Level of Exit Discharge

[Meadowbend99]

Hi all,
I have an existing 2 story building, where the first floor was a bar. New owner wants to convert the second floor to extend seating upstairs. First floor is 1,000 SF with 47 occupant load and has 2 exits. Internal stairs lead to the second floor which is 800 SF and would have 48 occupants (or less). There is an exterior door on the second level that leads to a 200 sf balcony with stairs that go down to ground level.

Does the use of the exterior stair qualify as the level of exit discharge for the fire area? Occupant load of the second floor is under 50 and only requires one exit, 2 are provided, one that leads to the level below and one that leads directly to the exterior.

Trying to avoid a sprinkler system. I can see this interpreted in a couple of ways.

• Level of Exit Discharge:
  If the Group A-2 occupancy is not located at the level of exit discharge (the floor where occupants can safely leave the building), a sprinkler system is required.
  
  

 

[RLGA]

A few questions:

1. How do you get 48 occupants from an 800 sq. ft. area?
2. What is the total occupant load of the building?
3. Does the occupant load include the balcony?

The level of exit discharge for an exterior stair is the ground level--not the exterior door. The exterior door is an exit door that leads to the exterior exit stairway.

Unless the floor between the two stories is a 2-hour horizontal assembly, you have a Group A-2 on a floor other than the level of exit discharge, plus, it is likely that your occupant load may be over 100, so even that may require you to add a sprinkler.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Level of exit discharge applies to the building, not to each individual story one business may occupy.



From the 2021 IBC Commentary:


An exterior stair is part of exit discharge if the exit door is less than half a story above or below grade. Beyond that, it becomes an exterior exit stair, with the exit discharge beginning when you reach grade:

 

[Meadowbend99]

A few questions:

1. How do you get 48 occupants from an 800 sq. ft. area?
2. What is the total occupant load of the building?
3. Does the occupant load include the balcony?

The level of exit discharge for an exterior stair is the ground level--not the exterior door. The exterior door is an exit door that leads to the exterior exit stairway.

Unless the floor between the two stories is a 2-hour horizontal assembly, you have a Group A-2 on a floor other than the level of exit discharge, plus, it is likely that your occupant load may be over 100, so even that may require you to add a sprinkler.

1. The space is largely open, tables/chairs
2. 95 total
3. Balcony is not covered, so the city says they will not count it.

We've discussed a 2 hour assembly between the floors, at that point they're pretty much separating the business into two sections, but each section would be less than 50, and could use a B occupancy.

Another idea would be to reduce the footprint of the second floor and make it a mezzanine. But that'll take away a lot of space.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

1. The space is largely open, tables/chairs
2. 95 total
3. Balcony is not covered, so the city says they will not count it.

We've discussed a 2 hour assembly between the floors, at that point they're pretty much separating the business into two sections, but each section would be less than 50, and could use a B occupancy.

Another idea would be to reduce the footprint of the second floor and make it a mezzanine. But that'll take away a lot of space.

without a plan in front of me, if the upper level is 800 sqft of tables and chairs, I would think the occupant load would be more like 54 people (800 / 15 = 53.333)

 

[Meadowbend99]

without a plan in front of me, if the upper level is 800 sqft of tables and chairs, I would think the occupant load would be more like 54 people (800 / 15 = 53.333)

It also has a restroom and small bar area on the second level, with a little bit of storage.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

1. The space is largely open, tables/chairs
2. 95 total
3. Balcony is not covered, so the city says they will not count it.

We've discussed a 2 hour assembly between the floors, at that point they're pretty much separating the business into two sections, but each section would be less than 50, and could use a B occupancy.

Another idea would be to reduce the footprint of the second floor and make it a mezzanine. But that'll take away a lot of space.

It's already a second story. You can't convert that to a mezzanine by changing the name on a plan.

 

[Meadowbend99]

It's already a second story. You can't convert that to a mezzanine by changing the name on a plan.

Correct, it would be a bit of a remodel to open up the second floor more than it already is, to get the footprint below 1/3 the footprint of the first floor and essentially turn the upper level into a loft/mezzanine. This isn't my first choice.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

It's not 1/3 the area of the story below. It's 1/3 the area of the room or space IN which the mezzanine is located.

This has been the rule for decades. It's astonishing how many people don't understand this simple concept.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

3. Balcony is not covered, so the city says they will not count it.

Is this balcony available for patrons to use, either as seating or as standing room occupancy? If so, regardless of what the city says, as the designer you have a responsibility to recognize the balcony as occupied space and to account for the occupant load.

 

[RLGA]

We've discussed a 2 hour assembly between the floors, at that point they're pretty much separating the business into two sections, but each section would be less than 50, and could use a B occupancy.

If you make the floor a 2-hour horizontal assembly, keep in mind that all construction supporting the horizontal assembly must also be of 2-hour construction. Plus, the interior stairway will need to be enclosed with 2-hour fire barriers.

 

[Meadowbend99]

If you make the floor a 2-hour horizontal assembly, keep in mind that all construction supporting the horizontal assembly must also be of 2-hour construction. Plus, the interior stairway will need to be enclosed with 2-hour fire barriers.

Are there any leniencies with it being an existing building?

 

[Meadowbend99]

It's not 1/3 the area of the story below. It's 1/3 the area of the room or space IN which the mezzanine is located.

This has been the rule for decades. It's astonishing how many people don't understand this simple concept.

First level is an open floor plan (except for a small restroom).

 

[RLGA]

Are there any leniencies with it being an existing building?

Possibly, depending on the IEBC compliance method you are using.

Under Section 506.1 of the 2021 IEBC, the prescriptive compliance method for change of occupancy requires compliance with the IBC, as I previously described.

Under Section 1011.2.1, the work area compliance method for a change of occupancy, the existing non-rated horizontal assembly can remain; however, you must enclose the stairway (if not already enclosed) to completely separate the second story from the first story with permanent construction--rated or non-rated.