• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Use Group Question

rshuey

rshuey

REGISTERED
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
516
Location
Central PA
I have a 3 story building, upper 2 floors are apartments. The first floor was an office. The local food bank would like to buy the building. Is a food bank/pantry considered a B use or a M use. They aren't selling anything, but it kind of resembles a market.

Space is appx 3800 sf. The issue is the required separation of 2 hours between M and R uses. This could make or break the deal.

I'm leaning towards an M, but just wanted to get some feedback here.
 
B/S

seems like you would have a B component and an S component depending on how much office to storage there is
 
Def not an "M" - no sales being conducted.

I'd be inclined to a "B" occupancy, if the operators also do intake interviews to qualify recipients and other administrative functions. Each "B" may include a 100sq. ft. unseparated storeroom.
 
Whether it's B, M, or S, the IBC requires a 2-hour separation between those occupancy groups and a Group R if the building is nonsprinklered (I'm assuming the building is nonsprinklered). If the existing B occupancy was properly permitted or was an existing use prior to the adoption of a building code, then a new and different B occupancy would likely be grandfathered.

However, I would not classify the use you describe as a Group B. A Group M (which includes markets; however, no sales is conducted in your case) or a Group S-2 (which includes storage of food products) would likely be the proper classification.

You could possibly use the nonseparated occupancies method if the construction type of the existing building offers sufficient allowable area and height. If the building qualifies as Type VA construction, then Group R-2 (the most restrictive) would be allowed 12,000 sf per story up to 3 stories. Then all you would need is the required 1-hour separation between the residential units and the first story.
 
302.1

......... Where a structure is proposed for a purpose that is not specifically provided for in this code, such structure shall be classified in the group that the occupancy most nearly resembles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard involved.

Except for the exchange of money it is an "M" occupancy. An "M" would require less plumbing fixtures then a "B" occupancy

It is the same relative hazard and fire safety concerns regadless if the public pay for the products or the public receives them for free.
 
mtlogcabin: I agree. Just because no money changes hands does not make the hazard any different.

If the food is out on display for patrons to select from, then I would call it a Group M. If patrons come in, tell the staff what they want and the staff retrieves the items from a storage area, then I would call it a Group S-2. You could classify incidental business areas as Group B, but it sounds like the use is predominently Group M or S-2.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
rshuey,

If the previous use was a "B", and they change it to an "M", will you now have

Accessibility requirements on the exterior, as well as, on the interior (RE:

Section 3409.4 in the 2006 IBC)?

.
 
Yes, accessibility issues are easy. Already has 2 accessible restrooms and accessible entrance. Just worried about the separations.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top