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Restaurant that is a B occupancy.

nitramnaed

Sawhorse
Joined
Nov 29, 2011
Messages
182
Location
L'Etolle du Nord
B Occupancy versus A Occupancy and restrooms. The thought is that once you have determined that you are a B, because you have under 50 seats, does it flow through the code that way. We have a Building Official who is switching it up midstream and by saying that we are functioning as a restaurant and that we need to use the Plumbing Code for fixture counts at a higher A occupancy rate.

Thanks, Jeff
 
But the fixture requirements for an A-2 are less than that for a B? Meaning if you based upon a B, then you are providing more than if it were an A-2.

Figure you have the max of 49 persons for a group B, then you would need (2) toilets, and (2) lavs.

Conversely, if the BO makes you go to A-2, then you would need (1) men's, (1) women's, and (1) lav with each toilet compartment. Meaning no difference.

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B Occupancy versus A Occupancy and restrooms. The thought is that once you have determined that you are a B, because you have under 50 seats, does it flow through the code that way. We have a Building Official who is switching it up midstream and by saying that we are functioning as a restaurant and that we need to use the Plumbing Code for fixture counts at a higher A occupancy rate.

Thanks, Jeff
The model plumbing code or maybe its the code commentary does state that one should use the plumbing ratios consistent with the use of the space and not neccesarily the occupancy. The example given is that a college classroom building is a B occupoancy but one should use the plumbing fixture ratios for an E occupancy as those ratios are more in line with how the building is used.
 
taken from the IPC commentary

The “description” of plumbing fixture use determines which set of fixture ratios should be used for calculating
plumbing fixture requirements. In most cases, the description of plumbing fixture use will match the IBC occupancy classification. However, there are situations where a description of fixture use different than the IBC occupancy classification might be a more reasonable alternative approach to determining the number of required plumbing fixtures. These alternative methods require approval by the code official in accordance with Section 105.2 of this code. This approach might be useful for certain educational facilities and business facilities as illustrated in the following discussions about educational facilities and business facilities.


after this passage several examples are given.
 
The use of the space drives the fixture count.

[P] 2902.1 Minimum number of fixtures. Plumbing fixtures
shall be provided in the minimum number as shown in Table
2902.1 based on the actual use of the building or space.
 
The use of the space drives the fixture count.

[P] 2902.1 Minimum number of fixtures. Plumbing fixtures
shall be provided in the minimum number as shown in Table
2902.1 based on the actual use of the building or space.
Also note that the 2018 IBC took out the "Occupancy" (A-1, A-2, B, E etc.) to reinforce that plumbing fixtures are provided based on the actual use of the space, not the Group of the space.
 
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