Drinking fountain in adjacent building within 500 ft

[Kevin]

IBC 2018 - 2902.5 Drinking Fountain Location​

Drinking fountains shall not be required to be located in individual tenant spaces provided that public drinking fountains are located within a distance of travel of 500 feet (152 m) of the most remote location in the tenant space and not more than one story above or below the tenant space. Where the tenant space is in a covered or open mall, such distance shall not exceed 300 feet (91 440 mm). Drinking fountains shall be located on an accessible route.

I have a situation where we have a maintenance building adjacent to a small office building. The maintenance building calcs out to 23 people even though it's mostly storage occupancy w/ 1 office. It's about 100 ft from the office building that will have a high/low drinking fountain. Would the above code section still apply if the fountain is in the neighboring building and within 500 ft distance on an accessible path?

I've been shot down before in similar scenarios with bathrooms on adjacent floors and would love to hear some opinions. Thank you.

 

[mtlogcabin]

[P] 2902.6 Small occupancies.
Drinking fountains shall not be required for an occupant load of 15 or fewer.

1004.5 Areas without fixed seating.
The number of occupants shall be computed at the rate of one occupant per unit of area as prescribed in Table 1004.5. For areas without fixed seating, the occupant load shall be not less than that number determined by dividing the floor area under consideration by the occupant load factor assigned to the function of the space as set forth in Table 1004.5. Where an intended function is not listed in Table 1004.5, the building official shall establish a function based on a listed function that most nearly resembles the intended function.

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.

Can you get the BO to lower the OL (actual employees in that building)? Does that building have it's own toilet facility?

 

[SCBO1]

Is the maintenance building open to the public or open at the same time as the office?

A bottle filler or bottled water dispenser is sometimes approved by the BO? This younger generation likes the bottle fillers!

 

[Kevin]

[P] 2902.6 Small occupancies.
Drinking fountains shall not be required for an occupant load of 15 or fewer.

1004.5 Areas without fixed seating.
The number of occupants shall be computed at the rate of one occupant per unit of area as prescribed in Table 1004.5. For areas without fixed seating, the occupant load shall be not less than that number determined by dividing the floor area under consideration by the occupant load factor assigned to the function of the space as set forth in Table 1004.5. Where an intended function is not listed in Table 1004.5, the building official shall establish a function based on a listed function that most nearly resembles the intended function.

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.

Can you get the BO to lower the OL (actual employees in that building)? Does that building have it's own toilet facility?

Yes, the maintenance building will have it's own toilet and the BO might accept the lower OL.

 

[Kevin]

Is the maintenance building open to the public or open at the same time as the office?

A bottle filler or bottled water dispenser is sometimes approved by the BO? This younger generation likes the bottle fillers!

yes, maintenance building will always have access to office building. DF will be located in lobby open 24/7.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

Yes, the maintenance building will have it's own toilet

your wording here makes it sound like this is a new maintenance building. If so install a drinking fountain and be done with it.