TheCommish
SAWHORSE
Question
Good morning,
Could you please email me a copy of the bundling codes for construction of a fire station, specifically with regard to prefab construction, or a steel building.
Any notations or explanation to translate into laymen’s’ terms would also be greatly appreciate
Answer
A bit of explanation on how the Massachusetts State Building Code is set up and requirements under that regulation.
The Massachusetts State Building Code is 780 CMR (Code of Massachusetts Regulations) Promulgated by the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS).
780 CMR is a series of regulations based on the International Code Council model codes and standards, approximately 4000 pages in length. In addition there are reference document and standards including but not limited to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards well over 10,000 pages. Not all of the NFPA standards are applicable to every project, however some such as fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps and water supply would be applicable to the building of a Public Safety Complex or a standalone Fire Station.
When an entity wishes to build a project regardless of the use and it is over 35,000 cubic feet in size and not a 1 or 2 family home, they must employ registered Architects and Engineers among other professional (RDP) to assess the customer needs and develop a program of work (amount of space, needs for equipment, wants, styling and longevity of the building). The RDP then considers how to meet the program and comply with applicable codes and regulations.
In developing the design the RDP has to consider the size of the building, the use of the building, and what the building should be construed of. By referring to the appropriate section of 780 CMR, we would see that a fire station or public safety complex is a mixture of Business for the office areas and Storage for the garage areas.
The building needs to be a type IIB construction, which the exterior walls and supporting columns are non-combustible material (steel, brick, concrete), the floors needs to support 100 pounds per square foot on the first floor and 80 pounds per square foot on the second floor or above, along with any concentrated loads from equipment. The roof needs to support the snow load of 90 pounds per square foot and the whole building needs to withstand wind and earthquake loads. Additionally, because the use is a fire, ambulance or police station; table 1604.5 of 780 CMR assigns the building a risk category IV. Structures assigned greater importance factors (I is the least IV is the highest) must be designed for larger forces. The result is a more robust structure that would be less likely to sustain damage under the same conditions than a structure with a lower importance factor. The intent is to enhance a structure's performance based on its use or the need to remain in operation during and after a design event.
Beside requirements for structural stability, the code and standards require the utilities serving the building need to be more robust, to provide continuous heat, electrical and water services. Other standards require smoke, carbon monoxide, motor vehicle exhaust gas detection for protection of the occupants. The building must also have a fire sprinkler system to provide fire suppression and property protection, meet the Stretch Energy code to reduce the amount of energy consumed for heating and cooling of the building, by increasing wall, window, door and roof insulation values.
Like many questions we receive the answer is “it depends” on multiple of factors that the building code specifies. Rather the building code requires you to meet performance standards, then leaves the way this is accomplished up to the RDP to design a code compliant project. The building code does not specify that a certain use (fire station) of a building be built out of any certain material, rather the material may be required to have certain characters, from not combustible to wood framed, with or without covering to protect structural elements from fire for a specific amount of time.
In conclusion, the answer to your question “can a prefab metal building be used to build a fire station” possibly, if the RDP can meet all the above requirements either through the prefabricate buildings off the shelf configuration, or if necessary augmenting or modifying the structure and it components. In the end, it is the RDP responsibility to offer the client the most cost effective way of meeting the customers building program.
Respectfully,
Good morning,
Could you please email me a copy of the bundling codes for construction of a fire station, specifically with regard to prefab construction, or a steel building.
Any notations or explanation to translate into laymen’s’ terms would also be greatly appreciate
Answer
A bit of explanation on how the Massachusetts State Building Code is set up and requirements under that regulation.
The Massachusetts State Building Code is 780 CMR (Code of Massachusetts Regulations) Promulgated by the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS).
780 CMR is a series of regulations based on the International Code Council model codes and standards, approximately 4000 pages in length. In addition there are reference document and standards including but not limited to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards well over 10,000 pages. Not all of the NFPA standards are applicable to every project, however some such as fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps and water supply would be applicable to the building of a Public Safety Complex or a standalone Fire Station.
When an entity wishes to build a project regardless of the use and it is over 35,000 cubic feet in size and not a 1 or 2 family home, they must employ registered Architects and Engineers among other professional (RDP) to assess the customer needs and develop a program of work (amount of space, needs for equipment, wants, styling and longevity of the building). The RDP then considers how to meet the program and comply with applicable codes and regulations.
In developing the design the RDP has to consider the size of the building, the use of the building, and what the building should be construed of. By referring to the appropriate section of 780 CMR, we would see that a fire station or public safety complex is a mixture of Business for the office areas and Storage for the garage areas.
The building needs to be a type IIB construction, which the exterior walls and supporting columns are non-combustible material (steel, brick, concrete), the floors needs to support 100 pounds per square foot on the first floor and 80 pounds per square foot on the second floor or above, along with any concentrated loads from equipment. The roof needs to support the snow load of 90 pounds per square foot and the whole building needs to withstand wind and earthquake loads. Additionally, because the use is a fire, ambulance or police station; table 1604.5 of 780 CMR assigns the building a risk category IV. Structures assigned greater importance factors (I is the least IV is the highest) must be designed for larger forces. The result is a more robust structure that would be less likely to sustain damage under the same conditions than a structure with a lower importance factor. The intent is to enhance a structure's performance based on its use or the need to remain in operation during and after a design event.
Beside requirements for structural stability, the code and standards require the utilities serving the building need to be more robust, to provide continuous heat, electrical and water services. Other standards require smoke, carbon monoxide, motor vehicle exhaust gas detection for protection of the occupants. The building must also have a fire sprinkler system to provide fire suppression and property protection, meet the Stretch Energy code to reduce the amount of energy consumed for heating and cooling of the building, by increasing wall, window, door and roof insulation values.
Like many questions we receive the answer is “it depends” on multiple of factors that the building code specifies. Rather the building code requires you to meet performance standards, then leaves the way this is accomplished up to the RDP to design a code compliant project. The building code does not specify that a certain use (fire station) of a building be built out of any certain material, rather the material may be required to have certain characters, from not combustible to wood framed, with or without covering to protect structural elements from fire for a specific amount of time.
In conclusion, the answer to your question “can a prefab metal building be used to build a fire station” possibly, if the RDP can meet all the above requirements either through the prefabricate buildings off the shelf configuration, or if necessary augmenting or modifying the structure and it components. In the end, it is the RDP responsibility to offer the client the most cost effective way of meeting the customers building program.
Respectfully,