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Mixed use fixture count?

steveray

SAWHORSE
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
14,268
Location
West of the river CT
As it pertains to drinking fountains specifically. What say you when you have Mutiple small occupancies for using the drinking fountain omission (<15 OL)? Should they be summed to push them over 15 or no when they are the same "building" occupancy (one tenancy), but mixed uses.....?

[P]2902.1.1​

To determine the occupant load of each sex, the total occupant load shall be divided in half. To determine the required number of fixtures, the fixture ratio or ratios for each fixture type shall be applied to the occupant load of each sex in accordance with Table 2902.1. Fractional numbers resulting from applying the fixture ratios of Table 2902.1 shall be rounded up to the next whole number. For calculations involving multiple occupancies, such fractional numbers for each occupancy shall first be summed and then rounded up to the next whole number.

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[P]2902.6​

Drinking fountains shall not be required for an occupant load of 15 or fewer.
 
I think the language of the code pretty clearly supports summing them for mixed uses within a single tenancy. I don't think it supports combing tenancies. The result of that could be rather strange. Say you have three tenants and it finally adds up to enough for one drinking fountain. Which tenant gets the drinking fountain? What are the other two tenants supposed to do?
 
I think the language of the code pretty clearly supports summing them for mixed uses within a single tenancy. I don't think it supports combing tenancies. The result of that could be rather strange. Say you have three tenants and it finally adds up to enough for one drinking fountain. Which tenant gets the drinking fountain? What are the other two tenants supposed to do?
Exactly my thinking...
 
Say you have a mixed use B with retail M. B calculated at 10, no DF for the B. M calculated at 8, no DF for the M. Total OL = 18, exceeds the 15 threshold. Is this what you are asking? The few times I have faced it I can't recall ever ending up with a DF because I usually can guide them to a lower total OL with some creativity. The way I run it is this: If you have the 18, then you just run the calc....10/100 = .1 DF, + 1000/8 = .008. DF's required = .108, which = 2. When it's close they usually find a way. When they haven't been able to employ creativity they just whine to the CBO's and get a pass.
 
I don't think it supports combing tenancies.
I think it is does support combining the tenancies because the drinking fountain is not required to be in the individual tenant space

[P]2902.5 IBC​

Drinking fountains shall not be required to be located in individual tenant spaces provided that public drinking fountains are located within a distance of travel of 500 feet (152 m) of the most remote location in the tenant space and not more than one story above or below the tenant space. Where the tenant space is in a covered or open mall, such distance shall not exceed 300 feet (91 m).
 
Say you have a mixed use B with retail M. B calculated at 10, no DF for the B. M calculated at 8, no DF for the M. Total OL = 18, exceeds the 15 threshold. Is this what you are asking? The few times I have faced it I can't recall ever ending up with a DF because I usually can guide them to a lower total OL with some creativity. The way I run it is this: If you have the 18, then you just run the calc....10/100 = .1 DF, + 1000/8 = .008. DF's required = .108, which = 2. When it's close they usually find a way. When they haven't been able to employ creativity they just whine to the CBO's and get a pass.
So let’s go with that….retail store… 14 shoppers in the M, 14 employees in the S1, and 14 employees in the office…what do you do?
 
14/1000 = .014
14/100 = .14
14/1000 = .014

.168 DF's required, and since the total OL is > 15 that provision doesn't apply. Can't have a fraction of a DF, so 1 required, where 1 is required, must be hi/low, so 2 required. As unpalatable as it is, that is what I think the code requires. Had that conversation more times than I can remember. Personally I would like to see some revision to this, but it is what it is....if I'm doing it correctly.

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