SteveGordian
REGISTERED
New charter school purchased a old farmhouse that was previously used as a group home for kids. Also includes portable classrooms outside but no questions about that. The building Is about 4k Sf and is two stories with an unoccupied basement. Basement does have a small mech/electrical room maybe 15’x15’ currently 1hr separation. The plan is for the first floor to be used as classroom (E) and the second floor as office (B). There are two stairs from the second floor that are open to both areas. Basement stairs is separate. No sprinkler. type IV.
The report is saying that because The change in use from res that it is considered NEW construction and need to follow all rules of new construction. (I don’t think I agree but OK).
They are calling it mixed use with E and B and requiring 2 layers of x-gyp be install throughout the first floor on the ceiling, plus fire separation of the stairwells. They are also saying the basement needs 2hrs separation from the first floor.
questions: Can’t this be classified as non-separated use (ibc) and mixed occupancy (vs. separated) NFPA 101 and not be required to be fire separated?
however what does this mean…6.1.14.3.1 Each portion of the building shall be classified as to its use in accordance with section 6.1. ?? The next part 6.1.14.3.2 talks about complying with the most restrictive use. So what is it trying to say? The business areas have to meet requirements for E right? But for what, is it just for egress and such but not fire separation??? I mentioned the non-separated use to them but they dismissed it quickly and said I need to look at NFPA 101 (which I have now done) and said they didn’t mention that possibility because the building isn’t sprinklered and would need to be if we went with the non-separated. I don’t see anywhere we’re it says it needs to be sprinklered?
So any help there would be appreciated, any guess what would be triggerred by the non-separated use that would make the B not meet code that being separated allowed it to be ok. The 2nd floor would just be teachers lounge and some office, I don’t think there would be more than 5 people up there but certainly not more then 10 if maybe they have a meeting. all this cost for a couple offices seems like a lot.
2nd part is about the basement. I don’t understand why an unoccupied basement has to be 2hr separation from first floor Education. Also even if the mech/electrical room does shouldn’t it just be that room, and wouldn’t it be incidental use and only be 1hr? Assuming the boiler is over 15 psi and 10hp. ( side note if it is under this does that mean no fire rating is required?). I asked what if the building was a crawl space would you require 2hr, and they said there an exception for crawl space, which I haven’t found yet but it’s probably buried somewhere in the books. What could they be siting as a reason for have 2hr separation in the basement, they want 2 layers of x-gyp on the ceiling and all columns. Huge undertaken with electrical/cables and plumbping would need to be move, the basement is unfinished with plastic over gravel and some concrete pads where equipment use to be.
thank you in advance to whomever reads that whole thing, I appreciate your time. I would greatly appreciate any info you can share. The school being able to open depends on this!!!
The report is saying that because The change in use from res that it is considered NEW construction and need to follow all rules of new construction. (I don’t think I agree but OK).
They are calling it mixed use with E and B and requiring 2 layers of x-gyp be install throughout the first floor on the ceiling, plus fire separation of the stairwells. They are also saying the basement needs 2hrs separation from the first floor.
questions: Can’t this be classified as non-separated use (ibc) and mixed occupancy (vs. separated) NFPA 101 and not be required to be fire separated?
however what does this mean…6.1.14.3.1 Each portion of the building shall be classified as to its use in accordance with section 6.1. ?? The next part 6.1.14.3.2 talks about complying with the most restrictive use. So what is it trying to say? The business areas have to meet requirements for E right? But for what, is it just for egress and such but not fire separation??? I mentioned the non-separated use to them but they dismissed it quickly and said I need to look at NFPA 101 (which I have now done) and said they didn’t mention that possibility because the building isn’t sprinklered and would need to be if we went with the non-separated. I don’t see anywhere we’re it says it needs to be sprinklered?
So any help there would be appreciated, any guess what would be triggerred by the non-separated use that would make the B not meet code that being separated allowed it to be ok. The 2nd floor would just be teachers lounge and some office, I don’t think there would be more than 5 people up there but certainly not more then 10 if maybe they have a meeting. all this cost for a couple offices seems like a lot.
2nd part is about the basement. I don’t understand why an unoccupied basement has to be 2hr separation from first floor Education. Also even if the mech/electrical room does shouldn’t it just be that room, and wouldn’t it be incidental use and only be 1hr? Assuming the boiler is over 15 psi and 10hp. ( side note if it is under this does that mean no fire rating is required?). I asked what if the building was a crawl space would you require 2hr, and they said there an exception for crawl space, which I haven’t found yet but it’s probably buried somewhere in the books. What could they be siting as a reason for have 2hr separation in the basement, they want 2 layers of x-gyp on the ceiling and all columns. Huge undertaken with electrical/cables and plumbping would need to be move, the basement is unfinished with plastic over gravel and some concrete pads where equipment use to be.
thank you in advance to whomever reads that whole thing, I appreciate your time. I would greatly appreciate any info you can share. The school being able to open depends on this!!!
