Non-separated Occupancy for E and I-4

[vanessalauwt@hotmail]

Hey all!

This is my first time posting, so thank you in advance for your help.

I am located in California. I have a 6795 SF building we are using as day care. Since the new code change, some of the classrooms are now required to be considered as I-4.

The building qualifies to be considered as non-separated occupancy so we will go that route. But I am confused if the walls around I-4 classrooms still need to be fire rated? My supervisor insists they have to be fire-rated, but the code official seems to be hinting that it doesn't. Also, my supervisor didn't really understand the point that we can choose between separated and non-separated, so he just made me follow TABLE 508.4.

Based on 508.3.3, no separation is required between nonseparated occupancies. Am i missing any code sections that specifies I-4 needs fire rated separations with other occupancies?

Hope this makes sense, my brain is a bit fried from all the research... Thanks!

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

The whole point of non-separated mixed uses is that they DON'T have to be separated.

Chapter 4 of the IBC has some special requirements for other I occupancies, but no special requirements for I-4 (unless California added something). As you wrote, your supervisor is just looking at Table 508.4. But that only applies if it applies (thank you, Captain Obvious) -- which is when you treat the occupancies as separated.

Do you have the IBC Commentary? The folloowing is from the 2021 Commentary -- it may offer some support:

508.4.1 Occupancy classification. Separated occupancies
shall be individually classified in accordance with Section
302.1. Each separated space shall comply with this code based
on the occupancy classification of that portion of the building.
The most restrictive provisions of Chapter 9 that apply to the
separate occupancies shall apply to the total nonfire-barrier separated
occupancy areas. Occupancy separations that serve
to define fire area limits established in Chapter 9 for requiring
a fire protection system shall also comply with Section 901.7.


* In the separated occupancies option, occupancies that
are to be evaluated as separated occupancies must be
separated in accordance with Table 508.4. When a
separation is required, occupancies must be separated
completely, both horizontally and vertically, with
fire barriers and horizontal assemblies (see Sections
707 and 711). Where two or more occupancies are in
the same space and Table 508.4 allows them to be
unseparated, this area must comply with Chapter 9
based on the most stringent of the provisions applicable
to the occupancies in the unseparated space.
Except for certain occupancies, it is the designer’s
prerogative to use the accessory occupancies option,
nonseparated occupancies option or the separated
occupancies option when establishing a mixed occupancy
building. It is also possible to apply both or all
three options within different portions or different stories
of a building. Where a mixture of options is used,
the design documentation needs to clearly show how
the requirements of each option are applied in each
portion of the building.

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