Area/Occupancy A-2 and B Occupancy

[Glennman CBO]

2012 IBC. Non-sprinklered existing building.

Scenerio: A building contains 2 occupancies (proposed to be non-separated uses), A-2 and B. The building area is 6000 spuare feet, meeting area and height of section 503.

The A-2 occupancy has an occupant load of 85, the neighboring B load is 20 (these numbers are only for example).

The A-2 area is, say, 4000 square feet.

There is only a 1 hour fire barrier between the two uses.

The entire building exceeds the 5000 foot fire area threshold for sprinklers (903) for an A-2.

The occupanct load is 85 for the A-2, but if one adds the 20 from next door (due to no 2 hr separation), this puts the overall load at 105.

Conclusion: Either the building needs to be sprinklered, or 2 hour fire barrier installed due to both the area issue and the occupant load issue.

Correct? and Thank you all in advance and... Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[BSSTG]

Greetings

I would say if you have it nailed. Good trade too, 2 hour barrier versus sprinklers. I'll go with the barrier.

BS

 

[mtlogcabin]

You nailed it for the test question but in real world your A-2 OL for 4,000 sq ft should more than exceed the 100 max Ol for the fire area and require sprinklers anyway.

 

[BSSTG]

Probably right MT. Even with a really large kitchen and storage area the total occ load would be over 100. However, he did state that the occ #'s (these numbers are only for example)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

BS

 

[JBI]

Agreed. Non-separated = most restrictive. Simplest solution is probably the fire barrier to create separate fire areas and separated mixed uses.