Occupancy type for an automatic semi-truck wash

[Morphdesigns]

I am working on 2-bay, commercial truck wash buildings, both are similar in scope. One is for semi-tractors, with trailers, and the other is the larger box trucks (like Fed-Ex or UPS)

This is a 2-bay automatic semi-truck wash. Building is under 12,000 sqft. Per IBC 304, a vehicle car wash is considered as a B occupancy. With this being a semi-truck, commercial vehicle, wash, does this fall under the S-1 occupancy type?

And if so, within IBC section 9, Fire Protection Systems, 903.2.9, would this building fall under a commercial motor vehicle requirements? This is not a repair or storage and does not have hazardous, flammable liquids or other combustible materials, that you normally would find under storage or repair of these types of vehicles. Because if this does fall under the commercial vehicle, anything over 5000 sqft, needs to be sprinklered, per commercial vehicle.

IBC 2015
Wisconsin

 

[SCBO1]

Car wash is listed as a "B" Occupancy.

 

[Morphdesigns]

Car wash is listed as a "B" Occupancy.

Correct, but my question is what occupancy is a semi-truck wash under?

 

[Mech]

Morphdesigns,

Suppose the building is S-1. Do you meet any of the conditions below that require a sprinkler system in use group S-1?

Item #4 in 903.2.9 and 903.2.9.1 are for storage and repair of commercial motor vehicles where the fire area exceeds 5,000 sf.

(Taken from the 2018 IBC)

 

[Morphdesigns]

Morphdesigns,

Suppose the building is S-1. Do you meet any of the conditions below that require a sprinkler system in use group S-1?

Item #4 in 903.2.9 and 903.2.9.1 are for storage and repair of commercial motor vehicles where the fire area exceeds 5,000 sf.

(Taken from the 2018 IBC)
View attachment 13101

That is exactly what I am looking at. This building is neither a storage or a repair of a commercial vehicle, but it is still a commercial vehicle. The building size will be around 10,000 sqft. And if you look in the C&C for the item #4, it states "has hazardous, flammable liquids or other combustible materials, that you normally would find under storage or repair of these types of commercial rated vehicles".

Another architect told me that it would still be a S-1, and would need to sprinkler because its over 5000 sqft. But he was assuming because he has never done one.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Correct, but my question is what occupancy is a semi-truck wash under?

Why would a truck wash be different from a car wash?

 

[Morphdesigns]

Why would a truck wash be different from a car wash?

This is a semi wash. A semi is considered a commercial vehicle. Per IBC 903.2.9, any building have occupancy of a storage or service of commercial vehicle, thats over 5000 sqft, needs to be sprinklered. We are trying to not sprinklered. So hoping someone someone has done a semi-wash before that can help.

 

[Mech]

If you interpret the code to say sprinklers are required but do not want to install them, consider a fire rated wall to create multiple fire areas that do not exceed 5,000 sf.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

This is a semi wash. A semi is considered a commercial vehicle. Per IBC 903.2.9, any building have occupancy of a storage or service of commercial vehicle, thats over 5000 sqft, needs to be sprinklered. We are trying to not sprinklered. So hoping someone someone has done a semi-wash before that can help.

A motor vehicle repair garage (regardless of the size of the motor vehicle) is classified as S-1, but a car wash is classified as B. Why does the size of the vehicle matter? Obviously, washing it is not servicing or repairing it. You're making this more difficult than it is.