House with Store attached

[cbcbuild]

I need to add a walk-in cooler to my store, which would require a 5 ft wide by 24 ft long addition. I have had a designer draw it, and the engineer stamped it.
We are in a park so no municipality and under the arm for Building permits of the Office of the Fire Commissioner. Have been asked for a Building code analysis.
The house was built in 2009 to attach to the store that was built in the 30's to 40's. The store is all pine inside but has been redone with new insulation ect.
The house's main floor is 1224sq ft with a second story above the house; the store is 1227sqft. At the time of permit in 2009 was marked as residential by the office of the fire commissioner.
So I have been asked to provide __ CODE ANALYSIS: project description, building height, building area, number of streets the building faces, occupancy classification, sprinkler requirements, fire alarm requirements, occupant load, spatial separations, building size and construction relative to occupancy, exits, washrooms, and electrical life safety.

So, based on occupancy less the shelves and office space, I have figured out store occupancy to be 20 people.( based on 3.7 people per M2)

house height is 20ft to the top of the second-floor ceiling, and the store is single story.

My worry is this house wall is only 1/2 inch of drywall, so it does not have a long burn time will this fail code analysis? How do we determine Classification? What would be the best way to meet the code Sprinkler system? Rip walls apart sheet with type x drywall. Put a fire door above the cooler doors and treat it as a separate building ?


Sorry for the long one trying to give as much info as possible

 

[mark handler]

• TABLE 508.4, REQUIRED SEPARATION OF OCCUPANCIES, this includes the floor/ceiling and walls

1-Hr. Sprinklered​

2-hour Non-sprinklered​

• Sliding door will not work between the occupancies
• Door clearances in retail area do not meet accessibility codes

 

[tmurray]

Typically the designer can provide a code analysis. It just summarizes how they classified it under the building code. It is primarily just related to the proposed work. The only time it goes beyond that would be things like exiting where we need to look at the building as a whole. You normally would not see completed work you are not touching in the rest of the building needing upgraded, with a few notable exceptions.

Your occupant load is for the whole building with all spaces occupied (the only exception being spaces that are not simultaneously occupied (like a washroom).

 

[cbcbuild]

Typically the designer can provide a code analysis. It just summarizes how they classified it under the building code. It is primarily just related to the proposed work. The only time it goes beyond that would be things like exiting where we need to look at the building as a whole. You normally would not see completed work you are not touching in the rest of the building needing upgraded, with a few notable exceptions.

Your occupant load is for the whole building with all spaces occupied (the only exception being spaces that are not simultaneously occupied (like a washroom).

Thanks this makes me feel a little better, my designer had not heard of code analysis. But we are in unorganized territory, and they are now starting to look at codes. How would you classify this building as a M ? or R and M ?

 

[tmurray]

Thanks this makes me feel a little better, my designer had not heard of code analysis. But we are in unorganized territory, and they are now starting to look at codes. How would you classify this building as a M ? or R and M ?

You might be talking about zoning classifications. These are the ones we use in the code:

A1 – Assembly occupancies intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts
A2 – Assembly occupancies not elsewhere classified in Group A
A3 – Assembly occupancies of the arena type
A4 – Assembly occupancies in which the occupants are gathered in the open air
B1 – Detention occupancies in which persons are under restraint or are incapable of self-preservation because of security measures not under their control
B2 – Treatment occupancies
B3 – Care occupancies
B4 – Home-type care occupancies
C – Residential occupancies
D – Business and personal services occupancies
E – Mercantile occupancies
F1 – High-hazard industrial occupancies
F2 – Medium-hazard industrial occupancies
F3 – Low-hazard industrial occupancies
G1 – High-hazard agricultural occupancies
G2 – Agricultural occupancies not elsewhere classified in Group G
G3 – Greenhouse agricultural occupancies
G4 – Agricultural occupancies with no human occupants

You are a C and E, but E is going to be your most restrictive requirements in almost all cases.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Thanks this makes me feel a little better, my designer had not heard of code analysis. But we are in unorganized territory, and they are now starting to look at codes. How would you classify this building as a M ? or R and M ?

NOW they are starting to look at codes? Whether or not a written code analysis is required, before even beginning a design an architect (or any building designer) should do a code analysis to establish the parameters for the design. The notion of completing a design without even knowing what a code analysis is strikes me as unprofessional and more than a bit frightening.

Under U.S. codes this building would be classified as mixed uses. I don't know if the NBC of Canada uses similar language for multiple occupancies in the sdame structure.

 

[cbcbuild]

NOW they are starting to look at codes? Whether or not a written code analysis is required, before even beginning a design an architect (or any building designer) should do a code analysis to establish the parameters for the design. The notion of completing a design without even knowing what a code analysis is strikes me as unprofessional and more than a bit frightening.

Under U.S. codes this building would be classified as mixed uses. I don't know if the NBC of Canada uses similar language for multiple occupancies in the sdame structure.

I shouldn't say codes. They are starting to look at restricting buildings and making the process to build more paperwork. He questions any engineer drawing that is submitted and wants more information.

 

[bill1952]

Just following but to clarify, existing building, perhaps not compliant with code, but you're just adding a 120 SF walk in cooler?

 

[cbcbuild]

Just following but to clarify, existing building, perhaps not compliant with code, but you're just adding a 120 SF walk in cooler?

Correct with glass doors so people can grab of the shelf. Will get rid of all my stand alone fridges

 

[bill1952]

Correct with glass doors so people can grab of the shelf. Will get rid of all my stand alone fridges

And I'm still wondering if 15 year old work on the other side of the store - not code compliant now and maybe not then - is any part of this project.

I'm sure there are many neighborhood stores throughout US - not so many now as there were before the big stores showed up - mixed with residential occupancy that isn't separated per today's code.

 

[tmurray]

It's hard to say. You can generally keep it if it was code when it was built. Given that it is only 15 years old, there is no way it was code when it was built.

 

[bill1952]

It's hard to say. You can generally keep it if it was code when it was built. Given that it is only 15 years old, there is no way it was code when it was built.

So ok to leave as is but you can't modify it? If no work was being done and you happen to become aware of it, do you require it be brought up to code? Just curious.

 

[cbcbuild]

It's hard to say. You can generally keep it if it was code when it was built. Given that it is only 15 years old, there is no way it was code when it was built.

I built it 15 years ago and asked the same question of the Fire commissioner at the time and he deemed it all residential and said it would not be an issue

 

[cbcbuild]

So ok to leave as is but you can't modify it? If no work was being done and you happen to become aware of it, do you require it be brought up to code? Just curious.

This is what I am worried about in the code analysis. Do I only do the analysis of what I am adding?

 

[tmurray]

So ok to leave as is but you can't modify it? If no work was being done and you happen to become aware of it, do you require it be brought up to code? Just curious.

It really depends. The way I'm looking at this, it appears that the occupier is also involved in the operation of the store. If this is true, I would just highlight the risk to the owner and if there were a modification in future, I would make it meet code then.

It's kind of a risk/benefit analysis.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

So I have been asked to provide __ CODE ANALYSIS: project description, building height, building area, number of streets the building faces, occupancy classification, sprinkler requirements, fire alarm requirements, occupant load, spatial separations, building size and construction relative to occupancy, exits, washrooms, and electrical life safety.

FYI, there is a dedicated area for Canadian codes..... It will help screen out the helpful assistance of our friends to the south, who use different codes.

I suspect what you've been asked to do is provide a code matrix.

(Screen shot provided)



This is just a step-by-step analysis of key items of Code. Our office requires one for all non-residential part 9 and all Part 3 buildings. We occasionally waive that requirement, for simple things.... but the onus is on the designer to show their homework.

Links:

https://www.fredericton.ca/sites/default/files/2023-06/form_22-4_-_building_matrix_1.pdf

https://chop.raic.ca/documents/20122/0/National+Building+Code+Data+Matrix+Parts+3+%26+9.pdf/b9e166e8-3665-7a2c-31f8-6ebdba5e78ac?t=1608057177942

Based on what you've provided the house and store should be separated with a one-hour fire-resistance rating. Given the age, it is possible that you've got a lath-and-plaster wall, which can be given a fire-resistance rating by a qualified engineer. (https://www.huduser.gov/Publications/PDF/fire.pdf) ....