Occupancy of Break Room

[emcc845]

When a break room in an office is over 750 SF I historically have always classified it as A-2. The 2024 IBC 508.2.1 Occupancy classification in the commentary says "make this area a lunchroom (A-3)." Do we think this is a typo and they mean A-2? I checked previous versions of the code in the same section and they say a lunchroom is A-2.
I appreciate your input!

 

[Henchalwoog]

Personally I would classify it as A-3 as well..."A" occupancies are for gatherings and A-2 seems to lean more for commercial uses such as serving food or drinks for profit...a lunchroom in a high school would be an A-3 for me as well for an example.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

IMHO, a break room (not a large cafeteria) should be classified as a B occupancy, since it's accessory to the office use. That's for the occupancy classification. The occupant load would be calculated based on whether there is seating and, if so, if it's just a few chairs or if it's tables and chairs.

 

[emcc845]

Personally I would classify it as A-3 as well..."A" occupancies are for gatherings and A-2 seems to lean more for commercial uses such as serving food or drinks for profit...a lunchroom in a high school would be an A-3 for me as well for an example.

It seems the fire hazard would be closer to an A-3. However, the code specifically mentions consumption of food and drink is A-2.

IMHO, a break room (not a large cafeteria) should be classified as a B occupancy, since it's accessory to the office use. That's for the occupancy classification. The occupant load would be calculated based on whether there is seating and, if so, if it's just a few chairs or if it's tables and chairs.

The code specifically says classify as B if under 750 SF/under 50 people. If over 750 SF you need to classify as an A occupancy.



Thanks for the input!

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

So you're saying the break room is over 750 s.f.? I read the original question as a break room in an office of 750+ s.f.

750 s.f is a rather large break room ...

 

[emcc845]

So you're saying the break room is over 750 s.f.? I read the original question as a break room in an office of 750+ s.f.

750 s.f is a rather large break room ...

Yes, a break/lunch room over 750 SF. I've ran into this several times with large industrial plants.

 

[Joe.B]

What's the SF and occupant load of the "office"? To need a 750 SF break room, I assume it's rather large? Does it qualify for Section 507, Unlimited Area Buildings?

507.1.1 Accessory occupancies. Accessory occupancies
shall be permitted in unlimited area buildings in accordance
with the provisions of Section 508.2, otherwise the
requirements of Sections 507.3 through 507.13 shall be
applied, where applicable.

508.2 Accessory occupancies. Accessory occupancies are
those occupancies that are ancillary to the main occupancy of
the building or portion thereof. Accessory occupancies shall
comply with the provisions of Sections 508.2.1 through
508.2.4.

 

[emcc845]

What's the SF and occupant load of the "office"? To need a 750 SF break room, I assume it's rather large? Does it qualify for Section 507, Unlimited Area Buildings?

507.1.1 Accessory occupancies. Accessory occupancies
shall be permitted in unlimited area buildings in accordance
with the provisions of Section 508.2, otherwise the
requirements of Sections 507.3 through 507.13 shall be
applied, where applicable.

508.2 Accessory occupancies. Accessory occupancies are
those occupancies that are ancillary to the main occupancy of
the building or portion thereof. Accessory occupancies shall
comply with the provisions of Sections 508.2.1 through
508.2.4.

Currently I'm looking at an existing industrial plant that is 80,000 SF and does not qualify as an unlimited area building. They want to add on a 3,000 SF break/lunch room. My understanding is the occupancy of the break/lunch room would be A-2. This is why I was surprised to see it mentioned as A-3 in the IBC 2024 commentary. The same section in previous editions of the code say a lunch room is A-2. (I could easily find this when I searched for "lunchroom" on the ICC premium complete access).

 

[arwat23]

I'd say A-2. Ignoring the commentary because legally it means nothing, I don't see anything listed in A-3 that's close to a "break room" imo. The closest thing to a break room / lunch room is "restaurants, cafeterias and similar dining facilities." Yes, that language sounds more like a commercial food facility, but it's the closets thing I can find to what a "break room" is.

 

[Joe.B]

A-2.

Commentary is kind of like opinions, and you know what opinions are like right?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Currently I'm looking at an existing industrial plant that is 80,000 SF and does not qualify as an unlimited area building. They want to add on a 3,000 SF break/lunch room. My understanding is the occupancy of the break/lunch room would be A-2. This is why I was surprised to see it mentioned as A-3 in the IBC 2024 commentary. The same section in previous editions of the code say a lunch room is A-2. (I could easily find this when I searched for "lunchroom" on the ICC premium complete access).

That looks like an A-2 to me.

Group A-2 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for food and/or drink consumption, including but not limited to:

 

[Tim Mailloux]

I will typically classify large break rooms like that as A-3 because they almost always end up being used as a multi-function space. I have yet to have push back on that approach.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Answer me this: why would the break room of a given occupancy be treated differently than the occupancy it serves?
Maybe the US methodology is different, but as an example, I had a break room for a massive fish-processing plant. I treated it as the same occupancy as the plant, since the people taking the break are the same people who work in the plant.


And again, maybe assembly has a different meaning, but up here nort' of t' border, "assembly" means "a gathering of members of the public," not "a gathering of employees."

 

[arwat23]

Answer me this: why would the break room of a given occupancy be treated differently than the occupancy it serves?
Maybe the US methodology is different, but as an example, I had a break room for a massive fish-processing plant. I treated it as the same occupancy as the plant, since the people taking the break are the same people who work in the plant.


And again, maybe assembly has a different meaning, but up here nort' of t' border, "assembly" means "a gathering of members of the public," not "a gathering of employees."

Taken from the California Building Code (IBC doesn't have the italic text):



"Food or drink consumption". Nothing specific about needing the public there. There are other exceptions for places of religious worship and educational uses, but this is what I use most frequently.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Taken from the California Building Code (IBC doesn't have the italic text). There are other exceptions for places of religious worship and educational uses, but this is what I use most frequently:

Almost identical:



The interpretation we use - and I believe it's fairly universal - is that "consumption of food or drink" is for restaurants. A break room in a business doesn't meet the "assembly" test.

 

[arwat23]

I've met at least two building officials who would disagree. I know because they disagreed with my firm's drawings where we tried to do what you're saying.

Maybe both of them were wrong. It wouldn't be the first time those two specific building officials were just flat out wrong...

 

[Inspector Gadget]

I've met at least two building officials who would disagree. I know because they disagreed with my firm's drawings where we tried to do what you're saying.

Maybe both of them were wrong. It wouldn't be the first time those two specific building officials were just flat out wrong...

In NBC, there are guides where "restaurant" is defined as an A2 (assembly) structure.

Frankly, I think the un-named individuals are incorrect.