No Fire rating required?

[InsideOut]

I'm doing the initial code review for an existing building which will be undergoing a Level 2 alteration. It is a mixed construction type: II-B & III-B. It is under the maximum allowable height and area, and will not be changing its use of B and F-1. It's a two story structure and is fully sprinklered. The building inspector tells me that all of the corridors and stair enclosures must be 1-hour rated, but my reading of the code is that none of them require fire resistance rating. I don't want to go be wrong if I'm going to gainsay the building inspector!

My reasoning is per 1019.3.1, since it's only connecting 2 stories, shaft enclosure is not required and per 1020.1, B and F uses don't require fire resistance rating in the corridor.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[steveray]

There is no such thing as mixing construction types....It is IIIB.....Typically sprinklers make the corridor rating go away, but not for an exit enclosure, but I would have to look deeper in to the IEBC, but the Means of Egress section goes away in single tenant buildings typically as well...

 

[Francis Vineyard]

Are all the corridors and stair enclosures beyond the work area?

803.1 Scope. The requirements of this section are limited to work areas in which Level 2 alterations are being performed, and shall apply beyond the work area where specified.

In reference to where specified see Sections 803.2.2, 803.2.3 and 803.4.1 where the extent of compliance beyond the work area is identified.

803.4 Interior finish. The interior finish of walls and ceilings in exits and corridors in any work area shall comply with the requirements of the International Building Code.
Exception: Existing interior finish materials that do not comply with the interior finish requirements of the International Building Code shall be permitted to be treated with an approved fire-retardant coating in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to achieve the required rating.

803.4.1 Supplemental interior finish requirements. Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of the floor area,

Section 803.4 shall also apply to the interior finish in exits and corridors serving the work area throughout the floor.
Exception: Interior finish within tenant spaces that are entirely outside the work area.

 

[cda]

Welcome!!!

 

[cda]

I'm doing the initial code review for an existing building which will be undergoing a Level 2 alteration. It is a mixed construction type: II-B & III-B. It is under the maximum allowable height and area, and will not be changing its use of B and F-1. It's a two story structure and is fully sprinklered. The building inspector tells me that all of the corridors and stair enclosures must be 1-hour rated, but my reading of the code is that none of them require fire resistance rating. I don't want to go be wrong if I'm going to gainsay the building inspector!

My reasoning is per 1019.3.1, since it's only connecting 2 stories, shaft enclosure is not required and per 1020.1, B and F uses don't require fire resistance rating in the corridor.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I would nicely ask for the code reference, so you can educate yourself, plus see which planet he is coming from.

 

[RLGA]

Are these new or existing stairs?

 

[InsideOut]

The corridor and stairs will be new, but I still can't find where 1-hr rating is required.

 

[sergoodo]

Are these new or existing stairs?

...and can we argue about elevator shafts again?

 

[RLGA]

You're correct, Section 1019.3, subparagraph 1, would not require you to enclose the stairways; and Table 1020.1 would not require a rating for the corridor, either. Now, with that being said, is the travel distance from the second story to an exit door on the first story within the prescribed distance required by Table 1017.2? If not, then you'll probably have to enclose at least one stairway to create an exit.

 

[InsideOut]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! RLGA - I think my travel distance is good, but I hadn't checked that yet, so thanks for the heads up.