Location is California, 2 story Type V-B commercial office building was constructed in the 1960's. It looks like over time the electrical room inside the building became too small and an additional electrical room was created for the main switch gear and meter sections. This room was built on the outside of the building with just a single common wall between them. The other three walls are exterior walls with one of them having the access door. The common wall between the electrical room and office building is masonry. The other three exterior walls are wood framed and never had an interior finish material. All of these walls have exposed floor framing on the interior.
A remodel to the office building is underway and an inspection violation was just given regarding the lack of the electrical room being fire rated. I am not able to find the 1 hour rated requirement in the CBC. My initial thought would be that only the common wall between the office building and electrical room may/would need to be fire rated, but the three exterior walls would not need to be rated.
What do you gentlemen think?
A remodel to the office building is underway and an inspection violation was just given regarding the lack of the electrical room being fire rated. I am not able to find the 1 hour rated requirement in the CBC. My initial thought would be that only the common wall between the office building and electrical room may/would need to be fire rated, but the three exterior walls would not need to be rated.
What do you gentlemen think?
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