1 Mercantile Group M occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, wares or...

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Thread 'Occupant load calculations for corridors serving office space and assembly space'

I am currently in the process of calculating the occupant load for a mixed-use floor plate that includes both Business and Assembly functions. A significant feature of this floor plate is a large central atrium, which is surrounded by common circulation paths on all four sides. To provide more context, the east and west sides of the atrium are are large assembly spaces, while the north and south sides house office areas. Given that the circulation around the atrium serves both the...

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Thread 'FSAE lobby on basement level'

In a high rise hotel , does the FSAE require a lobby and direct access to a protected stairway on the basement level? Article 3007.1 states that every floor above and including the lowest level of fire department vehicle access of the building shall be served by fire service access elevators complying with Sections 3007.1 through 3007.9. Does this mean that the relevant requirements apply to just above ground levels?

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Thread 'Fire Proofing at existing building'

A complex question (hence the bullet points to try and help with clarity): I have a client who purchased an existing A-3 indoor family amusement center (athletic field, laser tag, arcade, bounce house, gym, etc.) in 2011. The original building was constructed in 1998 (1993 BOCA) as a 2-story fire-suppressed Construction Type 2A building. Steel structure, open web steel roof joists, metal roof deck, precast concrete second floor, and non-bearing masonry infill exterior walls. 2A required...

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Thread 'Roof top ductwork required fire protection rating?'

4 story existing hospital replacing 3 elevators with 2 compliant elevators and current code requirements in a single shaft. The fan and supply air ductwork required to pressurize the shaft is located on the roof to be compliant with 909.21.1. Question 1: Is the ductwork located on the roof required to be protected with a two-hour fire rating? Question 2: Would the fan and related ductwork located on the roof be part of the "fan system" and therefore 909.21.4.1 would negate the 909.21.3...

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Thread 'Function of Space for restroom building'

Good afternoon Forum - I am working on a project where I have to fill out a code form for the AHJ. The building is a seasonal, stand-alone, public restroom, single hole, along a public trail. I have determined the occupancy class as U. However, the part that I am stuck on with the AHJ code form is they want me to calculate the occupant load and egress width based on the Function of Space Table 1004.5. Obviously this is not listed in the Function of Space as these types of spaces are usually...

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Thread 'Structural Steel at Mechanical Equipment Screen'

On a project for a university building, an exterior wall is provided to enclose an area with rooftop mechanical equipment. The project is Type 2A under the 2018 IBC. The structural steel does not support any floor, roof, or equipment, but only provides lateral support for the enclosing walls (see highlighted elements in the image below). Would such framing be considered part of the primary structural frame, and therefore require a fire resistance rating? Fire separation distance is not...

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Thread 'Construction types 1995 vs. current'

I am trying to determine what construction type an existing building is that was labeled as Type V (UP) in 1995 compared to current construction types. Doing a quick internet search, I am finding conflicting info. Any help would be appreciated.

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Thread 'Restroom Occupancy classification'

what occupancy classification do restrooms on airport concourse level belong to? Most of the spaces on this level are A-3. Should these restroom be categorized as A-3, I see some people put them to B.

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Thread 'Occupant load of a city council chamber'

During a recent yearly inspection, the AHJ cited several egress violations in a municipal building. The most severe citation was the lack of the required number of exits from the 2nd floor, based on the occupant load due to the city council chamber being located on this floor. The chamber is approximately 2,100 square feet in total. The AHJ used the 1 person per 7 square feet assembly factor for the entire room, resulting in an occupant load of 300 people. However, I have some...

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