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Gas station pump area - H occupancy?

S

Shams Gannon

GREENHORN
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Messages
47
Location
Austin Texas
What section of the I-Codes designates the occupancy of the pump area of a gas station? I reviewed IBC 406.2 and 406.7, and 309.3 indicates this is a Mercantile occupancy… but I have a hard time believing that the pump area is also considered an M occ.

Background - a client is asking if it is possible to place an R-2 apartment above the canopy of their gas station. My initial reaction was ‘of course not’ but I’m now looking for the code section that justifies this response.

Thanks!
 
The numbers might be different in your codes, but generally start with Section 307 to see if it qualifies as H based on your codes. My code has this provision:

[F] 307.1.1 Uses other than Group H. An occupancy that
stores, uses or handles hazardous materials as described in
one or more of the following items shall not be classified
as Group H, but shall be classified as the occupancy that it
most nearly resembles.
2. Wholesale and retail sales and storage of flammable
and combustible liquids in mercantile occupancies
conforming to the California Fire Code.

Chapter 23 of the CA Fire Code regulates Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages which says (among other things):

SECTION 2303
LOCATION OF DISPENSING DEVICES
2303.1 Location of dispensing devices. Dispensing devices shall be located as follows:
  1. Ten feet (3048 mm) or more from lot lines.
  2. Ten feet (3048 mm) or more from buildings having combustible exterior wall surfaces or buildings having noncombustible exterior wall surfaces that are not part of a 1-hour fire-resistance-rated assembly or buildings having combustible overhangs.
    Exception: Canopies constructed in accordance with the California Building Code providing weather protection for the fuel islands.
  3. Such that all portions of the vehicle being fueled will be on the premises of the motor fuel-dispensing facility.
  4. Such that the nozzle, where the hose is fully extended, will not reach within 5 feet (1524 mm) of building openings.
  5. Twenty feet (6096 mm) or more from fixed sources of ignition.
  6. Such that fuel dispensing is in view of the attendant at attended self-service motor fuel-dispensing facilities, as required by Section 2304.2.4.

And CBC Chapter 4 has this:

406.7.2 Canopies. Canopies under which fuels are
dispensed shall have a clear, unobstructed height of not
less than 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm) to the lowest projecting
element in the vehicle drive-through area. Canopies
and their supports over pumps shall be of noncombustible
materials, fire-retardant-treated wood complying with
Chapter 23, heavy timber complying with Section 2304.11
or construction providing I-hour fire resistance. Combustible
materials used in or on a canopy shall comply with
one of the following:
1. Shielded from the pumps by a noncombustible element
of the canopy, or heavy timber complying with
Section 2304.11.
2. Plastics covered by aluminum facing having a thickness
of not less than 0.010 inch (0.30 mm) or corrosion-
resistant steel having a base metal thickness of
not less than 0.016 inch (0.41 mm). The plastic shall
have a flame spread index of 25 or less and a smoke-developed
index of 450 or less when tested in the
form intended for use in accordance with ASTM
E84 or UL 723 and a self-ignition temperature of
650°F (343°C) or greater when tested in accordance
with ASTM D1929.
3. Panels constructed of light-transmitting plastic materials
shall be permitted to be installed in canopies
erected over motor vehicle fuel-dispensing station
fuel dispensers, provided that the panels are located
not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from any building on
the same lot and face yards or streets not less than 40
feet (12 192 mm) in width on the other sides. The
aggregate areas of plastics shall be not greater than
1,000 square feet (93 m2). The maximum area of any
individual panel shall be not greater than 100 square
feet (9.3 m2).
 
Shams Gannon said:
R-2 apartment above the canopy of their gas station
Click to expand...
Even if they did it, I can't imagine anyone renting it. I was gassing up when a Corvette drove in. I have no idea what it had for an engine but my first thought was that a train locomotive was here.
 
My father may have been the unluckiest person in the world when it came to gas stations. Survived two fires decades ago, one where a car ran off the road and hit the pump he was standing at...boom. Another a person forgot to remove the dispenser form the tank and drove off....boom. Both times he came away relatively unscathed, lost some facial hair, and one was so instantly hot it fused his reading glasses to his polyester suit. Just ONE of the reasons I don't wear polyester suits, and would never rent an apartment over a fuel pump.
 
Thanks @Joe.B , that’s pretty much what I found as well.

Mr. Inspector said:
Motor fuel-dispensing facilities in under section 406.7 in 2018 IBC under the Motor-Vehicle-Related Occupancies which are usually a Group S.
Click to expand...
I’m seeing under 309.3 Motor fuel-dispensing facilities described as an M use. It can’t possibly be that they only require a 1hr separation (Table 508.4 M/R(s) separation) right? What about @Sifu ’s father?! I wouldn’t want to be protected by only a 1 hr separation from either of those events.
 
The answer is within the definitions and what is addressed in the codes.
An apartment would be a building by definition The code only mentions canopies with regards to re-fueling stations.

[BG] CANOPY. A permanent structure or architectural projection of rigid construction over which a covering is attached that provides weather protection, identity or decoration. A canopy is permitted to be structurally independent or supported by attachment to a building on one or more sides.

[A] BUILDING. Any structure utilized or intended for supporting or sheltering any occupancy.
 
Shams Gannon said:
Thanks @Joe.B , that’s pretty much what I found as well.


I’m seeing under 309.3 Motor fuel-dispensing facilities described as an M use. It can’t possibly be that they only require a 1hr separation (Table 508.4 M/R(s) separation) right? What about @Sifu ’s father?! I wouldn’t want to be protected by only a 1 hr separation from either of those events.
Click to expand...
That's where the Fire Code comes into play. You can call the gas station an M because the other provisions cover the fuel dispensing area. How could you possibly build anything above a canopy and maintain the "Ten feet (3048 mm) or more from buildings having combustible exterior wall surfaces or buildings having noncombustible exterior wall surfaces that are not part of a 1-hour fire-resistance-rated assembly or buildings having combustible overhangs."? I guess I'm extrapolating to some degree though, but Fire Separation Distances are always measured horizontally.

Let me ask you this, has anyone ever seen a fuel dispensing area with anything built above it? I haven't.
 
Joe.B said:
Fire Separation Distances are always measured horizontally
Click to expand...
This must be the answer, right? The pump area requires 10’ separation… which essentially creates a 10’ ground up clearance zone, similar to a powerline. That makes sense to me. My one hesitation is that there are plenty of provisions in the code for fuel dispensers that are located inside. I’ve never seen an interior gas pump, but they pop up in the code, see excerpt from NFPA 30A
IMG_0157.jpeg

Joe.B said:
Let me ask you this, has anyone ever seen a fuel dispensing area with anything built above it? I haven't.
Click to expand...
Same, but since my client was asking I want to do the due diligence and find the reason why nothing is built on top of the fuel dispensing area.
 
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