Difference between Change of Occ and Partial Change of Occ

[BillS]

Hello,

Re: 2009 IEBC 901.3.1, what is the intent here?

Is it that if only a portion of a building changes, then only Section 912 applies, and not 902-911? That seems to be the case when reading the difference between 901.3 and 901.3.1, but then if you read 904.1, 905.1, 906.1, etc. they all reference "portions of buildings." If this is not the case, then what's the difference between 901.3 and 901.3.1?

Thanks!

 

[Francis Vineyard]

Bill, to make sense of the IEBC sections quoted I'm going to presume all of the nines (9's) should be tens (10's).

Section "1001.31 does not mean that the remainder of the chapter is not applicable.

All of the sections mention "building or portions of an existing building". The intent of 1001.3.1 is to be a pointer to 1012.1.1, which establishes the extent of requirements of partial changes based on separation.

In reference to details note that there is a typo in 1001.2.1 that references chapter 4; it should reference chapter 5; this was corrected in the 2015 edition."

 

[BillS]

Thanks for your response, Francis!

But if the intent is that, for partial changes of occupancy, sections 902-912 all apply and not just 912, why do they not state that? It's unclear to me why they made a point of, for partial changes of occupancy, only specifically stating that 912 applies and ignoring 902-911.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

That's a question for the editors. Indeed all the sections are applicable, some are mandatory.

 

[JBI]

Francis, The Chapter 9 reference is probably due to the base document being a prior version of the IEBC, remember that a new Chapter 3 was included in 2009 or 2012 which 'pushed' all other chapters after that.

BillS, The key is in the text of Section 912.1, which should provide you with guidance (more or less...). Section 912 will limit the applicability of Chapter 9 with regard to partial versus complete change of occupancy. Section 902 through 911 are ALWAYS applicable where there is a change of 'use' that may or may not include a change of classification or sub-classification.
Example: A night club and a restaurant are both A-2 occupancies, but the risk is significantly higher in a night club, so the 'use' is inherently more dangerous. 902 through 911 will address those issues.
On the other hand a change from an A-2 to an A-3 may or may not result in a more dangerous occupancy, and 912 would apply.
As a practical matter several section in 902 through 911 send you directly to sub-sections in 912 anyway.
Really the purpose is to recognize that sometimes a change can occur that affects fire and life safety even the actual occupancy 'classification' is not changed.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

Francis, The Chapter 9 reference is probably due to the base document being a prior version of the IEBC, remember that a new Chapter 3 was included in 2009 or 2012 which 'pushed' all other chapters after that./QUOTE]
Hence the erroneous reference to chapter 4