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Holding Cell Separation

Paul Sweet

SAWHORSE
Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
2,804
Location
Bedford, VA
I'm helping another architect with an annex to an old rural county courthouse. The new building is 3 stories, 13,000 SF, fully sprinklered, and over 30 ft. from the existing courthouse. The basement will have a 4 car secure garage for the judges, several holding cells (total 35 people), and mechanical space.

2018 IBC Table 509 requires 1 hour fire-separation for "Group I-3 cells and Group I-2 patient rooms equipped with padded surfaces." Does the "padded surfaces" apply to both groups, or only to I-2 patient rooms?

We're hoping to be able to use IIB construction. The I-3 holding cells will probably have to be separated anyway because Table 504.4 limits IIB with I-3 to 2 stories.
 
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