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mezzanine

rktect 1

rktect 1

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
1,113
Location
Illinois
I have an existing 2C building sprinklered now 2B. Used to be a grocery store. Later converted into a bowling ally and recreation center and restaurant. In one large room was a lazer tag room. Room is about 2000 sq. feet. The lazer tag area also was designed with a mezzanine area/platform of about 750-900 sq. ft. with two ramps on each end. 7'-8' height under mezzanine. The mezzanine/platform was constructed out of standard 2x4 studs and 2x8 joists with 3/4" frtw flooring material. The standard lumber walls and ceiling was sheathed in either 5/8" type x drywall or 1/2" frtw sheathing all sides. On the original lazer tag plans it was noted that the occupant load would not exceed 50 people. There are 2 exits out of the room 1/3 the diagonal of the room.

Now they moved the lazer tag into another room, about 6 months ago. Today they want to make the old lazer tag area a dance floor for kids. So they submitted drawings to remove the ramps and put in stairs to the mezzanine, made of untreated lumber, 2x4 guard on one side with 1/2" gyp board on each side. The stair carriage is noted as carriage but looks like 2x12 stringers with stop, no notes.

I feel like I am missing something but can't place my finger on it. Sometimes small project reviews get all complicated. Would it be wrong to tell them to contact a licensed DP at this point?
 
Re: mezzanine

can you have wood in this type const building??

is it designed for the weight load

combustibles in assembly???
 
Re: mezzanine

I don't know where to begin or end. I think one note asking the submitter to have a DP involved vs. a point by point (hope I catch everything in the process) list is more paletable. Point by point seems like I would be designing it.
 
Re: mezzanine

D.P. is subject to your local laws, CT requires it in ALL places of assembly. As CDA mentioned, I would be immediately concerned with combustibles in noncombustible construction,Section 603 has allowable combustible materials, but if it is structural like a mezzanine, I don't think so! Thank you for trying, we have some nice parting gifts for you out back! I would say a competent DP couldn't hurt! Remeber that FRTW is not necessarily "noncombustible"
 
Re: mezzanine

It is the applicants duty to PROVE code compliace, just your job to CHECK it! What I will usually do is write my permit denial letters with notes like : How do you plan to address Section 603 of the building code? That usually gets rid of the faint of heart! :mrgreen:
 
Re: mezzanine

Yeah. I think I will have to be more general than specific at this point. In the end though I would bet a DP is going to be involved either at my suggestion or his realization he is in over his head.

Unfortunatly a licensed arkitect actually designed the first mezzanine which should never have been approved. I think they just looked at it as part of the arena/obstacle course vs. mezzanine. Sort of like applying our code against playground equipment.

Now they want a different function. Dance floor. I am uncertain if I can even allow the mezzanine to remain intact.
 
Re: mezzanine

don't forget the whole ADA thing...

The mezzanine may be a show stopper.
 
Re: mezzanine

Table 601 shows floor construction including supporting beams and joists to be 0 fire resistance for type 2B. Isn't the mezzanine including the stairs just a floor?
 
Re: mezzanine

Non-combustible has nothing to do with fire-resistance rating, or lack thereof. The issue is more about presence of combustible material than it is structural resistance to collapse/failure due to fire.
 
Re: mezzanine

rktect 1 said:
I have an existing 2C building sprinklered now 2B. Used to be a grocery store. Later converted into a bowling ally and recreation center and restaurant. In one large room was a lazer tag room. Room is about 2000 sq. feet. The lazer tag area also was designed with a mezzanine area/platform of about 750-900 sq. ft. with two ramps on each end. 7'-8' height under mezzanine. The mezzanine/platform was constructed out of standard 2x4 studs and 2x8 joists with 3/4" frtw flooring material. The standard lumber walls and ceiling was sheathed in either 5/8" type x drywall or 1/2" frtw sheathing all sides. On the original lazer tag plans it was noted that the occupant load would not exceed 50 people. There are 2 exits out of the room 1/3 the diagonal of the room. Now they moved the lazer tag into another room, about 6 months ago. Today they want to make the old lazer tag area a dance floor for kids. So they submitted drawings to remove the ramps and put in stairs to the mezzanine, made of untreated lumber, 2x4 guard on one side with 1/2" gyp board on each side. The stair carriage is noted as carriage but looks like 2x12 stringers with stop, no notes.

I feel like I am missing something but can't place my finger on it. Sometimes small project reviews get all complicated. Would it be wrong to tell them to contact a licensed DP at this point?
Click to expand...
Wood load bearing construction in a type IIB building?
 
Re: mezzanine

brudgers said:
rktect 1 said:
I have an existing 2C building sprinklered now 2B. Used to be a grocery store. Later converted into a bowling ally and recreation center and restaurant. In one large room was a lazer tag room. Room is about 2000 sq. feet. The lazer tag area also was designed with a mezzanine area/platform of about 750-900 sq. ft. with two ramps on each end. 7'-8' height under mezzanine. The mezzanine/platform was constructed out of standard 2x4 studs and 2x8 joists with 3/4" frtw flooring material. The standard lumber walls and ceiling was sheathed in either 5/8" type x drywall or 1/2" frtw sheathing all sides. On the original lazer tag plans it was noted that the occupant load would not exceed 50 people. There are 2 exits out of the room 1/3 the diagonal of the room. Now they moved the lazer tag into another room, about 6 months ago. Today they want to make the old lazer tag area a dance floor for kids. So they submitted drawings to remove the ramps and put in stairs to the mezzanine, made of untreated lumber, 2x4 guard on one side with 1/2" gyp board on each side. The stair carriage is noted as carriage but looks like 2x12 stringers with stop, no notes.

I feel like I am missing something but can't place my finger on it. Sometimes small project reviews get all complicated. Would it be wrong to tell them to contact a licensed DP at this point?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Wood load bearing construction in a type IIB building?

Yeah. I think the village got snowed by the arkitect into believing this was some sort of arena/platform as I said above and was looked at similar to playground equipment. I don't really know though. I'm the new guy so..........new code applies today. I don't know if I can get the existing mezzanine removed thorugh the 2006 codes. I now have to look into existing structures.
 
Re: mezzanine

Evaluate it has a V-A or B if III-B doesn't work. Why would you want to take out the mezzanine?
 
Re: mezzanine

kilitact said:
Evaluate it has a V-A or B if III-B doesn't work. Why would you want to take out the mezzanine?
Click to expand...
It's made of combustibel material, except for the drywall and 3/4" frtw deck material.
 
Re: mezzanine

Is the building sprinklered and are sprinklers above and below?
 
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