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Commercial Repair Garages

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globe trekker

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Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
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I have plans for a "new" auto dealership with 2 separate bldgs.

One bldg. is the Sales / Showroom bldg. and the other is the repair

shop/garage.

What occupant load would I use for the Shop Areas ( referring to

Table 1004.1.1 in the 2006 IBC )?

The Gross Area of the Shop is 4,200 sq. ft., Type II-B, fully

sprinkled. Approx. 3,670 is actual Shop Area. Other accessory

spaces inside this same bldg. [ approx. 530 sq. ft ] include a

Waiting Area, with a transaction counter & customer waiting

area, 1 unisex restroom for the customers and 1 unisex for

the employees.

Thanks ya'll! :)

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Thanks fatboy for your input!

I am, however, seeking the "occupant load" criteria, not the Occupany

Group types.

What Occupant Load values would be applied, ..using Table 1004.1.1?

Thanks!

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I'm looking at / kinda leaning towards "Business areas" from Table 1004.1.1,

..100 sq. ft. per person.

From Section 304.1 - Business Group B occupancy includes, among others,

the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for office, professional

or service-type transactions, including storage of records and accounts.

Business occupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Airport traffic control towers

Animal hospitals, kennels and pounds

Banks

Barber and beauty shops

Car wash

Civic administration

Clinic—outpatient

Dry cleaning and laundries: pick-up and delivery stations and self-service

Educational occupancies for students above the 12th grade

Electronic data processing

Laboratories: testing and research

Motor vehicle showrooms

Post offices

Print shops

Professional services (architects, attorneys, dentists, physicians, engineers, etc.)

Radio and television stations

Telephone exchanges

Training and skill development not within a school or academic program"

In spite of what some may think of them, but "some" mechanics are

professionals! :)

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Sorry, glanced at it, saw what I wanted, sheesh.

200 is also for a parking garage, add in tools and workspace, I don't think 300 would be out of the question.
 
Also see Section 406.6 Repair Garages

• Mixed uses section 508.3

• Ventilation IMC

• Floor Surface

• Heating Equipment IMC

• Gas Detection
 
mark h.,

I'm not sure that I can make the segue from an "H-5" type classified structure

[ from Table 1004.1.1 ] to say 200 sq. ft. per person. I actually like the

designation of F-1 more, but "Motor vehicle repair garages" ARE listed in the

S-1 occupancy group, unless hazardous material quantities are planned to be

exceeded.

fatboy,

No problem! Always glad to have your input! :D

Also, from where did you obtain the "300" from ?

Also, FWIW, an RDP DID prepare the submitted plans! He has not

addressed this Occupant Loading conundrum, ...yet!

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It's a far reach, but mechanical equipment room.....?? There really isn't a decent one to hang your hat on. Like I said, if you assign 200 for parking a car, wouldn't you think a repair area needs a bit more room than that? One could hang their hat on 104.11 if some reasoning was provided.
 
1004.1.1

Where an intended use is not listed in Table 1004.1.1, the building official shall establish a use based on a listed use that most nearly resembles the intended use.

Exception: Where approved by the building official, the actual number of occupants for whom each occupied space, floor or building is designed, although less than those determined by calculation, shall be permitted to be used in the determination of the design occupant load.
 
fatboy & mark h.,

I agree on the statements you submitted! I will be the one to "sell the idea"

to our BO, ..won't be a problem there! I am interested to see what the RDP

gives as a Occupancy Group type and the Occu. Load used.

To be continued...

Again, "thanks" for your input! :)

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Do they have a part area, work stations for brakes drums to be cut, assembly of trans or other items? If you use 200 per person you are close and conservative.

HE will return one day!
 
Don't over think this one. How many work stations/stalls are there? You could double the number and be safe. How many 3'0" doors? Each one will account for over 150 occupants. Remember Table 104.1.1 is for determining egress requirerments. If you have more than 2 exits from the shop area there should be no problem.

What are your concerns for nailing down a specific occupant number?
 
Having Designed a few auto dealers in my time and now inspecting several more, as Bus (mini) Transit / repai stations,

massive airport parking structures (200 per person si about 1.5 occupants per car) space and aisle is abot 300 sf / car

as far as auto dealer - Parts room = warehouse so 500 sf / worker

service area 1 car usually 10 feet wide at lifts, plus bench plus access aisle = 300 sf- per worker so storage use S-1 is right on the money

repair station is lift, bench, and 1 worker

car sale area is most close to mercantile but 30 / occupant is insane so is businees B at 100

a ten car showroom pushing 3000 sf M= 100 B = 30 so B wins in my book
 
My take on the "repair garage".

S-1 for repair part of shop, B for office and M for parts.

Occupant load would be calculated on stalls size (I would allow 1 per 300 if the space is around that size) so 12 employees. Note:All bets are off if it the smart car size since would have smaller spaces.

Break the other down per B for office and use Warehouse for parts room.

Showroom I'd still give them some slack as to where the cars are parked. Count the office space as the rest. If there's a parts use the warehouse number for that area.

Jusst for the record the local Harley Dealer is 50,000 sq ft and divided up the same way. Only assembly room was the "Hog" room and they agreed to limit the area to less than 49 people saving many headaches.
 
I agree with Mtlogcabin, keep it simply. 1004 is for determining egress requirements. For the case presented; 4200 sq ft with 3670 sq ft shop. One exit door of minimum width of 32", in a nonsprinklered bldg would provide egress for 160 person. For the square footage provided that's 22.9375 sq ft per person. Since the hazard is the vehicle with the gasoline or other fuel, I personally would use the parking garage (200 sq ft /person gross) number if there were any questions.
 
globe trekker said:
........Also, from where did you obtain the "300" from ?
Here's where I figure the 300 from.

Our Zoning requires a 9x20 for a parking. So figure a car in a bay would be all that plus area to walk around would easy run another 3 ft per side making the space 15x26 or well over the 300. Figure that could be reasonable if the designer makes a point of listing it like so.

Never really had any problems with car dealerships telling me how they wanted their shop set up and usually had more exits than needed and no problems with getting restrooms for their clients and workers. Fact is some want seperate restrooms/showers/lockers for their employees.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
"Industrial areas100 gross"

Really? I don't think that is a realistic expectation........

vehicle+lift+tools+working space+mechanic=100 s.f.?

Doesn't compute.............JMHO
 
As a follow up to the OP, there are 9 separate bays designed for the Shop bldg,

plus an accessory Customer Waiting Area / Transaction Counter, plus 1 unisex

restroom for the customers making arrangements for their vehicles. There is 1

unisex restroom for the Shop area employees, ..so far! Thanks " steveray " for

the reminder of the 15+ occupant load calcs. & the separate restrooms.

Realistically, that probably won't fly! While it is a code requirement, the

"powers-that-be" will probably NOT require the 2nd restroom for the Shop

employees, ..regardless of the occ. load. It is what it is folks ( i.e - too

politically sensitive, ..obstructionistic, ..not business friendly, ..too much

of a cost burden to the owner, etc., etc ). Ya'll know the drill!

mtlogcabin,

My intent in the OP was to check the egress door requirements for the

Shop Bldg., hence I needed to calculate an Occ. Load and check the

door requirements. Since the Shop Bldg. will be fully sprinkled,

the allowable egress distance is o.k., so they will only need 1 door

from the Shop Areas. They have 9 separate roll-up doors, ..1 in to

each bay, .. 1 regular door into the Customer Waiting Area and 1

regular door out of the shop.

I'm still contemplating the "square foot per occupant loading" thingy

and will include it in my comments back to the RDP. His eyes will

bug out when I add the comment on the ( Shop employees ) separate

sex restrooms. :D

Very interesting topic and great input & discussion.

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If I may, I have another question in regard to the "Separate Sex" restroom

requirements.

From the 2006 IBC, Section P2902 - Separate Facilities."Where plumbing fixtures

are required, separate facilities shall be provided for each sex. [P]

Exceptions:

1. Separate facilities shall not be required for dwelling units and sleeping units.

2. Separate facilities shall not be required in structures or tenant spaces with a

total occupant load, including both employees and customers, of 15 or less.

3. Separate facilities shall not be required in mercantile occupancies in which

the maximum occupant load is 50 or less.

QUESTION: Would Section P2902.4.1 [ `06 IBC ] be applicable here, if the

Occ. Load for the Shop Bldg., required a separate restroom for the women,

but an ADA compliant women's restroom were in the Sales Bldg., ...less

than 500 ft. away? Would a separate sex restroom now be required in the

Shop Bldg.?

2006 IBC, Section P2902.4.1 - Location of toilet facilities in occupancies

other than covered malls."In occupancies other than covered malls, the

required public and employee toilet facilities shall be located not more than

one story above or below the space required to be provided with toilet

facilities and the path of travel to such facilities shall not exceed a distance

of 500 feet (152 m). [P]

Exception: The location and maximum travel distances to required employee

facilities in factory and industrial occupancies are permitted to exceed that

required by this section, provided that the location and maximum travel

distance are approved."

Thanks ya'll! :)

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