Is Heating/Cooling required in an F occupancy?

[nealderidder]

A general question about F occupancies and what space conditioning is required, if any. CBC 1203.1 requires an occupied space maintain a minimum temperature of 68 degrees but there is an exception for F occupancies. I see no requirements regarding maximum allowed temps in CBC/CMC/CALOSHA. CALOSHA requires employers to provide a safe and healthful environment but that is not quantified with temperature ranges. So what's to stop a factory employer from making people work in 80-90 degree temperatures?

 

[ICE]

So what's to stop a factory employer from making people work in 80-90 degree temperatures?

The State of California has a law. I don't know the particulars but as I recall 80° is the limit.

Google says this:
Indoor workplaces – In California's indoor workplaces, employers are required to maintain a temperature between: 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the type of work being performed.

So it depends on what the actual law says.

 

[nealderidder]

employers are required to maintain a temperature between: 68 and 78 degrees Fa

I see that too when I Google it but can't find an actual code/law reference that applies to an F occupancy... I did find the attached that seems to have just been passed by calOSHA that says 82-87 degrees (whether naked or not I guess) maximum.

 

[arwat23]

I see that too when I Google it but can't find an actual code/law reference that applies to an F occupancy... I did find the attached that seems to have just been passed by calOSHA that says 82-87 degrees (whether naked or not I guess) maximum.

I believe that is the law, at least for structures that fall under the authority of Cal/OSHA. CBC 1203.1 exception 1 is specific to heating, as there is no mention of cooling for F occupancies and does still apply.

If this space is occupied and a work place (I bet it is), then it should comply with the new sections of Title 8. Given that this law literally just passed (like, a month ago), it's not reflected in Title 24 yet, as far as I see.

Edit: From what I see no heating is required by CBC 1203.1, but cooling is (maybe, depending on the conditions of the space) required by Title 8 §3396. Not sure if Cal/OSHA has a separate cooling requirement somewhere in Title 8...

 

[nealderidder]

I believe that is the law, at least for structures that fall under the authority of Cal/OSHA. CBC 1203.1 exception 1 is specific to heating, as there is no mention of cooling for F occupancies and does still apply.

If this space is occupied and a work place (I bet it is), then it should comply with the new sections of Title 8. Given that this law literally just passed (like, a month ago), it's not reflected in Title 24 yet, as far as I see.

Edit: From what I see no heating is required by CBC 1203.1, but cooling is (maybe, depending on the conditions of the space) required by Title 8 §3396. Not sure if Cal/OSHA has a separate cooling requirement somewhere in Title 8...

Based on that 3396 section that just passed (attached above) I think I can confidently say to my client that an indoor workspace must maintain a temperature of 82 degrees or less.

Note that you've got 1203.1 backwards. It requires heating but not cooling.

 

[arwat23]

Based on that 3396 section that just passed (attached above) I think I can confidently say to my client that an indoor workspace must maintain a temperature of 82 degrees or less.

Note that you've got 1203.1 backwards. It requires heating but not cooling.

I could have worded that better... Heating is not required by 1203.1 in this example because of exception 1. It would be required if that exception didn't exist.

 

[steveray]

If that is a retro requirement (to condition the space) it could have serious consequences under the energy code....Luckily they screwed up the 2021 so badly that this is in additions and not alterations:

C502.2 Change in Space Conditioning​

Any nonconditioned or low-energy space that is altered to become conditioned space shall be required to comply with Section C502.
Exceptions:

1. Where the component performance alternative in Section C402.1.5 is used to comply with this section, the proposed UA shall be not greater than 110 percent of the target UA.
2. Where the total building performance option in Section C407 is used to comply with this section, the annual energy cost of the proposed design shall be not greater than 110 percent of the annual energy cost otherwise permitted by Section C407.2.

It does get crazy in residential:

R503.1 General
Alterations to any building or structure shall comply with the requirements of the code for new construction, without requiring the unaltered portions of the existing building or building system to comply with this code. Alterations shall be such that the existing building or structure is not less conforming to the provisions of this code than the existing building or structure was prior to the alteration.
Alterations shall not create an unsafe or hazardous condition or overload existing building systems. Alterations shall be such that the existing building or structure does not use more energy than the existing building or structure prior to the alteration. Alterations to existing buildings shall comply with Sections R503.1.1 through R503.1.4.

Hope you don't want to add a light fixture at your house or air conditioning.....At least not with a permit.....

 

[arwat23]

C502.2 Change in Space Conditioning​

California doesn't adopt the IECC, so that's not applicable here.

 

[Paul Sweet]

What about buildings such as steel fabrication facilities and concrete precasting plants which have roofs and partial walls, but are mostly open to the weather?

 

[arwat23]

What about buildings such as steel fabrication facilities and concrete precasting plants which have roofs and partial walls, but are mostly open to the weather?

Title 8 §3396 only applies to "indoor" spaces. "Indoor" is defined as:
“Indoor” refers to a space that is under a ceiling or overhead covering that restricts airflow and is enclosed along its entire perimeter by walls, doors, windows, dividers, or other physical barriers that restrict airflow, whether open or closed. All work areas that are not indoor are considered outdoor and covered by section 3395.
EXCEPTION: Indoor does not refer to a shaded area that meets the requirements of subsection 3395(d) and is used exclusively as a source of shade for employees covered by section 3395.

If the space does not meet this definition, then this section of Title 8 doesn't apply. I don't know much about those types of facilities, but if they are not enclosed, they are not "indoor" and therefore do not need cooling required by this section.

Regarding Title 24 Part 2 (CBC), building code only addresses heating as far as I see, which is not required since the facility meets exception 1 of section 1203.1.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Why would this be even a concern for the building department?

 

[Penguin87]

IBC answer (I don't know anything about California) - No.

I have worked on a lot of F-1 occupancy projects, many of which are open atmosphere to the exterior. No requirements.
There are many situations where you won't want them to be conditioned, or are impractical to do so.

 

[steveray]

It's kind of funny that the first exception from 2012 wasn't enough and the occupancy specific stuff was developed......Like we never had foundries or freezer building before that...

1203.1 Equipment and Systems​

Interior spaces intended for human occupancy shall be provided with active or passive space heating systems capable of maintaining an indoor temperature of not less than 68°F (20°C) at a point 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor on the design heating day.
Exceptions: Space heating systems are not required for:

1. Interior spaces where the primary purpose of the space is not associated with human comfort.
2. Group F, H, S or U occupancies.