Enclosing portion of existing pavilion. Unsure how to think about occupancy and sprinklers

[Fast_Edd1e]

Michigan Building Code 2021.
Have an existing outdoor pavilion. About 7,000 sf. Used for a farmers market. Simple open timber construction. Only has electrical hookups. No fire suppression or plumbing or anything. We are looking to demo half of it and attach an encosed A2 assembly space. This will have seating, bar, toilet rooms.

We have no documentation on how the original pavilion was classified. Im assuming that if we enclose half of it I will need to take the enclosed and un-enclosed square footage for my area calculations and occupancy? If we dont include it, we would need to keep a distance away from the existing to consider it a separate building.

Also, for A2, once we surpass 5,000 sf or 100 occupants, we need fire suppression. If we dont include the existing pavilion, we would be under 5,000 sf. Im guessing we are going to have to take into consideration the existing remaining pavilion and fire suppress it?

Is my thought process sound right?

 

[Fast_Edd1e]

The other way I am thinking about it would be thru the rehab code as an addition.

"An addition to a building or structure shall comply with the International Codes as adopted for new construction without requiring the existing building or structure to comply with any requirements of those codes or of these provisions, except as required by this chapter."

The original part of the pavilion to remain will not be a change of use. So I would only need to make sure the "addition" is to the current code.

 

[steveray]

Use a fire barrier at the new space separating it into 2 fire areas...

 

[Paul Sweet]

IBC 903.2.1.2 requires sprinklers throughout the story once you exceed 5000 SF or 100 occupants. A 3500 SF A2 is likely to have well over 100 occupants. You need a fire wall instead of a fire barrier

 

[steveray]

IBC 903.2.1.2 requires sprinklers throughout the story once you exceed 5000 SF or 100 occupants. A 3500 SF A2 is likely to have well over 100 occupants. You need a fire wall instead of a fire barrier

No...CT amendments and apparently a lot of legislators own restaurants >100

903.2.1.2​

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for fire areas containing Group A-2 occupancies and throughout all stories from the Group A-2 occupancy to and including the levels of exit discharge serving that occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:

1. 1.The fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet (464.5 m2).
   
   Exception: Existing restaurants in existing nonsprinklered buildings that were designated Use Group A-3 under a previous edition of the Connecticut State Building Code that undergo addition, alteration or change of occupancy that results in an increase in the restaurant’s fire area, provided the proposed fire area does not exceed 12,000 square feet.
2. 2.The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more or where the occupant load exceeds 100 or more in the following assembly occupancies:
   
   1. a.Dance halls
   2. b.Discotheques
   3. c.Nightclubs
   4. d.Assembly occupancies with festival seating
3. 3.The fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such occupancies.