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Tents On The Roof

Francis Vineyard

Francis Vineyard

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Jan 1, 2010
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Location
Charlottesville, VA
Virginia does not require permit for tents that are 900 sf or less and the IFC maintains compliance where reference by the IBC.

Does the code regulate tents and membrane structures of any size as an additional story in where erected on a roof without sides accordance with 503 but not a fire area?

The commentary addresses these sections as tents at grade.

IBC:

3102.1 General.

The provisions of Sections 3102.1 through :Next('./icod_ibc_2012_31_par012.htm')'>3102.8 shall apply to air-supported, air-inflated, membrane-covered cable and membrane-covered frame structures, collectively known as membrane structures, erected for a period of 180 days or longer. Those erected for a shorter period of time shall comply with the International Fire Code. Membrane structures covering water storage facilities, water clarifiers, water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, greenhouses and similar facilities not used for human occupancy are required to meet only the requirements of :Next('./icod_ibc_2012_31_par005.htm')'>Sections 3102.3.1 and :Next('./icod_ibc_2012_31_par011.htm')'>3102.7. Membrane structures erected on a building, balcony, deck or other structure for any period of time shall comply with this section.

3102.4 Allowable floor areas.

The area of a membrane structure shall not exceed the limitations set forth in Table 503, except as provided in :Next('./icod_ibc_2012_5_par020.htm')'>Section 506.

3102.5 Maximum height.

Membrane structures shall not exceed one story nor shall such structures exceed the height limitations in feet set forth in Table 503.

Exception: Noncombustible membrane structures serving as roofs only.

FIRE AREA. The aggregate floor area enclosed and bounded by fire walls, fire barriers, exterior walls or horizontal assemblies of a building. Areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor next above.

IFC:

3103.8.4 Membrane structures on buildings.

Membrane structures that are erected on buildings, balconies, decks or other structures shall be regulated as permanent membrane structures in accordance with Section 3102 of the International Building Code.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Francis Vineyard said:
Doesn't the roof have to project from a wall to be considered a fire area?
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What that piece of code is saying is that the fire area may extend past the walls if the building is cantilevered or there are no walls.....
 
Can you look at it a different way

If there is a tent there

And people there

The area is occupied
 
OCCUPIABLE SPACE. A room or enclosed space designed for human occupancy in which individuals congregate for amusement, educational or similar purposes or in which occupants are engaged at labor, and which is equipped with means of egress and light and ventilation facilities meeting the requirements of this code.

Is there any difference if it was an open roof patio or one with a canopy
 
steveray said:
What that piece of code is saying is that the fire area may extend past the walls if the building is cantilevered or there are no walls.....
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I found other posting where you repeated this and the ICC interpretation that drove the definition to remove rated horizontal assembly above:

http://www2.iccsafe.org/cs/committeeArea/pdf_file/BU_03_104_05.pdf

So the exception of a non-combustible roof without sides allows them to exceed the height but is still a fire area.

Thanks
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Permitguy and I argued this around a while back......and I think some of the peple have a good point.....I was saying sprinkler it (as required for an A fire area)....They were saying the membrane will burn before the heads ever go off......
 
Lots of issues:

I would say it is absolutely a fire area. It is not just a tent, it is a roof converted into an occupied deck.

Is the roof designed for the new live load?

Is the roof covering approved for use as a deck covering?

Do you have compliant exiting and accessibility?

Do roof parapets meet the requirement for guard rails?

Lighting both normal and emergency?
 
steveray said:
Permitguy and I argued this around a while back......and I think some of the peple have a good point.....I was saying sprinkler it (as required for an A fire area)....They were saying the membrane will burn before the heads ever go off......
Click to expand...
Where the membrane structure as a roof only on the building is exempt from 503; do you think it's compliant for 5B construction by having the access travel distance less since the building is not sprinklered throughout and the occupant load on the roof limited as applicable in chapter 9 for group A fire area with the rest of the fire area sprinklered to the level of exit discharge?
 
retire09 said:
Lots of issues:I would say it is absolutely a fire area. It is not just a tent, it is a roof converted into an occupied deck.

Is the roof designed for the new live load?

Is the roof covering approved for use as a deck covering?

Do you have compliant exiting and accessibility?

Do roof parapets meet the requirement for guard rails?

Lighting both normal and emergency?
Click to expand...
Of course and here's another thing would the required enclosed stairs to the roof inadvertently create another story and nullify the membrane roof exception?
 
Sounds like a really good, cheap idea...until you really get into it.....

903.2.1 Group A. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings and portions thereof used as Group A occupancies as provided in this section. For Group A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler system shall be provided******** throughout the floor area******* where the Group A-1, A-2, A-3 or A-4 occupancy is located, and in all floors from the Group A occupancy to, and including, the nearest level of exit discharge serving the Group A occupancy. For Group A-5 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in the spaces indicated in Section 903.2.1.5. [F]

And then the next sections all refer to A fire areas...and all above the level of exit discharge....

Why do you say it is exempt from 503?
 
steveray said:
Why do you say it is exempt from 503?
Click to expand...
I misread that; the height is exempt not the story above grade.

Just expanding on your thoughts about requiring sprinklers where the membrane to burn away before activating; would the other limitations on occupant load and travel distance be better served the intent than having sprinklers that may be useless with the increased travel distance and OL?
 
So is the membrane fire retardant or nfpa 701

I think we are mixing donkeys and turtles here

If ibc requires sprinklers and nfpa 13 has no exceptions, than there needs to be sprinklers

At some point a house may lose its roof but you still sprinkle it when required
 
cda said:
So is the membrane fire retardant or nfpa 701I think we are mixing donkeys and turtles here

If ibc requires sprinklers and nfpa 13 has no exceptions, than there needs to be sprinklers

At some point a house may lose its roof but you still sprinkle it when required
Click to expand...
For umbrellas too?
 
Appreciate clarifying for me the horizontal projection of Fire Area.

cda like your sense of humor; though wasn't meant to be a smart reply; some stuff we do on a case by case basis; for example architects proposed creative (cheap ideas) to hang umbrellas from a pergola; other times they know better but their client pays them to ask.
 
I guess I am getting lost at what you are looking at?

Is it a tent on a roof

Is it a canopy attached to a structure on the roof

Or other
 
On the roof of office, dormitory, restaurants and swimming pools on the top of buildings. In Virginia the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (IFC) can enforce where reference from the IBC as amended. The Fire Marshal needs to prohibit these structures though permits would not be required for tents 900 sf and less.
 
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