Level of exit discharge

[retire09]

I have an A-3 occupancy in a half basement with an occupant load of 162. It has two exits going up stairs to the ground level.

Is this basement required to be sprinklered in accordance with 903.2.1.3(3) for being an A-3 on a floor other than the level of exit discharge?

This is not a walk out basement.

 

[gbhammer]

Was it in compliance when it was first occupied as an A-3 if not, then Yes it should be sprinkled.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Agree see 903.2.11.1 Stories without openings. and 903.2.11.1.3 Basements.

 

[FM William Burns]

automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the floor area where the Group A-1, A-2, A-3 or A-4 occupancy is located, and in all floors from the Group A occupancy to, and including, the nearest level of exit discharge serving the Group A occupancy.

Yes, and agree with MT!

 

[Inspector 102]

For the sake of arguement, if the stairs go from the floor level of the basement to a door that is at grade level, would that not be the level of exit discharge. Would it change your opinion if the first floor came down to the same landing (foyer) and discharged through the same door? Since the basement has 2 exits, it already is better than most basements. Section 903.2.10.1 allows for openings below grade that lead directly to grade level, it seems this might exclude sprinkler requirements. Spacing of these openings might be an issue, but it could happen. Would that change the opinion of sprinkler requirements?

 

[mtlogcabin]

The fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such occupancies;

EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF. The story at the point at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge begins.

EXIT DISCHARGE. That portion of a means of egress system between the termination of an exit and a public way

The exit discharge would begin at the exterior exit door which is not located on the same level as the basement floor so sprinklers would still be required. IMHO

 

[AegisFPE]

EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF. The story at the point at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge begins.

Then we must also define "story."

STORY. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above...

Therefore, it would seem that a story having a depressed floor surface and a tall ceiling height could have a stair that terminates at a landing located at the exterior exit door, which could meet the definition of EXIT DISCHARGE, LEVEL OF.

 

[gbhammer]

There are a lot of ifs here that do not apply to the OP.

In the ‘if’ that inspector 102 wrote of, I would say that the building might not need to be sprinkled, but only if the 'exterior stair' met the requirements of 1009 or 1010 (Never fails - now they get upset because they don't want to spend the money to protect the exterior stair from weather. Never mind that they won’t want to spend the money to dig out holes next to the in grade building for the exterior stair to begin with. Then put in a drainage system. Oh wait they will have a maintenance crew with a mop, bucket, and snow shovel on hand at all times.).

Now what happens when you throw in the lift that almost every small church wants to have for their basement congregation area. You need to meet the requirements for 1007.7 Exterior areas for assisted rescue. Openness (1007.7.1) may be a problem just because of the need to protect from outdoor conditions (1009.6.2).

Add it all together and you get a sprinkler system, for less than all the other hoops.

 

[gbhammer]

I like 'ifs' so long as they don't confuse the answer. I also like churches, they just don't like codes. The best way to handle a church project is to get on board from the get go. If they have a clearly defined goal they will meet it and all the code requirements as well.