Drug rehab facility occupancy classification

[Tim Mailloux]

Doing an internal code review for a new drug rehab facility, (2) stories, type IIB construction. The second floor of the facility contains bedrooms for 16 residents, toilet & bathing facilities and some staff accommodations, this floor is clearly an R-4 occupancy. The first floor contains supporting spaces such as group counseling rooms, dining facilities, fitness facilities and office spaces for staff and no sleeping / dwelling units . The project manager feels that the first floor is also part of the R-4 occupancy as all the spaces on the first floor support the R-4 occupancy above. I am not convinced, I could easily see this being a mixed use building with B, A-2 and A-3 on the first floor.

 

[steveray]

Mixed...Unless they are "naturally" separated by the R4? Or if you get the 750 gimmie for A...There is no B gimmie...Maybe S1 too...

SECTION 508
MIXED USE AND OCCUPANCY
508.1 General. Each portion of a building shall be individually
classified in accordance with Section 302.1. Where a
building contains more than one occupancy group, the building
or portion thereof shall comply with the applicable
provisions of Section 508.2, 508.3, 508.4 or 508.5, or a
combination of these sections.
Exceptions:
1. Occupancies separated in accordance with Section
510.
2. Where required by Table 415.6.5, areas of Group
H-1, H-2 and H-3 occupancies shall be located in
a detached building or structure.

 

[steveray]

And rehab is for quitters.......

 

[RLGA]

At most, it would probably be a Group B and Group R-4 mixed occupancy building, but there is support for the entire sleeping and support area to be classified as Group R-4.

A Group R-4 occupancy would encompass all the functions of a group home, much like Group R-3 occupancies typically include sleeping areas, dining areas, kitchens, living areas, storage areas, and home offices. This position has support in the Commentary:

"Where five to 16 residents live in a supervised environment and receive custodial care, such a facility is classified as Group R-4. Ninety-eight percent of households in the U.S. that identified themselves as a single-family household have less than 16 occupants. The 16-occupant limit is also consistent with the limits of an NFPA 13D sprinkler system. Thus, the limit of 16 residents was established as an appropriate limit, considering that this facility will operate similarly to a single-family home."​

Even if the B.O. does not support the single Group R-4 occupancy approach, it would be a Group B and Group R-4 mix. Since the number of residents is limited to 16, the likelihood that the dining rooms, group counseling rooms, and fitness rooms will exceed 49 occupants is nonexistent--even if you include all the staff and some guests. Thus, they would not meet the criteria for an assembly occupancy group per Section 302.1.2. If the spaces are less than 750 sq. ft., they can be considered either Group B or R-4; otherwise, they would be considered Group B.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

At most, it would probably be a Group B and Group R-4 mixed occupancy building, but there is support for the entire sleeping and support area to be classified as Group R-4.

A Group R-4 occupancy would encompass all the functions of a group home, much like Group R-3 occupancies typically include sleeping areas, dining areas, kitchens, living areas, storage areas, and home offices. This position has support in the Commentary:

"Where five to 16 residents live in a supervised environment and receive custodial care, such a facility is classified as Group R-4. Ninety-eight percent of households in the U.S. that identified themselves as a single-family household have less than 16 occupants. The 16-occupant limit is also consistent with the limits of an NFPA 13D sprinkler system. Thus, the limit of 16 residents was established as an appropriate limit, considering that this facility will operate similarly to a single-family home."​

Even if the B.O. does not support the single Group R-4 occupancy approach, it would be a Group B and Group R-4 mix. Since the number of residents is limited to 16, the likelihood that the dining rooms, group counseling rooms, and fitness rooms will exceed 49 occupants is nonexistent--even if you include all the staff and some guests. Thus, they would not meet the criteria for an assembly occupancy group per Section 302.1.2. If the spaces are less than 750 sq. ft., they can be considered either Group B or R-4; otherwise, they would be considered Group B.

The assembly type spaces on the first floor ( dinning, large group lounge & fitness area) are all each individually under 750SQ, but its an open concept plan and its essentially one large 2100sf carved up for several uses.

 

[RLGA]

The assembly type spaces on the first floor ( dinning, large group lounge & fitness area) are all each individually under 750SQ, but its an open concept plan and its essentially one large 2100sf carved up for several uses.

I would treat each functional area individually rather than as one large space. Nothing in the code states that a physical wall or partition must separate each function.