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Existing Commercial Bldg Construction Type

A

AREexams

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2013
Messages
11
Location
Orlando, FL
Hello,

I'm working on an interior remodel for an existing one story, fully sprinklered, commercial building. In the last remodel dated 2001, under SBC 1997, the building was listed as Construction Type II.

What would be the construction type under FBC 2010?

Thanks!
 
The 2001 remodel shows details for added structural steel to be 2-HR rated per UL Design X528C, but per site visit observations, these columns were exposed structure. Is there a chance that the rating is not required anymore under the new code?
 
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From the 1997 Standard Building Code, Ch. 6 - Construction Types,

Section 604 - Type II Construction: "Type II is construction in

which the structural members including exterior walls, interior

bearing walls, columns, beams, girders, trusses, arches, floors

and roofs are of non-combustible materials and are protected so

as to have fire resistance not less than that specified for the

structural elements as specified in Table 600............For interior

non-bearing partition requirements, see 704.2.............For

provisions governing combustibles concealed spaces, see 707."

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north star said:
> ~ ~ ~

From the 1997 Standard Building Code, Ch. 6 - Construction Types,

Section 604 - Type II Construction: "Type II is construction in

which the structural members including exterior walls, interior

bearing walls, columns, beams, girders, trusses, arches, floors

and roofs are of non-combustible materials and are protected so

as to have fire resistance not less than that specified for the

structural elements as specified in Table 600............For interior

non-bearing partition requirements, see 704.2.............For

provisions governing combustibles concealed spaces, see 707."

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Click to expand...
Thank you all for your help!

North Star,

Is there a link to 1997 SBC where I can lookup the sections you mentioned?

Thank you...
 
~ $ ~ $ ~

AREexams,

No !.......I have the standard at home........Please send me a PM with your e-mail address,

and I can either do some scanning of the sections you're needing, or I will type them

into an e-mail and send them back to you.

~ $ ~ $ ~
 
Key Point:

In 2001 remodel, the drawings show 4-HR fire rated partitions between the tenant in subject and the adjacent tenants on both sides. They were not called as Fire Walls.

Do these partitions provide the separation required to consider this portion of the shopping center as an independent building? Were there considered, per definition, under SBC 1997 as what FBC 2010 define as Fire Walls?

If the answer is yes, I can start with allowable area of 12,500 for Type IIB and run the area modification calculations taking advantage of the area increase allowed under FBC 2010 section 506, for the sprinkler system (Is) and the frontage (If), to reach the conclusion that we are under the modified allowable area of Type IIB which requires no protection therefore we can re-classify the construction type as Type IIB.

Thanks again!
 
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From the `97 SBC, Ch. 2 - Definitions, FIRE WALL: "A 4 hour fire resistant wall, having

protective openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the

foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to

allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall."



From the `10 FBC, Ch. 7, Section 702.1 FIRE WALL: "A fire-resistance-rated wall having

protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the

foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to

allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall."

What is the actual condition of this 4 hr. rated partition ?.....Is is a true separated wall [ by

definition ], or just a partition ( i.e. - does your existing conditions meet the Letter of either

of the codes above ? ) ?





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= # = # =



AREexams,

I am reading your e-mail and digesting your info.

Please allow me some time to research your questions.

E-mail, or PM me if you want.

Thanks !



= # = # =
 
north star said:
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From the `97 SBC, Ch. 2 - Definitions, FIRE WALL: "A 4 hour fire resistant wall, having

protective openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the

foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to

allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall."



From the `10 FBC, Ch. 7, Section 702.1 FIRE WALL: "A fire-resistance-rated wall having

protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the

foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to

allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall."

What is the actual condition of this 4 hr. rated partition ?.....Is is a true separated wall [ by

definition ], or just a partition ( i.e. - does your existing conditions meet the Letter of either

of the codes above ? ) ?





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Click to expand...
No they don't. They are called out to be constructed per UL Design U463, which is a floor to ceiling partition.
 
I would think you would also have to evaluated if it meets the condition of

706.6 Vertical continuity.

Fire walls shall extend from the foundation to a termination point at least 30 inches (762 mm) above both adjacent roofs.

or can determine if it meets one of the exceptions.
 
If only built as a partition - to the ceiling - then it does not 'separate' but they could be extended to create fire 'barriers' as long as they comply.
 
% | % | %



In reviewing the various sections in the `97 SBC, ...I do not see where a

true, rated fire wall was even required between different occupants of

the Mercantile occupancy group, and certainly not a 4 hr. rated fire wall

or partitions.



% | % | %
 


[TD=align: center] 2001 Florida Building Code

[/TD]

[TD=align: center] 2010 Florida Building Code [/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type I[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type I-A[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type II[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type I-B[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type III[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type IV[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type IV 1-hour Protected[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type II-A[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type IV Unprotected[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type II-B[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type V 1-hour Protected[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type III-A[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type V Unprotected[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type III-B[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type VI 1-hour Protected[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type V-A[/TD]



[TD=align: center]Type VI Unprotected[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Type V-B

[/TD]


This is from the 2010 FBC Existing Building Appendix D. A 2001 Type II is a 2010 Type I-B.
 
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FWIW, ...as I understand it, the original structure was designed & built under the

`97 Standard Building Code, in 2001.



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