Police station detention area – accessory use yes or no?

[Tim Mailloux]

Looking at a code plan for a new police station, and the designer has listed the detention area as an I3 accessory use to the primary B occupancy of the police station. The I-3 detention center is less than 10% of the B occupancy area so it meets that requirement, I’m just not convinced that the detention center meets the definition of an ancillary space as required to be an accessory use. I would argue that the detention center of a police station is one of the police stations primary functions and not a support space to the primary function. Thoughts?


Ancillary: providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system.

 

[SCBO1]

Tim, Did you see section 308.4 conditions 5?

I'll assume you have.

 

[steveray]

To what end?

508.2.1 Occupancy classification. Accessory occupancies
shall be individually classified in accordance with
Section 302.1. The requirements of this code shall apply to
each portion of the building based on the occupancy classification
of that space.

 

[RLGA]

You are obfuscating ancillary and accessory. The IBC has no definition for either, but an accessory occupancy does have requirements per Section 508.2.

First, as you pointed out, accessory occupancies cannot exceed 10% of the floor area of the story in which they are located. It sounds as though your situation complies with that part.

Second, the height is based on the main occupancy, which would be the Group B occupancy. I assume the building complies with that.

Third, there is no required separation between accessory occupancies and the main occupancy. Group I-3 is not listed in either of the exceptions.

However, since the Group I-3 occupancy must be classified as Group I-3 per Section 508.2.1, it is still required to comply with Section 408.

The real benefit of the accessory occupancy provisions is that an occupancy group that only occupies a small portion of the overall building will not be the driving factor in regard to building height and area.

 

[steveray]

Thanks Ron....Kinda what I was getting at, the only real gimmie is H&A, but wasn't sure what Tim was looking for...No separation but might need a smoke barrier per 408.6..

 

[RLGA]

As a follow-up, a police station's main function is not to imprison individuals--it is the place of business for the police department. The holding of individuals (this is why they are called holding cells) is only temporary until they are transferred into the local city or county jail.

 

[cda]

Looking at a code plan for a new police station, and the designer has listed the detention area as an I3 accessory use to the primary B occupancy of the police station. The I-3 detention center is less than 10% of the B occupancy area so it meets that requirement, I’m just not convinced that the detention center meets the definition of an ancillary space as required to be an accessory use. I would argue that the detention center of a police station is one of the police stations primary functions and not a support space to the primary function. Thoughts?


Ancillary: providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system.

How many cells???

Stay overnight or just holding?

For interview cell??

 

[Tim Mailloux]

You are obfuscating ancillary and accessory. The IBC has no definition for either, but an accessory occupancy does have requirements per Section 508.2.

section 508.2 - ...accessory occupancy are those occupancy that are ancillary to the main occupancy.....

You are correct that the IBC does not define 'ancillary' so I was relaying on the common definition. And based on the common definition I'm not convinced that the detetion center in a police station would qualify as an accessory use.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

As a follow-up, a police station's main function is not to imprison individuals--it is the place of business for the police department. The holding of individuals (this is why they are called holding cells) is only temporary until they are transferred into the local city or county jail.

thats the kind of logic I could get behind. However I would argue that the police deprtments main function is protecting the public which in many cases involves arresting and detaining certain individuals. A police station could not function without a detention area, which in my mind makes it one of the primary functions of the facility.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

To what end?

508.2.1 Occupancy classification. Accessory occupancies
shall be individually classified in accordance with
Section 302.1. The requirements of this code shall apply to
each portion of the building based on the occupancy classification
of that space.

This is more is more of an attention to detail sort of thing. If the I-3 is accessory use or one of the non sperated mixed uses the building height and areas are code complaint. But in the future on a larger police station project that might not be the case.

 

[steveray]

This is more is more of an attention to detail sort of thing. If the I-3 is accessory use or one of the non sperated mixed uses the building height and areas are code complaint. But in the future on a larger police station project that might not be the case.

Got it....not exactly black and white, but I am on board with the it's a police station with holding, not a jail with a PD attached...

 

[cda]

As a follow-up, a police station's main function is not to imprison individuals--it is the place of business for the police department. The holding of individuals (this is why they are called holding cells) is only temporary until they are transferred into the local city or county jail.

Our Pd likes to keep people

Reason for my questions

Plus they have two holding/ interview rooms

 

[cda]

thats the kind of logic I could get behind. However I would argue that the police deprtments main function is protecting the public which in many cases involves arresting and detaining certain individuals. A police station could not function without a detention area, which in my mind makes it one of the primary functions of the facility.

Yes it can

Some sub stations are office only

And they transport to the actual jail

 

[ADAguy]

Also may depend on small city vs big city, sheriff vs police department