Old apartment building

[fmdg]

Have an old building that had a business on the first floor and and old apartment/hotel on the 2nd and 3rd floor. the Business area has been vacant for a few years and the apartments/hotel has been vacant for quite some time (15-20 years at least). If the building is remodeled while keeping the first floor as a business and the 2nd and 3rd floors with remodeled apartments, would it be subject to the existing fire code chapter or would it be required to be brought up to the current fire code requirements?

 

[mtlogcabin]

See Chapter 11 of the IFC for what may be applicable
1101.1 Scope.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to existing buildings constructed prior to the adoption of this code.

 

[Inspector Gift]

Some fundamental questions to ask:

1. How long after an occupancy use ceases before it is no longer considered "continuous" by the Authority Having Jurisdiction?

2. If the use was not continuous, then what was the occupancy classification during the vacancy? (Storage? Business? Unoccupied shell?)

3. If the use was not continuous, and the fire/life/safety requirements have changed, then can it legitimately be returned to the original use without conforming to the current requirements for that use?

4. How does your Building Official interpret IBC Sections 102.6, 102.6.2 and 116.1 as applied to your question?

5. Has your jurisdiction adopted the International Existing Building Code? (Our State has not adopted the IEBC, but has modified the last edition of Chapter 34.)

 

[mtlogcabin]

Unless your jurisdiction has deleted references to the IEBC from the IBC you can still use the IEBC where referenced just like a standard that is referenced but not specifically adopted

Just a few examples found in the IBC

[A] 101.4.7 Existing buildings.
The provisions of the International Existing Building Code shall apply to matters governing the repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to and relocation of existing buildings.

d. The NS value is only for use in evaluation of existing building height in accordance with the International Existing Building Code.

4. See Section 503.1 of the International Existing Building Code for the replacement of existing stairways

3113.1.1 Compliance.
A newly constructed relocatable building shall comply with the requirements of this code for new construction. An existing relocatable building that is undergoing alteration, addition, change of occupancy or relocation shall comply with Chapter 14 of the International Existing Building Code.