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Regarding Section 402 on malls

blugosi

SAWHORSE
Joined
Sep 25, 2018
Messages
130
Location
Greece
A few questions on Section 402 please.

First, on definitions. Am I right to assume that the three levels maximum limit does not include underground parking garages? We are just classifying the above ground facilities as a mall building, not the parking garage.

Second, we have a mall building where at its end there are four levels. Ground level, first & second floor are mercantile / F&B / cinemas while third floor is business occupancy. Can we still consider the building as a mall if the fourth level area (third floor) complies with the requirements for business per exception 402.1.2?

Third, 402.5 requires sprinkler protection for the mall of a covered mall building to be independent from that provided for tenant spaces or anchor buildings.
To what extent need the sprinklers to be independent? I am pretty sure that a properly dimensioned and redundant single fire pump set and water tanks would suffice, no point for each tenant or anchor building operating its own pump house. Do we simply need to limit risers and branchlines to either mall area or tenant areas?

Thanx in advance for any replies.
 
... not exceeding three floor levels at any point nor more than three stories above grade plane.

1: The mall cannot exceed 3 floor levels. Example: The mall portion cannot have one level below grade and three levels above grade since that would be four levels and exceed the maximum three floor level requirement.
 
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