ThatOneGuy
Registered User
Hello all,
IBC 2015. Designing an office building with an attached warehouse. Office building is roughly 11,000 SF, warehouse is roughly 3,000. Trying to determine separation requirements and avoid needing fire sprinklers.
Interpretation 1: No fire-rating required between warehouse and office.
Justification: Table 508.4 says NR for a B-to-S1 separated occupancy. 903.2.9 says sprinklers only required where S-1 area is >12,000. Three is less than twelve, good to go.
Interpretation 2: A 3-hour wall is required between warehouse and office.
Justification: 903.2.9 uses the defined term FIRE AREA when listing the 12,000 SF limit. Chapter 2 defines fire area as bounded by exterior walls or rated construction (paraphrasing for brevity). Then follow to Table 707.3.10 for ratings required "between fire areas". S-1 requires 3 hours, and the paragraph above clarifies that in mixed occupancy the highest rating applies. Without this 3-hr wall the fire area is 14,000 and sprinklers would be required.
Interpretation 2 seems the more technically correct to me, but it also seems to be missing the point. The warehouse is only 3,000 SF but still has to count the entire building footprint of 14k in the fire area? Unless the building is split into two parts by (probably) a big block wall.
Looking forward to your opinions on the interpretations here.
IBC 2015. Designing an office building with an attached warehouse. Office building is roughly 11,000 SF, warehouse is roughly 3,000. Trying to determine separation requirements and avoid needing fire sprinklers.
Interpretation 1: No fire-rating required between warehouse and office.
Justification: Table 508.4 says NR for a B-to-S1 separated occupancy. 903.2.9 says sprinklers only required where S-1 area is >12,000. Three is less than twelve, good to go.
Interpretation 2: A 3-hour wall is required between warehouse and office.
Justification: 903.2.9 uses the defined term FIRE AREA when listing the 12,000 SF limit. Chapter 2 defines fire area as bounded by exterior walls or rated construction (paraphrasing for brevity). Then follow to Table 707.3.10 for ratings required "between fire areas". S-1 requires 3 hours, and the paragraph above clarifies that in mixed occupancy the highest rating applies. Without this 3-hr wall the fire area is 14,000 and sprinklers would be required.
Interpretation 2 seems the more technically correct to me, but it also seems to be missing the point. The warehouse is only 3,000 SF but still has to count the entire building footprint of 14k in the fire area? Unless the building is split into two parts by (probably) a big block wall.
Looking forward to your opinions on the interpretations here.