Mezzanine question

[steveray]

In this case, since the 60x100 portion is a complete building, with complete exterior walls on all four sides, and the office area is then tacked unto one end of the 60x100 warehouse, there is simply no way I'm willing to say that the upper level in the office portion is "within" the warehouse portion.

So an addition on a warehouse can't be part of a warehouse?...Some flaws in that logic....An exterior wall ceases to be an exterior wall once it is surrounded by other exterior walls....

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

So an addition on a warehouse can't be part of a warehouse?...Some flaws in that logic....An exterior wall ceases to be an exterior wall once it is surrounded by other exterior walls....

The definition and discussions of mezzanine start with the basic criterion that the mezzanine is "An intermediate level or levels between the floor and ceiling of any story and in accordance with Section 505."

So then I go to section 505, and I find 505.2.1:

The aggregate area of a mezzanine
or mezzanines within a room shall be not greater than
one-third of the floor area of that room or space in which
they are located. The enclosed portion of a room shall not
be included in a determination of the floor area of the
room in which the mezzanine is located. In determining
the allowable mezzanine area, the area of the mezzanine
shall not be included in the floor area of the room.

-- i.e. "within" that space -- not between the floor and roof of a building. What we have here is two discrete spaces, one unconditioned and one that will be conditioned, separated by construction that is physically identical to the exterior walls of the larger space. There's simply no way this [alleged] "mezzanine" is in any way contained within the warehouse "room or space."

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Could it be that the engineer is driven by structural issues while everybody is focusing on fire and occupancy issues.

Don't know, don't care. Not my job to read his mind.

 

[Mark K]

But apparently it is the engineers job to read your mind. No wonder you are at an impasse.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

But apparently it is the engineers job to read your mind. No wonder you are at an impasse.

No, it's the engineer's job to read the code.

The fact is, he's practicing architecture without a license. In a sane world, I should report him to the architectural licensing board. Unfortunately, he's politically connected, and I need my job.

 

[Penguin87]

You can have an enclosed mezzanine if you meet one of the (5) exceptions listed in the IBC.

• Limited to 10 occupants or less
• Has 2 means of egress
• Less than 10% of aggregate mezzanine area is enclosed
• In an industrial facility where all sides are glazed, used for industrial controls
• #5 is fairly lengthy but has to do with sprinklers and other restrictions

Now, the reason why mezzanines are the common go-to for industrial facilities is pretty simple:
They are flexible, cheap and easy to construct, and simple to permit. Industrial users frequently need them to assist in their production facility, in order to get workstations near the equipment which affects operations. They are similar to equipment platforms in this regard.

 

[Penguin87]

If I'm correct, his problems would go away if he just changed from wood studs to metal studs and kept the construction type as II-B.

This is typically difficult to do, as unless you are going to pour a concrete floor slab for your second story, there is literally only one product in the USA that can meet the noncombustible decking requirement: USG Structo-Crete structural panels

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Structo-Crete is entirely possible. We have seen it on other projects in town.

However, the owner wanted to stay with wood for cost reasons. His choice.

 

[bill1952]

This is typically difficult to do, as unless you are going to pour a concrete floor slab for your second story, there is literally only one product in the USA that can meet the noncombustible decking requirement: USG Structo-Crete structural panels

Metal deck and plywood finish floor?