Two small restaurants - B or aggregate A-2

[wegehaupts]

I have a 2000sf small fast-food restaurant (30 seats) to the west of a 5000 sf convenience store (M occupancy) and another small fast-food restaurant (30 seats) to the east of the convenience store.
Would this be considered two B occupancies around an M occupancy or would you consider the dining an A-2 since the aggregate seating is greater than 50 seats?
If Bs, then no separation required.
If A-2, then I think I would need a 2-hr fire barrier and rated doors between one of the restaurants and the convenience store?

 

[JPohling]

Each suite area is it's own occupancy. Not an aggregate, even if they were imediately adjacent. You have a mixed use building. B/M. B's on each side of the M

 

[RLGA]

Not enough information (e.g., construction type, sprinkler situation).

You say the restaurants have "30 seats" each, but the floor area for each is 2,000 sq. ft. Unless the dining areas have 30 fixed seats or are less than 23% of the total floor areas for each restaurant, the occupant load will likely be way more than 30.

If, in fact, the occupant load of each dining area is less than 50, then the restaurant can be classified as a Group B occupancy.

However, depending on the construction type and sprinkler situation of the building, occupancy separation may not be required if you can use the nonseparated occupancies method.

 

[wegehaupts]

Construction type VB, no sprinkler.
West (taco restaurant) and center and old pizza place are existing.
New pizza (1996sf) is being added on as the old pizza place is turning into more c-store.

I tried the nonseparated occupancy argument, but AHJ is considering aggregate A-2 which seems not quite correct.
AHJ counted chairs in taco (30) and chairs in current pizza (30) and determined that way.

See floor plan.
Thanks all.

 

[JPohling]

I see two B occupancy restaurants on each side of an M. No occupancy separation required.

 

[steveray]

Need a full floor plan

 

[RLGA]

It is not based on the aggregate occupant load of both restaurants. However, it sounds like the dining areas consist of loose tables and chairs. If so, then the occupant load is based on 15 sq. ft. per occupant and not by counting the chairs.

Your action to the situation depends on the occupancy classification of the restaurants:

• Restaurants are Group B: The total building area is 8,992 sq. ft., which is less than 9,000 sq. ft., which is the maximum for both Group B and Group M. Thus, the addition does not need to be separated.
• One or Both Restaurants are Group A-2: Group A-2 is limited to 6,000 sq. ft. If you have 30 feet or more frontage around the perimeter of the building, the allowable area can be increased 75% for a total area of 10,500 sq. ft. This allows you to use the nonseparated occupancies (WARNING! Do not stop reading here). However, this creates another problem. Per the IEBC, an addition cannot make a building less complying with the IBC than it was prior to the addition. Per IBC Section 903.2.1.2, if the fire area of a Group A-2 exceeds 5,000 sq. ft., a sprinkler system is required. Also, if the fire area has an occupant load of 100 more, a sprinkler system is required. Before the addition, the fire area exceeds 5,000 sq. ft. and the occupant load probably was more than 100. However, the addition makes the building "less complying" with the IBC in both categories. Therefore, the addition must be separated from the existing building with a 2-hour fire barrier per IBC Table 707.3.10 to maintain the existing fire area and make the addition a separate fire area.

If they will accept each restaurant, individually, as a Group B occupancy, then the first action would be applicable.