I have 2 existing buildings about 12 feet apart, and want to add an equipment room between them. Each building is sprinklered, and they have concrete walls with an inherent 2 hour rating. Code allows 2 hr fire walls for Type II buildings. I am not sure how, or if the imaginary fire line distance comes into play here, but there are no openings in the walls. Is there any reason this would NOT be allowed? Thank you!
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New Room Between Existing Buildings
- Thread starter Phil B
- Start date
If the walls of the two buildings have projections, such as eaves, that could complicate things but not make it impossible.
The approach I would take is to make the equipment room an addition to one of the buildings. An imaginary lot line would have to be located so that exterior walls and any openings do not violate the code. Where the addition abuts the building it is adding to, there is no restrictions other than complying with the construction type of the existing building and not exceeding allowable area. Where the addition abuts the other building, you'll need to construct an exterior wall up against the other building's exterior wall; thus, creating two walls with zero fire separation distance and the imaginary lot line running between them.
The approach I would take is to make the equipment room an addition to one of the buildings. An imaginary lot line would have to be located so that exterior walls and any openings do not violate the code. Where the addition abuts the building it is adding to, there is no restrictions other than complying with the construction type of the existing building and not exceeding allowable area. Where the addition abuts the other building, you'll need to construct an exterior wall up against the other building's exterior wall; thus, creating two walls with zero fire separation distance and the imaginary lot line running between them.
steveray
SAWHORSE
As long as the 2 buildings meet H&A as one you should be good (do they already exist on the same lot?)...FSD does not come in unless you have a lot line or firewall...
mark handler
SAWHORSE
Talk with planning and zoning. They may have issues with lot coverage.
Thank you. I was hoping to forego having to construct the exterior wall on the other building, but what you said makes sense. Thanks again.
They are on the same lot but earlier work involved fire separation lines between them.
I am definitely planning to talk with them, but want to get the direction I am going with in place before doing so. Thanks!
You could eliminate the other exterior wall, as steveray pointed out, but then both buildings would need to be considered as one and be within the allowable height and area for the most restrictive construction type and occupancy.
Thank you, but that approach won't work in this situation.
steveray
SAWHORSE
How many stories? Can't be unlimited area?
The new room that is the subject of this thread is 190 square feet, and is a mechanical pump room with electrical panels, no storage. There is not a specific occupancy category in the code for this. The building the new room is becoming a part of is 20,000 sf, and the room immediately on the other side of the wall between them is a small 400 sf Assembly occupancy. Both rooms are far less than 10% of the overall floor area. What are the thoughts on what the separation rating per table 508.4 needs to be for a Type IIB sprinklered building?
If these are the only accessory occupancies, then classify the building per the major occupancy. There is no requirement for separation of accessory occupancies per Table 508.4.