Separation Between Business B and Factory F

[Phil B]

Factory F-1 is Moderate Hazard and F-2 is Low Hazard. Table 508.4 says there is no separation required between B and F-1 but there is between B and F-2, which is a lower hazard risk. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

 

[RLGA]

It is a matter of protecting an area with a higher fire load from an area with a lower fire load. Group B has a moderate fire load (lots of furnishings, paper, plastic, etc.). Although they serve different purposes, there is no need to separate Group B from Group F-1 because they have comparable fire loads. However, the code gets back at you, though, through Section 903.2.4 (2018 IBC). If the Group F-1 fire area (which includes any other occupancy groups not properly separated from the Group F-1) meets any one of the four conditions, then a sprinkler system is required.

However, Group F-2 has a low fire load, so it needs to be protected from the higher fire load of Group B, so separation requirements will apply if the nonseparated occupancy method cannot be used. Unlike Group F-1, Group F-2 has no sprinkler requirements based on fire area.

 

[Phil B]

It is a matter of protecting an area with a higher fire load from an area with a lower fire load. Group B has a moderate fire load (lots of furnishings, paper, plastic, etc.). Although they serve different purposes, there is no need to separate Group B from Group F-1 because they have comparable fire loads. However, the code gets back at you, though, through Section 903.2.4 (2018 IBC). If the Group F-1 fire area (which includes any other occupancy groups not properly separated from the Group F-1) meets any one of the four conditions, then a sprinkler system is required.

However, Group F-2 has a low fire load, so it needs to be protected from the higher fire load of Group B, so separation requirements will apply if the nonseparated occupancy method cannot be used. Unlike Group F-1, Group F-2 has no sprinkler requirements based on fire area.

Thank you for the clarification. Does the code specifically address the relative fire load aspects of these occupancies?