Enlarging a stage in an auditorium

[Simonsays]

The facts: an existing school building acquired by the current owners years ago, 2B construction, with an auditorium as an A1 occupancy classification, an existing stage of 1,300 square feet in area, potential occupant load on stage of around 260, that wants to be expanded by 880 square feet into the front of the auditorium. In my review, I'm asking for info on sprinklers, standpipe, emergency ventilation, and stage egress access doors that swing open in the direction of egress. The owner poo-poos my review, claiming the building has undergone annual certifications by "local authorities" without issue. I await your thoughts.

 

[classicT]

Is there a question buried in there? Sounds like you know what needs to be done and the owner doesn't like that.

Ya know, I have worked with a number of design professionals who seem to have a failure to recognize they can turn a job down. Owner won't listen and wants you to go against code - don't work for them. Turn the job down. I mean, what is your other option? Fight the owner at every turn, compromise your own ethics? If you think turning work down will get you a bad review from the perspective customer, just imagine what that perspective customer will say when you submit for the project and the AHJ indicates that past actions have resulted in an unsafe condition and safety must be addressed immediately.

 

[steveray]

Sprinklers are the only thing there I don't necessarily think has a driver/ upgrade on enlarging an existing stage......

 

[bill1952]

AOR or owner should retain a theatre consultant. I'm a retired theatre consultant - over 100 theatres - so not me. If I knew where you were, I might suggest some. You/they can find a list here: www.theatreconsultants.org

The Life Safety Code and I thought the International Fire Code required all stages over 1000 sf to be fire sprinklered. Retroactively if existing. I don't know what the IEBC says, but I think a mistake to not sprinkler it.

Unfortunately I can't login to My ICC but believe occupant load is 1 per 15 sf - so 146 for existing plus new? 2 MOE, and 2 accessible MOE. Yes, outswinging in direction of egress.

Need to know stage height for fire safety curtain - stage floor to highest point of roof deck. If over 50' - required. Guessing not.

Stand pipes over 1000 sf BUT that goes away in 2024! These were always intended for occupant fire fighting, and should have been dropped around WW II. We don't expect occupants - especially in a school - to stay and fight fires.

Accessibility will be a challenge.

That's a start.

I'd like to know which local authorities certify it annually.

 

[JPohling]

Floor live load requirements for an A as well

 

[Simonsays]

Forgot to note the project is in Ohio which uses its version of the 2015 IBC.

 

[bill1952]

I have about 10 projects in Ohio. There's nothing I said that I'd change because of Ohio. I did find the financing and control of the state bureaucracy burdensome, but most of my projects were locally funded initiatives, so a lot more room.

I believe Ohio does adopt the Life Safety Code which does require sprinkling existing stages.

The owner "poo-pooing" your review is unfortunate. They'll pay for it someday and still insist they're right. Superintendent probably calls it a "thee- A-tor" rather than a thee-uh-tr.

And reread of your first post, a stage over 1000 sf requires ventilation - typically "Bilcos" in the roof over the stage. For your 2180 sf of stage, about 109 sf, or three of them in the 5'x8' range. Most of the words in the codes on this are based on ones I drafted in late 1980s, so happy to help.