Assembly Exit Allowed Below Grade Level?

2/3/2021

We have a building that used to be a business occupancy but the new occupant wants to now use the occupancy as a church (assembly).

The building is not sprinklered and has no fire alarm system. The new occupant load is 279 people.

The problem is the main entrance is on ground level but the second rear exit is below ground level to exit the building. Is the second rear exit below ground level acceptable?

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5 Comments

Henry

2/3/2021 09:21:55 am

Typically accessible means of egress are not required per the IEBC so if your second exit below grade is an actual exit then you would have two means of egress.

Brian Gerdwagen FPE

2/3/2021 09:25:15 am

You need to check your local requirements when changing occupancies. Usually there is a requirement to add sprinklers and fire alarm if the new occupancy would require one. The egress may be the least of the problems.

Thomas Reinhardt

2/3/2021 10:05:39 am

Brian is correct. Check what codes are adpted.
1. New assembly(A3). Occupant load more than 300 shall have sprinklers . You said 279. I think in the future they will probable add 21 worshipers.
2. Building more than 12,000 SQFT shall have sprinklers.
3.May need full NFPA 72 fire alarm. Again based on 300 occupants.
4. You may get away with 2 exits, but I would check full exit egress and common path of egress. The distance is based on with or without sprinklers.

Dean Melanson

2/3/2021 11:58:20 am

Definitely need to check your state / local building and fire codes. In Massachusetts the IBC-2015 has been amended to meet specific laws and past code requirements in the state. A change to assembly with your numbers and being underground would require sprinklers and a fire alarm, special attention to egress numbers, construction (smoke proof) and location as well as a number of other potential requirements found in Chapter 4 Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy 405 Underground Structures. A certified architect and Engineer are required to provide a code review narrative and stamped plans outlining and showing the code requirements, occupancy calculations, exit capacities etc. etc. and how the design will meet the code.

Jay Richardson

2/3/2021 12:17:17 pm

Check the administration chapter for applicability of the locally adopted model codes (IBC, IFC, NFPA 1/101/5000). When a building changes use group or occupancy classification, that building is required to comply with all requirements of the new classification (as if it were a newly constructed church).

Assembly Exit Allowed Below Grade Level?

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