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Is it a "building", and or does it have a "fire area"

cda

Sawhorse 123
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Oct 19, 2009
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So is the below picture a

1. Building?

2. Does it have a Fire Area?




Dry-Stack-Premium-Covered-Boat-Storage-S1-1536x970.jpg


So is the below picture a

1. Building?

2. Does it have a Fire Area?


index.jpg
 
Absolutely a building

[A] BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting
or sheltering any use or occupancy.

And not much difference in b vs. f definition, so yes....And a little something just popped into my head there.....

AREA, BUILDING. The area included within surrounding
exterior walls (or exterior walls and fire walls) exclusive of
vent shafts and courts. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the building area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor above.

FIRE AREA. The aggregate floor area enclosed and
bounded by fire walls, fire barriers, exterior walls or horizontal
assemblies of a building. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor next above.
 
Yup... buildings with fire areas.

We have a number of RV storage buildings (popular to have in the Pacific NW). Many are open on one side, but we still have a fire barrier added every 5000sf to stay under the sprinkler threshold of IBC 903.2.9.
 
Absolutely a building

[A] BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting
or sheltering any use or occupancy.

And not much difference in b vs. f definition, so yes....And a little something just popped into my head there.....

AREA, BUILDING. The area included within surrounding
exterior walls (or exterior walls and fire walls) exclusive of
vent shafts and courts. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the building area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor above.

FIRE AREA. The aggregate floor area enclosed and
bounded by fire walls, fire barriers, exterior walls or horizontal
assemblies of a building. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor next above.

Seems like some of the definitions say “walls” “surrounded” “enclosed” “exterior”
 
Absolutely a building

[A] BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting
or sheltering any use or occupancy.

And not much difference in b vs. f definition, so yes....And a little something just popped into my head there.....

AREA, BUILDING. The area included within surrounding
exterior walls (or exterior walls and fire walls) exclusive of
vent shafts and courts. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the building area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor above.

FIRE AREA. The aggregate floor area enclosed and
bounded by fire walls, fire barriers, exterior walls or horizontal
assemblies of a building. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor next above.


And if No Horizontal projection,,,

This would not apply,,, So no fire area,,,



Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor next above.”””
 
doesn't projection infer an overhang?
Can't an enclosure be 3 sided, is a carport a building?
 
Carports have to be open on atleast 2 sides (no wall). If 3 or 4 side are closed (walls) then it is a garage/storage. IMO they are all bldgs.
 
Carports have to be open on atleast 2 sides (no wall). If 3 or 4 side are closed (walls) then it is a garage/storage. IMO they are all bldgs.


Agree they are buildings,,

But does the top picture have a fire area?
 
Yes if it has a roof it is a fire area under that roof.

. Areas of the building not provided
with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area
if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor next above.


So this has a “”fire area””


 
So, if it has a horizontal cover, with or without walls, it is a building;
and is not a building also a structure but a structure not always a building?
 
So, if it has a horizontal cover, with or without walls, it is a building;
and is not a building also a structure but a structure not always a building?
A structure is anything that is built by the process of construction. A building has a intended purpose as a shelter for either people or goods. If it has a occupant load or occupancy use classification, it is a building.

To break this down as an example... think about a retaining wall, pole sign, or a cell-tower. Do these provide an intended shelter or have an occupant load; no. But they are built, so they are structures (with permits required). They however do not typically have a use or occupancy; therefore are structures. (Yes, towers do fall under Group U, but you get the intent I hope).

[A] BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
[A] STRUCTURE. That which is built or constructed.
 
I would concur with the majority that each of these is a building by definition. Additionally, these buildings also have fire areas. Both have exterior walls by definition since they are enclosing; but the fire area definition does not include exterior wall envelopes, which some of these walls are definitely not. Thus, by the fact they have walls and they have roofs, then they have fire areas.

The reference to "horizontal projection of the roof or floor [next] above" regarding areas without exterior walls in the definitions for building area and fire area is meant to address the possibility of the spread of fire from an exterior covered space to the interior space via the roof or floor construction since they would be continuous. However, attached covers such as awnings and canopies are not horizontal projections of the roof, thus they would not be included in determining the building area or the fire area. That does not mean they are exempt from sprinkler protection should the building install one--that will be dependent upon the sprinkler standard used.
 
So this has a “”fire area””



I would concur with the majority that each of these is a building by definition. Additionally, these buildings also have fire areas. Both have exterior walls by definition since they are enclosing; but the fire area definition does not include exterior wall envelopes, which some of these walls are definitely not. Thus, by the fact they have walls and they have roofs, then they have fire areas.

The reference to "horizontal projection of the roof or floor [next] above" regarding areas without exterior walls in the definitions for building area and fire area is meant to address the possibility of the spread of fire from an exterior covered space to the interior space via the roof or floor construction since they would be continuous. However, attached covers such as awnings and canopies are not horizontal projections of the roof, thus they would not be included in determining the building area or the fire area. That does not mean they are exempt from sprinkler protection should the building install one--that will be dependent upon the sprinkler standard used.


Thank you,

Maybe I will copy your response, and submit it for code change to the Fire Area language. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
They are buildings with floor areas. Sprinkler for new construction will not be required if fire area of S occupancy is 12,000 s.f. or less per CBC.
 
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