MeganMcNC
REGISTERED
Working on a plan for a full-floor office tenant (~24k SF). Pretty typical user and with a full floor office space they want/need a larger conference room and break room (larger than 50 occupants). The two rooms are about 1,000 SF each, nothing too huge. The issue I am running into is when I run the occupant load for the floor (A-3 15/SF pp in the two larger assembly areas and B everywhere else 100 SF/pp), the occupant load is exceeding the allowed width of the existing stair (and door) widths per 1005.3.1 and 1005.3.2 in NC Building Code.
However, I think I may be grammatically reading the code incorrectly.
Does the exception mean that if the building has a sprinkler system according to Section 903.3.1.1 alone, then we can use the larger capacity calc?
And then there is another option if it has a sprinkler system according to 903.3.1.2 AND a voice alarm system that is another way to use the larger capacity calc? Basically trying to make sure if the sprinkler system is per 903.3.1.1 (more robust than the other sprinkler system noted) it doesn't have to also have the voice alarm system to use the exception calc.
I feel like there should be a comma somewhere in there to help clarify what part of the sentence the 903.3.1.2 belongs to
4 story building, Type IB, sprinklered NFPA 13, Wet, Fire Alarm system.
NC Code reference:
1005.3.1 Stairways. The capacity, in inches, of means of egress stairways shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such stairways by a means of egress capacity factor of 0.3 inch (7.6 mm) per occupant. Where stairways serve more than one story, only the occupant load of each story considered individually shall be used in calculating the required capacity of the stairways serving that story.
Exceptions: 1. For other than Group H and I-2 occupancies, the capacity, in inches, of means of egress stairways shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such stairways by a means of egress capacity factor of 0.2 inch (5.1 mm) per occupant in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and an emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.
However, I think I may be grammatically reading the code incorrectly.
Does the exception mean that if the building has a sprinkler system according to Section 903.3.1.1 alone, then we can use the larger capacity calc?
And then there is another option if it has a sprinkler system according to 903.3.1.2 AND a voice alarm system that is another way to use the larger capacity calc? Basically trying to make sure if the sprinkler system is per 903.3.1.1 (more robust than the other sprinkler system noted) it doesn't have to also have the voice alarm system to use the exception calc.
I feel like there should be a comma somewhere in there to help clarify what part of the sentence the 903.3.1.2 belongs to
4 story building, Type IB, sprinklered NFPA 13, Wet, Fire Alarm system.
NC Code reference:
1005.3.1 Stairways. The capacity, in inches, of means of egress stairways shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such stairways by a means of egress capacity factor of 0.3 inch (7.6 mm) per occupant. Where stairways serve more than one story, only the occupant load of each story considered individually shall be used in calculating the required capacity of the stairways serving that story.
Exceptions: 1. For other than Group H and I-2 occupancies, the capacity, in inches, of means of egress stairways shall be calculated by multiplying the occupant load served by such stairways by a means of egress capacity factor of 0.2 inch (5.1 mm) per occupant in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 and an emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.
