Windowless story in existing building

[Mr. Inspector]

I have a small tenant space in a existing1 story large shopping center building (no Basement) that is undergoing a level 2 alterations which is covered under 2018 IEBC Chapter 8. The building was built before we had any codes and has no interior fire protected walls. The building is 80' wide and has no openings in the back wall. Will the whole building need to comply or just the tenant space where the alterations are being done if they build fire protected demising walls? It seems to me that the code is asking a lot to require sprinklers for the whole building just for some work in one small tenant space.

2018 IEBC
803.2.3 Windowless stories. Work located in a windowless
story, as determined in accordance with the International
Building Code, shall be sprinklered where the work
area is required to be sprinklered under the provisions of
the International Building Code for newly constructed
buildings and the building has a sufficient municipal water
supply without installation of a new fire pump.

2018 IBC
[F] 903.2.11.1.2 Openings on one side only. Where
openings in a story are provided on only one side
and the opposite wall of such story is more than 75
feet (22 860 mm) from such openings, the story shall
be equipped throughout with an approved automatic
sprinkler system, or openings shall be provided on
not fewer than two sides of the story.

 

[steveray]

Just the work area....IMO

 

[mtlogcabin]

shall be sprinklered where the work
area is required to be sprinklered under the provisions of
the International Building Code for newly constructed

Would it be required to be sprinklered under todays code?

the building has a sufficient municipal water
supply without installation of a new fire pump.

would a fire pump be required to provide sufficient water?

If the answer is no to either question then a fire suppression system would not be required if there are openings or not.

If the answer is yes to question 1 and no to question 2 then under IEBC 104.11 Alternative materials, design and methods of construction, and equipment.
You should ask if 2018 IBC [F] 903.2.11.1.2 Openings on one side only could be used in the work area in lieu of a fire suppression system.

 

[CODPEX]

We run into this a lot in my municipality - loads of old windowless basements.

Work located in a windowless
story, as determined in accordance with the International
Building Code, shall be sprinklered where the work
area is required to be sprinklered

We interpret this to mean the work in the work area in the windowless story is sprinkled, not sprinkled throughout the entire building as typically required. Section 903.2.11.1.3 of the IBC gets you the same answer, if your windowless story is a basement.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Just the work area....IMO

Agreed -- just the work area.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Would it be required to be sprinklered under todays code?

would a fire pump be required to provide sufficient water?

If the answer is no to either question then a fire suppression system would not be required if there are openings or not.

If the answer is yes to question 1 and no to question 2 then under IEBC 104.11 Alternative materials, design and methods of construction, and equipment.
You should ask if 2018 IBC [F] 903.2.11.1.2 Openings on one side only could be used in the work area in lieu of a fire suppression system.

So, if the answer is yes to both and they just sprinklered the tenant space that is being worked on would fire rated walls need to be built between this tenant space and the neighboring ones?

 

[steveray]

So, if the answer is yes to both and they just sprinklered the tenant space that is being worked on would fire rated walls need to be built between this tenant space and the neighboring ones?

I would say no...unless there was something else requiring it...

 

[Mr. Inspector]

I was wondering if the far end of the shopping center where the building is wider and does not comply but the tenant space where the work is being done the building is not as wide and does comply with these sections would sprinklers still be required? IEBC 803.2.3 says "Work located in a windowless story".

 

[steveray]

If it is a "work area" requirement and the work area complies......It's fine...