I really just need to know!

[Say10]

I rent a commercial space in the sfv for my business. One of 12 small wearhouse/office buildings on the property. My unit is 1,200sf built in 1968 and has one store front door and one Rollup door which is a few feet next to the store front door. The store door opens into a reception type area(10x15 followed by restroom a small hall and a door opens into the main room. The roll up door opens into a (10x26) room that also stops with a door that also opens into the main room . The main room is approx 22x30’ w 16’ ceiling. The “main room” is where all the activity takes place . It’s a music studio with at any givin time 5-15 people in this room working .. sometimes more and sometimes less…from the back wall of the main room to the store front door is approx 70’ … my concern is when in the main room working if fire were to start in the front of the unit , anyone in the back would be trapped as there is no exit door in the main room … is this a violation of building safety?

 

[arwat23]

Without basic floor plans that are to scale, it can be very hard to say for certain. One exit is allowed if the occupant load is low and if the path of travel to the exit is short.

Generally speaking, if the occupant load, as determined by applicable building codes, is 49 or less AND the path of travel (actual path to an exit from the most remote point of a space, not a straight line) is less than 75 feet, the space likely complies with code. There are other factors that may change this, like furniture layout, partition locations, if the building has sprinklers, the occupancy classification (I'm assuming 'B'), and, of course, what code the jurisdiction follows, but what I described is a very basic and easy way to quickly determine if you have enough exits.

 

[Sifu]

I would add one thing that maybe should be an area of attention. Wall and ceiling finishes. Having a father that was a studio musician, with his own studio, I know that a lot of products are often used to dampen sound, they are often highly flammable and produce heavy smoke. Being a small space, it can go dark pretty fast. You might want to investigate what you have, and ways to mitigate any additional hazard. Having been around the music industry, I have seen lots of foam egg-crate. Just be aware....if you already are then relax and play that funky music!

 

[Mr. Inspector]

The building code is just for repairs, construction and/or a change of occupancy or use. If not, there cannot be a violation.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I would add one thing that maybe should be an area of attention. Wall and ceiling finishes. Having a father that was a studio musician, with his own studio, I know that a lot of products are often used to dampen sound, they are often highly flammable and produce heavy smoke. Being a small space, it can go dark pretty fast. You might want to investigate what you have, and ways to mitigate any additional hazard. Having been around the music industry, I have seen lots of foam egg-crate. Just be aware....if you already are then relax and play that funky music!

That's why the Station Club in Rhode Island burned down -- and killed God knows how many people. They used the cheap egg-crate foam.