Religious Service area with chair seating?

[Caddesigner]

In this section of 2017 Ohio Building Code. What is the definition of the Exception 2.2? My question is will a fire area of 12,000 sq. ft. that is used exclusively for religious services but uses chairs instead of fixed seating, potential for 450 chairs fall under this exception?

903.2.1.3 Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for
fire areas containing Group A-3 occupancies and intervening floors of the
building where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2).
Exception:
1.1 Fire areas used exclusively for religious worship services with fixed
seating.
2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
Exception:
2.1 Fire areas used primarily for worship with fixed seating.
2.2 Fire areas without fixed seating not used for exhibition or display; or
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge
serving such occupancies.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where
the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit
discharge of the main entrance and exit.

 

[fatboy]

Looks like it fits to me.

 

[RLGA]

If the fire area exceeds 12,000 sq. ft., a sprinkler system is still required regardless of Exception 2.2. If the fire area is 12,000 sq. ft. or less, Exception 2.2 would be applicable.

 

[Paul Sweet]

Chairs could be knocked over by people scrambling for an exit in an emergency. Fixed seating (pews bolted to the floor) is unlikely to be knocked over, which is why these exceptions require fixed seating.

 

[mtlogcabin]

where one of the following conditions exists:

If only one of the conditions exist then sprinklers are required
Exception 1.1 requires fixed seats for religious worship services
Exception 2.1 requires Ol over 300 for worship services to have fixed seats.

No fixed seats then fire sprinklers are required for religious worship services with over 12,000 sq ft fire area and 300 Occupant Load

 

[Caddesigner]

Thanks for the quick replies, this is the way I would interpret it.

where one of the following conditions exists:

1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2).
Exception:
1.1 Fire areas used exclusively for religious worship services with fixed
seating.

Don't need to worry about this one because I won't have more than 12,000 sq. ft.

2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
Exception:
2.1 Fire areas used primarily for worship with fixed seating.
2.2 Fire areas without fixed seating not used for exhibition or display; or

My fire area will have an occupant load of more than 300, but I won't need to worry about this one because I can qualify for exception 2.2 with no fixed seating and not used for exhibition or display

3. The fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge
serving such occupancies.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where
the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit
discharge of the main entrance and exit.

Don't need to worry about this one because my fire area is located on same floor as my exit discharge

 

[mtlogcabin]

What is the use for this assembly area?

 

[fatboy]

If the fire area exceeds 12,000 sq. ft., a sprinkler system is still required regardless of Exception 2.2. If the fire area is 12,000 sq. ft. or less, Exception 2.2 would be applicable.

I got it now, I was skipping straight to 2.2, needed to read in order. I guess I needed a day to reset.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

Thanks for the quick replies, this is the way I would interpret it.

where one of the following conditions exists:

1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2).
Exception:
1.1 Fire areas used exclusively for religious worship services with fixed
seating.

Don't need to worry about this one because I won't have more than 12,000 sq. ft.

2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
Exception:
2.1 Fire areas used primarily for worship with fixed seating.
2.2 Fire areas without fixed seating not used for exhibition or display; or

My fire area will have an occupant load of more than 300, but I won't need to worry about this one because I can qualify for exception 2.2 with no fixed seating and not used for exhibition or display

3. The fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge
serving such occupancies.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where
the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit
discharge of the main entrance and exit.

Don't need to worry about this one because my fire area is located on same floor as my exit discharge

Ths code section lists 6 conditions (not exceptions), and if your project meets ANY of these 6 conditions you are required to provide sprinklers. Condition #2 will require that you provide spinkers as you have more than 300 occupants.

 

[Caddesigner]

Ths code section lists 6 conditions (not exceptions), and if your project meets ANY of these 6 conditions you are required to provide sprinklers. Condition #2 will require that you provide spinkers as you have more than 300 occupants.

I don't agree, It lists 3 conditions with 1 exception under the first condition and 2 exceptions under the second condition.

 

[JPohling]

I don't agree, It lists 3 conditions with 1 exception under the first condition and 2 exceptions under the second condition.

with that logic they would allow you more occupants in non fixed seating than fixed seats and aisles before sprinklers are triggered. that is not going to happen you need to think critically. more than 300 = sprinklers

 

[mtlogcabin]

My fire area will have an occupant load of more than 300, but I won't need to worry about this one because I can qualify for exception 2.2 with no fixed seating and not used for exhibition or display

IMHO You do not qualify for the 300 OL exception if the fire area/space is used for worship. Exception 2.1 is for fixed seats in worship spaces with an OL of over 300 people. This supports the intent of Exception 1.1 for religious/worship uses in a large (12,000 sq ft) fire area A-3 use which is conditioned upon fix seating
Exception 2.1 also allows other assembly uses with an OL of OVER 300 people in a fire area of up to 12,000 sq ft without fixed seating. These use would include


303.4 Assembly Group A-3

Group A-3 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for worship, recreation or amusement and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A including, but not limited to:

• Amusement arcades
• Art galleries......... 800 @ 15 net
• Bowling alleys
• Community halls
• Courtrooms......... 300 @ 40 net unfixed chairs
• Dance halls (not including food or drink consumption)
• Funeral parlors
• Gymnasiums (without spectator seating)
• Indoor swimming pools (without spectator seating)
  
  Indoor tennis courts (without spectator seating)
• Lecture halls................... 1,714 unfixed chairs @ 7 net
• Libraries
• Museums....................... 400 @ 30 Net
• Pool and billiard parlors
• Waiting areas in transportation terminals....... 800 @ 15 gross
• 
  
• 
  
• Maybe you should contact the state since it is their amendment https://www.com.ohio.gov/DICO/bbs/ to get a clarification from them

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Odd that 1.1 says " exclusively for religious worship services" but 2.1 only says "primarily for worship". I guess 2.1 doesn't have to be religious, or any have any services.

How does worshiping someone or something make it safer?

This seems discriminatory to other religions that do not "worship" like Buddhist, Confucians, Taoist and Pastafarians.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Worship generally covers it all either as a noun or a verb especially when you look at all the synonyms used
worship
[ˈwərSHəp]

NOUN

1. the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
   
   synonyms:
   reverence · revering · worshipping · veneration · venerating · adoration ·
   [more]

VERB

1. show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites.
   "the Maya built jungle pyramids to worship their gods"
   synonyms:
   revere · reverence · venerate · pay homage to · honor · adore · praise ·
   [more]