Gas canopy use?

[steveray]

Does anyone really consider these an M or is it just a Ch. 31 Canopy? I have one associated with another building that needs to be sprinklered and I am not sure it has the FSD to be a separate building and not sprinklered...For the record, commercial fleet facility maintaining their own trucks...

309.1​

Mercantile Group M occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and where the public has access. Mercantile occupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Department stores
• Drug stores
• Markets
• Greenhouses for display and sale of plants that provide public access.
• Motor fuel-dispensing facilities

Automotive, fleet-vehicle, marine and self-service fuel-dispensing facilities, as defined in the IFC, are classified in the mercantile occupancy, as are the convenience stores often associated with such occupancies [see Commentary Figure 309.1(2)]. Quick-lube, tune-up, muffler and tire shops are not included in this classification. Those facilities that typically conduct automotive service and repair work are treated as a repair garage (Group S-1, also defined in the IFC).

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

We recently permitted a canopy for a new 7-Eleven store in town. The boss classified it as M. I think I probably would have classified it as U.

SECTION 312
UTILITY AND MISCELLANEOUS GROUP U
312.1 General. Buildings and structures of an accessory character
and miscellaneous structures not classified in any
specific occupancy shall be constructed, equipped and maintained
to conform to the requirements of this code
commensurate with the fire and life hazard incidental to their
occupancy. Group U shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:

 

[steveray]

We recently permitted a canopy for a new 7-Eleven store in town. The boss classified it as M. I think I probably would have classified it as U.

Problem being If I call it anything it likely has to be sprinklered...it's only 8' away from the B/S1 building...

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

We didn't have that to worry about. The 7-Eleven didn't need sprinklers.

My thought to call it U was a knee-jerk reaction. I actually think the boss was correct to call it an M occupancy. It's hard to argue that the gas pumps aren't part of a fuel dispensing facility. I assume it has an automatic extinguishing system for the canopy at the pumps. Can they get a modification to consider that the equivalent of being sprinklered?

 

[steveray]

Adding some code sections for reference:

9.2.3.2*
Sprinklers shall be permitted to be omitted where the exterior canopies, roofs, porte-cocheres, balconies, decks, and similar projections are constructed with materials that are noncombustible, limited-combustible, or fire retardant–treated wood as defined in NFPA 703, or where the projections are constructed utilizing a noncombustible frame, limited-combustibles, or fire retardant–treated wood with an inherently flame-resistant fabric overlay as demonstrated by Test Method 2 in accordance with NFPA 701.

We didn't have that to worry about. The 7-Eleven didn't need sprinklers.

My thought to call it U was a knee-jerk reaction. I actually think the boss was correct to call it an M occupancy. It's hard to argue that the gas pumps aren't part of a fuel dispensing facility. I assume it has an automatic extinguishing system for the canopy at the pumps. Can they get a modification to consider that the equivalent of being sprinklered?

But for private fueling not retail sales and not "open to the public" I just really don't see it as an M....Which does not really solve my problem....But anyway...

 

[steveray]

Blast from the past brought this up:

[F] 414.6.1 Weather Protection​

Where weather protection is provided for sheltering outdoor hazardous material storage or use areas, such areas shall be considered outdoor storage or use where the weather protection structure complies with Sections 414.6.1.1through 414.6.1.3.