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Repair garage or parking garage?

Sifu

Sifu

SAWHORSE
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
3,326
A previously mentioned ambulance garage. Scope of work is for parking and maintenance. Spaces include a wash bay, multiple compressed air drops, welder, parts cages, tire changers, tire balancers, lifts. Spaces for 24 ambos parked or in various service areas. Use is important here, because I think as a repair garage they will exceed the MAQ for gas or diesel (not 100% sure which) and get pushed into an H. But if not a repair garage then I don't think those requirements apply (please alert me if I am wrong about that). Existing building code analysis calls it an S-1 repair garage, but I have no idea if it was/should have been an H based on quantities. Proposed code analysis also calls it out as an S-1 repair garage, but in various places refers to it as a "warehouse". But if it is still a repair garage, wouldn't S-1 be incorrect, and it would actually be an H-3 with 24 ambos full of diesel?
 
Sifu, in my opinion, MAQ does not factor into repair garages at all. Section 406.8 does not direct the user to Group H based on the maximum allowable quantity (MAQ). If the MAQ had any bearing on parking garages, most large parking garages would be classified as Group H occupancies.

Section 406.8 directs users to the IFC, which has Section 2311 for repair garages. Again, no mention of the MAQ as it applies to occupancy classification. Even its reference to IFC Chapter 57 does not get into MAQ for occupancy classification.
 
RLGA said:
Sifu, in my opinion, MAQ does not factor into repair garages at all. Section 406.8 does not direct the user to Group H based on the maximum allowable quantity (MAQ). If the MAQ had any bearing on parking garages, most large parking garages would be classified as Group H occupancies.

Section 406.8 directs users to the IFC, which has Section 2311 for repair garages. Again, no mention of the MAQ as it applies to occupancy classification. Even its reference to IFC Chapter 57 does not get into MAQ for occupancy classification
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I'm a little confused. Most everything I read, including IBC ch. 3, and several threads on this forum, says a repair garage is only an S-1 if the MAQ's aren't exceeded. So it sure seems like there is a relationship. Based on that restriction on classification, if a repair garage does exceed the MAQ's, what classification would it be if it can't be an S-1? I was thinking H-3, but maybe I am way off. IBC 406.1 says ALL motor vehicle occupancies must comply with 406.2, and further a repair garage with 406.8, but as far as I can tell nothing in ch. 4 dictates classification. So my understanding is that a repair garage can be an S-1, or an H, but either way they need to meet the applicable requirements of 406, and if MAQ's are exceeded 415. I do agree parking garages are not considered in the same way since there is no qualifier in the classification.

This from the commentary:
As defined in Section 202, a repair garage is any
structure used for servicing or repairing motor vehicles.
Therefore, regardless of the extent of work done
(e.g., quick lube, tune-up, muffler and tire shops,
painting, body work, engine overhaul), repair garages
are classified as Group S-1 (see Commentary Figure
311.2) and must be in compliance with Section 406.8.
In addition, to avoid a Group H classification, the
amounts of hazardous materials in the garage must
be less than the maximum allowable quantity per
control area permitted in Tables 307.1(1) and
307.1(2).
 
You know what, you are correct. I did not see the specific description for Group S-1 on repair garages.
 
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then! This has some significant ramifications so I want to be sure. In this existing building, the applicant calls it an S-1 repair garage. If it is, in fact, an H-3 repair garage, and it was, in fact, and S-1 repair garage, the IEBC will invoke all applicable requirements of the IBC for the entire building and many (all?) of the allowances in the IEBC go away since it is changing to an occupancy with hazardous materials. Agree? FWIW, the building has a second story containing a B and A-2 occupancy supporting the repair garage, and if the body of the IBC is used, this building exceeds the allowable area and stories for an H-3.

I have no idea what the existing building data such as the area used for a repair garage was, or any separations within the space, and I suppose it is possible that it actually was an H-3 based on the size, however based on my experience I have serious doubts it would have been critically evaluated as such, or even if it was permitted, based on the age and era of the previous occupancy. So for now, I can only go with what they are telling me...an S-1 repair garage.
 
Here we would use a hazardous materials questionnaire to determine exactly what they have and in turn the fire department would provide the classification. Possible control areas and flammable cabinets could be used to change it from an H if necessary
 
Is there a distinction between the parking-only area and the service/repair area?

If so, call the parking area S-2 and the service/repair area S-1. Discount the quantities in the S-2 since they are not subject to the 307.1 tables.

If fuel contained within fuel tanks of vehicles is not a concern for a parking garage, they should not be counted against the MAQ for a repair garage if they are not being presently worked on, IMHO.
 
Fuel in vehicles for engine operations exempt from MAQ, fuel in dispensing tanks is include in MAQ for storage of vehicles, not for servicing vehicles

2015 IBC table 307.1(1)

1661472106892.png

Massachusetts rub, if you are servicing the fuel oil truck in a building, the gallon capacity of the delivery tank does not count to calculating fire sprinkler requirements, the building is considered a motor vehicle repair garage S1 0.20GPSf. If you have storage of fuel in the building over 660 Gallons in a sprinkler build the it it a H use group and have to up the sprinkler design considerably.
 
TheCommish said:
Fuel in vehicles for engine operations exempt from MAQ, fuel in dispensing tanks is include in MAQ for storage of vehicles, not for servicing vehicles

2015 IBC table 307.1(1)

View attachment 9354

Massachusetts rub, if you are servicing the fuel oil truck in a building, the gallon capacity of the delivery tank does not count to calculating fire sprinkler requirements, the building is considered a motor vehicle repair garage S1 0.20GPSf. If you have storage of fuel in the building over 660 Gallons in a sprinkler build the it it a H use group and have to up the sprinkler design considerably.
Click to expand...
Nice catch. Always read the footnotes--I failed to follow my own advice.
 
I have just finished in this order; a distillery, fuel oil truck repair garage, and a CNG fueled tractor repair garage, had help, good RDPs and a methodical slow analysis of the code requirements
 
I think that settles it. Thanks commish. I spent the last few hours of the day looking for just this type of thing, even read the footnotes listed on the flammable gas and combustible liquids lines, but totally missed the footnotes applicable to the entire table. I would consider all the efforts I spent on this (and all of you) a waste in light of how simple it could have been had I noticed this, but it was a good learning experience for me, and I never consider that a waste.
 
It was also pointed out to me the very clear exemptions in IFC ch. 57 and 23 by an old friend and forum member. Fridays are the BEST!
 
thecodecoach said:
Sifu, thanks for sharing the exceptions in IFC 57 and 23. I will file those away for future reference!
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Can't really take that credit, I don't spend much time in there. A valued resource took the time to point me in that direction. But I too am filing those away in the useful information sector of my brain. That particular sector has an access control system and I can't always find my key-card but next time I search maybe I'll run across this thread and save myself the trouble.
 
Sifu said:
I think that settles it. Thanks commish. I spent the last few hours of the day looking for just this type of thing, even read the footnotes listed on the flammable gas and combustible liquids lines, but totally missed the footnotes applicable to the entire table. I would consider all the efforts I spent on this (and all of you) a waste in light of how simple it could have been had I noticed this, but it was a good learning experience for me, and I never consider that a waste.
Click to expand...
Your welcome, I had help with the situation when I came across it.

This is an example why I support this forum; the collective knowledge is years of experience on projects that may never come before a indiviual BO, however when never occurs, someone has dealt whit it.
 
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