Courtyards for a 'Unlimited Area Building'

[Ryan Schultz]

I could not find any, but wanted to ask, if anyone knows if there's any restrictions/limitations for internal courtyard sizes for an 'Unlimited Area Building'?

Basically, could you have an internal courtyard as big as you want, as long a the other requirements for an 'unlimited area building' are satisfied?

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/2009/icod_ibc_2009_5_sec007.htm

Thanks Much, Ryan

 

[RLGA]

Courtyards are not included in the building area, so even if the building was not of unlimited area, the courtyard could be of any size.

So, to answer your specific question, as long as the building meets the criteria for an unlimited building, the courtyard can be of any size.

 

[Ryan Schultz]

Thanks RLGA,

Per TABLE 602 all our exterior walls are >30ft away from other buildings--allowing us go with a 'zero' fire-rating.

However, do our exterior walls, within this courtyard fall under this table as well?

Or does this courtyard fall under the 'shaft enclosure' interpretation?

Per this old thread, it appears Table 602 does not apply, per your comment on September 23rd, 2012, 11:53.

Thanks Much, Ryan

 

[RLGA]

Table 602 applies to fire separation distance between the exterior walls and three possible lines: 1) interior lot line, 2) centerline of a street, an alley, or public way, and 3) an imaginary line betwee two buildings on the same property. None of those can be measured from an interior court wall if the court is completely surrounded by walls of the same building. Therefore, Table 602 is not applicable. If the court is U-shaped, the wall facing the open end of the court is subject to the distances in Table 602, since its location can be measured to any one of those three conditions.