Apartment Bldg. Parking Garage Classification

[ETThompson]

Hi,

I'm working on a project in which we have two sloped parking decks entered from grade. One parking deck slopes up, with about 20 spaces and about 8,000 sf. The second slopes down and is similar in size. The overall project is about 80,000sf, 7 story high R-2 apartment building on an urban site. The apartments sit on top of the garage podium. The only other functions at the podium /garage levels are a lobby and an amenity fitness area.

We were assuming S-2 classification, as we have typically done with similar structured parking.

The new IBC states that "private garages" should be classified as "U" and has very minimal area limitations (1,000sf). The definition for private garage is noted as "PRIVATE GARAGE. A building or portion of a building in which motor vehicles used by the tenants of the building or buildings on the premises are stored or kept, without provisions for repairing or servicing such vehicles for profit."

This memo from the ICC addresses, but doesn't really resolve.

http://media.iccsafe.org/news/eNews/2013v10n17/2012_ibc_sigchanges_p27-28.pdf

I don't have access right now to the commentary, but it seems crazy to me that a structure such as ours would be classified as "U" with the 1,000sf limitation, but I can't seem to find anything in the basic code getting me out of this. Do others on this page have insight?

Thanks

 

[RLGA]

It should be classified as Group S-2.

 

[ETThompson]

Good news, but any idea where it says that? Btw, if you're the same guy, I'm using your Applying the Code book and it is excellent.

 

[RLGA]

I’m the same guy.

The intent, although not well-described in the IBC, is that a large parking structure, whether private or public, is a commercial parking garage subject to classification as Group S-2. The Group U classification is strictly for private use and assigned to a resident or residents, and is limited in scope, such as a single car structure or a series of 1- or 2-car garages, either connected or detached to each other and/or the residential units.

 

[ETThompson]

Thank you and thanks for your book!

--Eric