Does my building need to be type II-A or type II-B

[buckie06]

Hello,
We are owner's rep to a school district and their architect is calling for two of the buildings to be type II-A, the other building is Type II-B. The owner wants them all to be Type II-B. I am far from a code expert so am hoping I can get some help here. How can we get these two buildings to be classified as type II-B? They are two story, non-compustable structure, sprinklered. About 60,000 sqft each. IBC 2024.

Any direction you can provide is appreciated!
thank you

 

[RLGA]

Assuming the buildings are strictly of Group E occupancies, the allowable area for a sprinklered, Type IIB building is 43,500 sq. ft. Even assuming a maximum frontage increase of 10,875 sq. ft., that would only allow a total area of 54,375 sq. ft.

A sprinklered Type IIA building allows an area of 70,500 sq. ft.

 

[buckie06]

Ah thank you RLGA,
thanks to your comment I'm looking at the allowable area table 506.
The building is A1 auditorium, A2 cafeteria, A4 gym and E education, all totaling 61,850 sqft

Even with the assembly spaces, do I have to be type II-A since I'm over total 43,500sqft?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Even with the assembly spaces, do I have to be type II-A since I'm over total 43,500sqft?

It depends on whether the architects treat the assembly and educational spaces as separated or non-separated mixed uses. It's not a "yes" or "no" question.

 

[RLGA]

The building is A1 auditorium, A2 cafeteria, A4 gym and E education, all totaling 61,850 sqft

Is that 61,850 sq. ft. per story or the total building area (i.e., ~30,925 sq. ft. per story)?

If the latter, then Type IIB construction might work for a nonseparated building.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

Assuming the buildings are strictly of Group E occupancies, the allowable area for a sprinklered, Type IIB building is 43,500 sq. ft. Even assuming a maximum frontage increase of 10,875 sq. ft., that would only allow a total area of 54,375 sq. ft.

A sprinklered Type IIA building allows an area of 70,500 sq. ft.

break up the single IIA building into two IIB buildings with a fire wall. This is what I do on all my school projects to stay with IIB construction

 

[Tim Mailloux]

It depends on whether the architects treat the assembly and educational spaces as separated or non-separated mixed uses. It's not a "yes" or "no" question.

the code requires no separation requirement between E and A occupancies (table 508.4). So you can use the separated mixed use approach / calculation and get a larger building than going the non separated route, and you don't have to provide rated fire barriers between the two occuapncies.

 

[steveray]

Are you taking an open perimeter increase? If you can max out the 75% increase you might get there...

 

[Tim Mailloux]

Are you taking an open perimeter increase? If you can max out the 75% increase you might get there...

IIRC i think it will max out in the mid to high 50K range

 

[steveray]

IIRC i think it will max out in the mid to high 50K range

Look at that...Ron said that in post 2....Missed it...

 

[ajmille305]

the code requires no separation requirement between E and A occupancies (table 508.4). So you can use the separated mixed use approach / calculation and get a larger building than going the non separated route, and you don't have to provide rated fire barriers between the two occuapncies.

I like this approach, you can likely get the area needed prior to accounting for any frontage.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

I like this approach, you can likely get the area needed prior to accounting for any frontage.

even with this approach my gut is telling me you still are not going to get to 60,0000 sqft.