opening protection

[88twin]

lets see if i can esplain this

existing building backs up to alley, no openings except one door

owner wants to cut in two windows

other side of alley is city owned parking lot

 

[mtlogcabin]

FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE. The distance measured from the building face to one of the following:

1. The closest interior lot line;

2. To the centerline of a street, an alley or public way; or

3. To an imaginary line between two buildings on the property.

Measure to the centerline of the alley. What Type of construction is the building?

 

[High Desert]

Do you want to know if openings are allowed? If so, you need to measure to the centerline of the alley and apply that measurement to Table 704.8 in the 2006 IBC or Table 705.8 in the 2009 IBC.

 

[High Desert]

mtlogcabin, you beat me to the punch.

 

[mark handler]

If the property is not owned by the existing building's owner, protected.

You don't know when (IF)the city will build on that property

 

[AegisFPE]

As an alternative to openings, there are some transparent or translucent panels on the market that have been tested as fire barriers. Use of such products could enable there to be "windows" without having "openings" that would necessarily compromise the fire-resistive integrity of the wall.

 

[88twin]

thank you all for your responses. just curious

mtlog IIIB and <10'.

we have a building (S-2), ext. walls not rated,unprotected openings.

30' or greater on three sides and 5' or less at rear.

building backs to railroad R.O.W. 150'+.

jurisdiction treating first structure like second.

 

[mtlogcabin]

mtlog IIIB and <10'.

Unless it is an "H" occupancy 1 hour wall is required under Table 602Table 704.8 10% of exterior unprotected wall openings or 25% of protected wall openings are permitted.

See 704.12 for opening protection requirements and 704.12.1 for unprotected openings

5' or less at rear.building backs to railroad R.O.W.

A railroad R.O.W is not a public street or alley so a rated wall would be required.

 

[88twin]

ah you see i'am but a humble servant and mine is just to take direction from those of

greater station.

BTW i agree with the postings here (well about this anyway) was just looking for some

feedback to see if i was still on the same planet as the rest

 

[88twin]

their reasoning goes like this

the railroad has always been there(100 years+) and will always be there. no structure

will ever be within 150'

city fought long and hard to get property for parking lot. no structure will ever be there.

can anyone say parking garage some day?

 

[brudgers]

A railroad R.O.W is not a public street or alley so a rated wall would be required.

So you wouldn't allow an overhead door for shipping on a building abutting a siding (i.e. 0' setback)?

 

[brudgers]

their reasoning goes like thisthe railroad has always been there(100 years+) and will always be there. no structure

will ever be within 150'

city fought long and hard to get property for parking lot. no structure will ever be there.

can anyone say parking garage some day?

My opinion is that a RRROW is "a public way" and that is what the code actually says...the code does not say "public street" as one might be led to believe by other posts in this thread.

 

[TJacobs]

Never say never. In my previous jurisdiction the Pennsylvania RR turned into Conrail, which abandoned track, which now contains numerous buildings.

Railroad right-of-way is not a public way, as the public does not own or control it.

2006 IBC, Definition:

PUBLIC WAY. A street, alley or other parcel of land open to the outside air leading to a street, that has been deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use and which has a clear width and height of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm).