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Term "As Necessary" within temporary construction

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Vivosims2

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Capitol District, New York, USA
up.codes

Chapter 31 Special Construction: Special Construction, Massachusetts Building Code 2015 | UpCodes

UpCodes offers a consolidated resource of construction and building code grouped by jurisdiction
up.codes up.codes

"3103.1.1 Conformance

Temporary structures and uses shall conform to the structural strength, fire safety, means of egress, accessibility, light, ventilation, and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure public health, safety, and general welfare."

I am running in to a problem where a temporary fire station (which is a tensile membrane structure: read large tent) per the word of the law and interpretation of the code official is required to have sprinklers.

our current rational is as follows:
  • Per Section 3103.1.1 of the MA Building Code, “Temporary structures and uses shall conform to the structural strength, fire safety, means of egress, accessibility, light, ventilation, and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure public health, safety, and general welfare.” We have highlighted “as necessary” to explain the team’s approach.
  • Recognizing that the bays are not public space, the welfare of the first responders is our greatest consideration.
  • In lieu of a sprinkler system that would provide automatic detection and fire suppression, we have designed and incorporated the following elements to ensure fire safety in an alternative method:
    • Fully monitored fire alarm system per Section 907 complete with heat and smoke detectors, strobes, horns, and pull stations.
    • Reduced travel distance to fire extinguishers throughout the facilities.
    • Trained fire prevention and firefighting personnel are the nearest on-scene people.
    • The bays are separated into two buildings, so if one structure is exposed to fire, the other can be used to fight it.
this alternate means of compliance currently does not satisfy the code official.

Does anyone know of any code citations, bulletins or guidance on how the commonwealth interprets and applies special construction sections and language like this?

any suggestions would be much appreciated!
 
Section 3104 of the IFC does not require sprinklers for temporary tent/membrane structures (just fire extinguishers) and does not require compliance with the IBC. I will have to look at NFPA 1 to see if it has different or similar requirements.
 
Vivosims2 said:
up.codes

Chapter 31 Special Construction: Special Construction, Massachusetts Building Code 2015 | UpCodes

UpCodes offers a consolidated resource of construction and building code grouped by jurisdiction
up.codes up.codes

"3103.1.1 Conformance

Temporary structures and uses shall conform to the structural strength, fire safety, means of egress, accessibility, light, ventilation, and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure public health, safety, and general welfare."

I am running in to a problem where a temporary fire station (which is a tensile membrane structure: read large tent) per the word of the law and interpretation of the code official is required to have sprinklers.

our current rational is as follows:
  • Per Section 3103.1.1 of the MA Building Code, “Temporary structures and uses shall conform to the structural strength, fire safety, means of egress, accessibility, light, ventilation, and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure public health, safety, and general welfare.” We have highlighted “as necessary” to explain the team’s approach.
  • Recognizing that the bays are not public space, the welfare of the first responders is our greatest consideration.
  • In lieu of a sprinkler system that would provide automatic detection and fire suppression, we have designed and incorporated the following elements to ensure fire safety in an alternative method:
    • Fully monitored fire alarm system per Section 907 complete with heat and smoke detectors, strobes, horns, and pull stations.
    • Reduced travel distance to fire extinguishers throughout the facilities.
    • Trained fire prevention and firefighting personnel are the nearest on-scene people.
    • The bays are separated into two buildings, so if one structure is exposed to fire, the other can be used to fight it.
this alternate means of compliance currently does not satisfy the code official.

Does anyone know of any code citations, bulletins or guidance on how the commonwealth interprets and applies special construction sections and language like this?

any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...

So how long is temporary??

Guess the code official does not work for the same ahj as the fire department???
 
NFPA 1 does not from my search. Our current code official is interpreting it that it must meet the IBC and NFPA 1. do you have some sort of support for the interpretation that it does not not to meet the IBC?
 
Vivosims2 said:
there are two, about 5,000 SF and one 6,800 SF. all with proper egress( and signage) and an addressable alarm system (heat and smoke detectors). both under MA general law 7,500 sf sprinkler mandate.
Click to expand...
If they are under the sprinkler mandate, why are they being mandated? Close together? Treated as one building?
 
Chapter 9 of the 2015 IBC with Massachusetts amendments are in play,
It is temporary, i get this all the time, I ask how long do you intend to keep it? Answer for couple of years. = not temporary.

"3103.1.1 Conformance

Temporary structures and uses shall conform to the structural strength, fire safety, means of egress, accessibility, light, ventilation, and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure public health, safety, and general welfare."

Left out fire safety, as necessary to ensure the public health safety and welfare, well if the Towns fire engines burn up there is not going to be much public safety.

So does the exist fire station have sprinklers? If yes why should the protection for them go down in the temporary arrangement?

Now reality, agree to understand each view point (covering my ass). Present to the BBRS Appeals Board in an application for a variance, whit the written facts, how the structure is going to be kept sufficiently warm to prevent the trucks from freezing and being able to start in cold weather, how if they have ambulances the patent compartment and medications are going be kept a the proper temperature and a mitigation solution with a realistic time frame of the temporary arrangement.

Go with the Building Official, Fire Chief, RDP and the Town Manager if needed, in agreement of the the presentation and solution and the appeals board will probably grant the requested relief.

Then work with the community's insurance carrier to appropriately cover the temporary arrangement.

1621041358256.png


1621039832026.png1621039903281.png
 
Vivosims2 said:
NFPA 1 does not from my search. Our current code official is interpreting it that it must meet the IBC and NFPA 1. do you have some sort of support for the interpretation that it does not not to meet the IBC?
Click to expand...
IFC Section 3104.1 states that only "Permanent tents and membrane structures shall also comply with the International Building Code."
 
Forget sprinklers and building code, 2015 IFC 3103.8.2 says: "Tents or membrane structures shall not be located within 20 feet of lot lines, buildings, other tents or membrane structures, PARKED VEHICLES OR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES"

So that fire apparatus cannot be within 20 feet of the tensile membrane structure, never mind inside it, if the 2015 IFC applies.
 
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