Movable retail / art gallery bookshelves, furniture, display cases and wood panels without permits?

[thericky]

We are in a mixed use space that is retail / mercantile as well as art gallery / cultural exhibit.

I am trying to figure out if we have to submit for permits every time we change our layout of furniture and backdrop panels, or if we are free to move things around as we wish.

We've planned out our layout similar to IKEA or a furniture store, as we will be displaying and selling art and other consumer goods throughout the whole space, of many sizes small to large. We also want movable gallery walls and backdrops as part of retail displays, for a more experiential approach. Again, similar to IKEA "rooms" that are not fully enclosed (like vignettes).

We have wood panels made of luan or playwood facing and 2x4's, all of which has been properly fire treated. These would be the backdrops for the staged retail and art vignettes. We also have a number of bookshelves and large furniture of varying sizes, some up to 9' height. We'd like to use these to help separate vignettes from each other.

We will have sufficient exit signs (20+) throughout and it's a fully sprinkled space with 5 accessible egress doors. Common paths of egress clearly marked and maintained.

Is there anything here to signify that we need to submit for permits for our ever-changing retail/art gallery layouts?

We're in Philadelphia and I've only recently discovered this height limit of 5'9" in the code, which confuses me because I know there are many other retail locations that have shelving and various fixtures much higher than that. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[RLGA]

The information below assumes the jurisdiction has adopted the IBC and did not amend Section 105.2.

Regarding furniture placement, in general, no, you do not need a permit. However, if the fixtures are extensive (e.g., row after row after row of racks or casework) and they exceed a height of 5'-9", then a permit would be required.

If the wood panels are taller than 5'-9" and create rooms with openings for customers to enter and exit through these "vignettes," then I would say a permit would be required since it affects occupancy egress. If a single wall or two walls (like a room corner) are constructed to create a backdrop for a display, without creating an enclosed area, then I do not see a need for a permit, but you might want to discuss it with your local building department before taking my word for it.