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Does this wall need to be rated?

J

JPohling

SAWHORSE
Joined
Aug 16, 2011
Messages
1,692
Location
San Diego
California Building Code 2022
Type V-B non sprinklered.
B occupancy

We are working on a project that had an electrical room planted on the front of the building sometime in the 70's. The electrical room was constructed under the existing flat roof overhang. The overhang and the electrical room long wall are on the property line. This is a front property line along the public sidewalk and street.

The inspector is suggesting that this electrical room needs to be 1-hour fire rated. There is no electrical reason for any rating. I was concerned about the distance to the property line as that is essentially zero. But from what I am seeing in Chapter 7 is that the Fire Separation Distance along this property line is actually to the center line of the street. From table 705.5 between 5-10 feet separation would require 1 hour exterior wall rating. Any separation above 10' would not require a rated exterior wall.

Am I missing something? We are greater than 10' from the interior property line to the adjacent left side wall more than 30' to the front wall if the FSD is measured to the CL of the street. snip below. That is the building switch gear inside the room.

Thank you, John

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Those are about the only two thresholds I could think of that might justify a fire rating requirement. I'd suggest that if they're requiring it they would need to provide a code justification. If they're suggesting it then you can decide if you (or your client) can afford this optional upgrade, or ask the inspector if they want to pay for it. ;)
 
Our intention is to provide them with the code requirements and analysis to show that a non rated exterior wall is compliant
 
ICE said:
No. Note that the door to the enclosure shall have panic hardware.
Click to expand...

2022 CA Building Code - 1010.2.9.2 Rooms With Electrical Equipment​

Exit or exit access doors serving transformer vaults, rooms designated for batteries or energy storage systems, or modular data centers shall be equipped with panic hardware or fire exit hardware. Rooms containing electrical equipment rated 800 amperes or more that contain overcurrent devices, switching devices or control devices and where the exit or exit access door is less than 25 feet (7620 mm) from the equipment working space as required by NFPA 70, such doors shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware. The doors shall swing in the direction of egress travel.
 
I would be more concerned with the door rating as well. NFPA would be the authority here. Have you asked the fire Marshall?
 
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