Balcony

[Mr. Inspector]

I need to know if an existing balcony (mezzanine) is over 3,000 sq fr or not for accessibility because they are making it a little larger and adding two rows of seats on the top. This balcony has each row of seating elevated above the row in front. Like a stadium. An opening (no doors) in the middle of the balcony about 5 rows up from the lowest row of seats goes to the balcony lobby and restrooms that is over a lobby and restrooms on the 1st floor. There is only a small (about 2') elevation change with a ramp from the opening in the balcony going down to the balcony lobby. The balcony continues above this balcony lobby. I don't know how to measure the sq. ft of the whole mezzanine. Is the lobby and rest rooms part of the mezzanine? Do I count the part of the balcony that goes over this balcony lobby as a separate mezzanine?

 

[bill1952]

I need to know if an existing balcony (mezzanine) is over 3,000 sq fr or not for accessibility because they are making it a little larger and adding two rows of seats on the top. This balcony has each row of seating elevated above the row in front. Like a stadium. An opening (no doors) in the middle of the balcony about 5 rows up from the lowest row of seats goes to the balcony lobby and restrooms that is over a lobby and restrooms on the 1st floor. There is only a small (about 2') elevation change with a ramp from the opening in the balcony going down to the balcony lobby. The balcony continues above this balcony lobby. I don't know how to measure the sq. ft of the whole mezzanine. Is the lobby and rest rooms part of the mezzanine? Do I count the part of the balcony that goes over this balcony lobby as a separate mezzanine?

For assembly seating the determination if it's a mezzanine is usually based on seat count, not square feet, in my experience. I would say the balcony lobby is either a mezzanine to the main floor lobby if less than a third of main floor lobby, or if more it's a second floor.

 

[classicT]

Need to see what is going on. Do you have a plan sheet you can share?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

For assembly seating the determination if it's a mezzanine is usually based on seat count, not square feet, in my experience. I would say the balcony lobby is either a mezzanine to the main floor lobby if less than a third of main floor lobby, or if more it's a second floor.

Please provide the IBC section that says you go by the seat count. It does not say this for the definition of mezzanine.
The balcony lobby could not be a mezzanine to the main floor lobby because they are not open to each other, there is a solid floor between them.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Please provide the IBC section that says you go by the seat count. It does not say this for the definition of mezzanine.
The balcony lobby could not be a mezzanine to the main floor lobby because they are not open to each other, there is a solid floor between them.

Mezzanines can, and do, have solid floors. And mezzanines can be, and often are, enclosed.

It's all about reading the definition, and following the code path.

 

[bill1952]

Please provide the IBC section that says you go by the seat count. It does not say this for the definition of mezzanine.
The balcony lobby could not be a mezzanine to the main floor lobby because they are not open to each other, there is a solid floor between them.

In 2018 IBC, section 1108.2.4:

2. In multilevel assembly seating areas where the second floor or mezzanine level provides 25 percent or less of the total seating capacity and 300 or fewer seats, all wheelchair spaces shall be permitted to be located on the main level.

As far as balcony lobby, something you wrote made me think it was open to main floor lobby. Seems like a second floor. Whether the displays are a bona fide amenity is not easy to determine.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Whether the displays are a bona fide amenity is not easy to determine.

They have a sign on the first floor that says museum upstairs and they call it a museum in their website. I don't think it is my place to judge if it is a museum, it seems to meet any definition as a museum. Too me it seems like the whole 150-year-old theater is like a museum. Volunteers run the whole building and is nonprofit.