What occupancy would you classify two sleeping rooms in an office building (otherwise B Occupancy)?
The area of the two rooms is 400 sf, and the area of the offices is 6,870 sf. Will the rooms be R-2? Does the building need sprinklers as a result? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
12 Comments
Donovan
10/9/2024 08:35:51 am
The room will need 177cd for ceiling or 110cd wall mount. Low frequency is not required because it is not an R2
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Glenn Berger
10/9/2024 08:47:25 am
1) Need to identify all applicable codes based upon project location.
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Ricardo Gonzales Jr
10/9/2024 08:49:56 am
Treat it as mentioned by Donovan suggested. If the room is small you can use a 15cd strobe if the light equivalence is that used for an R1 in each space
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Todd E Wyatt
10/9/2024 09:08:51 am
Per the scoping Code (e.g. IBC-2021 310.1 Residential Group R Residential), a “Group R includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for SLEEPING PURPOSES when not classified as an Institutional Group I or when not regulated by the International Residential Code.” To determine which Group R sub-group it is, the “transient” nature of the (sleeping) occupants needs to be determined :
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Jack G
10/9/2024 10:41:09 am
Yes there must be a separation assembly of 2 hours for the sleeping rooms.
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Ricardo Gonzales Jr
10/9/2024 02:28:53 pm
Keep in mind no to make a mountain out of a mole hill. The customer has a budget and being creative for a 25 square foot room doesn't justify massive expense.
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Todd E Wyatt
10/10/2024 08:55:22 am
Utilizing an Occupancy Classification (OC) for other (non-approved) uses can cause fatalities :
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Ricardo Gonzales Jr
10/10/2024 09:28:40 am
The best is to get a rapport with the AHJ and possibly rename the space. i.e. Quiet room instead of sleeping room. Unless the owner wants to build a hotel within their space. Todd goes to the extreme, but the lack of building code and inspection officials to check out rumors on the warehouse (S-1) with no sprinkler being used as an R-2 and the creative flammables the tenants used to build and utilize their space. It was and is a recipe for disaster. Affordable housing was never considered in the article.
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Todd E Wyatt
10/10/2024 02:53:04 pm
IBC-2021
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JS
10/23/2024 08:53:39 am
Similar to what Todd said, in my experience for these types of rooms the first discussion to have is if people are expected/permitted to sleep in these rooms or not. "Quiet Rooms" are becoming more popular and although their intent is to relax people often do sleep, whether is permitted or not by the owner. The rooms that I've worked with are only used by people that are familiar or intimate with the building, no transient occupants.
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Ricardo Gonzales Jr
10/23/2024 10:55:25 am
I guess my working in environments where politics are a constant Hot Potatoe, creativity in obtaining the result but still meet the intent of the Codes became 2nd nature. We, as a group, need to keep in mind safety is always #1 and how we get there can be a challenge and creative. We need to keep in mind that the AHJ could care less about what the budget (a million here or there is of no concern) is and will always ask for the Platinum goblet when a simple plastic mug will do. Yes, we get to be creative as long as we can back up our stance. That's why AHJs approve Code Variances (Administrative Modifications) for unique situations that don't fit the square peg into the round hole. All the above answers are good, but document every step and why the space will vary from the code. Give the AHJ a strong case to hang their hat on and they can quickly become your best partner in getting unique situations allowed. I constantly work with building and fire code officials with a lot of give and take to meet the intent of the code and safety of all occupants.
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