Treat Wellness Room as Residential Occupancy?

5/15/2023

A lot of office buildings and public transit depot buildings are being designed with "quiet" or "wellness" rooms for tired employees to take a break and "rest," leading a lot of AHJs to ask if these rooms are R occupancies.

The designed use is not a sleeping room and many clients "prohibit" sleeping but everyone agrees that it could be used as a sleeping room.

Typically they're size for 1-5 people and have lounge chairs (no beds) so they fall under the accessory use category to the rest of the building. For example, assume a multi-story office building where each floor has one of these rooms, less than 500 square feet, no beds just chairs, room is entirely open inside.

How would you treat these rooms and how would you address the requirements for corridors in the building assuming its a sprinklered building?

Thanks in advance.

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17 Comments

Glenn Berger

5/15/2023 08:20:15 am

To date, I have been considering these as standard support spaces for the occupancies for which they are located within.

David Kendrick

5/15/2023 08:21:05 am

Mayby I'm missing something.

This is likely a NFPA 13 system with a specific use room built inside.

For 500 square feet what could be different for the rest of the project layout, materials etcetera?

If the remaining surrounding area is Light Hazard I'd maintain the same materials, spacing properties for the resting area.

Jon

5/19/2023 08:35:17 am

I think the suppression standpoint is pretty easy to follow, I think the question is more life safety code based. If you have a standard B building and you put sleeping occupants inside of it, what occupancy would you call it and how would it affect the rest of the building? Or would you even need to call it an R occupancy?

Todd E Wyatt

5/15/2023 08:42:29 am

SUMMARY
Depending on the interpretation of the AHJ of the “transitory” nature of the occupants (e.g. employees) using these rooms, these rooms should be classified as Group R-1 or R-2 Residential based on its possibility that they are used as a “sleeping unit.”

EXPLANATION
A building’s Occupancy Classifications (OC) are based on the adopted Code (e.g. 2021 IBC) per Chapter 3 Occupancy Classification and Use. This OC is important as it “fundamental in the setting of features of construction; occupant safety requirements, especially building limitations; means of egress; fire protection systems; and interior finishes.”

Section 310 Residential Group R includes (4) subcategories (R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4) based on the “transitory” nature of the occupants, the number of occupants, and care provided :
• R-1 occupancies containing sleeping units where the occupants are primarily transient in nature (e.g. Hotels - transient)
• R-2 occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature (e.g. Dormitories)
• R-3 occupancies where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature and not classified as Group R-1, R-2, R-4 or I (e.g. Congregate living facilities (nontransient) with 16 or fewer occupants)
• R-4 occupancy shall include buildings, structures or portions thereof for more than five but not more than 16 persons, excluding staff, who reside on a 24-hour basis in a supervised residential environment and receive custodial care (e.g. Assisted Living Facilities).

In all case, “sleeping units” are a principle element of Group R Residential OC and it is defined as the following :

SLEEPING UNIT. A single unit that provides rooms or spaces for one or more persons, includes permanent provisions for sleeping and can include provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.

Based on this definition, an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) could define "quiet or wellness rooms” as meeting this “sleeping unit” definition and requiring it be classified as a R-1 (transient) or a R-2 (permanent). Since the intent is for it to be used for employees who would (should) be familiar with the layout of that story, an argument could be made that it meets the intent of the “permanent” R-2 OC. If the R-2 room is <10% in area of that story’s gross floor area, it would be defined as an “accessory” OC that is ancillary to the main OC (e.g. Group B Business). The R-2 accessory OC would not affect the story’s allowables (e.g. Building Height, Building Area, Number of Stories). The “sleeping unit” would be required to be separated from the main OC per 2021 IBC 420.2 Separation Walls by 1-Hour Fire Partitions (1FP) meeting IBC 711.

Additionally, fire protection requirements per Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems including smoke detection and possibly carbon monoxide detection.

While the clients may "prohibit" sleeping, it is the AHJ’s responsibility to interpret HOW the space will really be utilized and require the most stringent requirments be met. We have had client explain that the “Shell Space” will NOT be used for storage only to find it packed with (combustible) storage months later. That is why most AHJs require shell spaces to be classified as Group S Storage until they are altered for their eventual use.

REFERENCES
Chapter 3 Occupancy Classification and Use
User note:
About this chapter: Chapter 3 provides the criteria by which buildings and structures are classified into use groups and occupancies. Through the balance of the code, occupancy classification is fundamental in the setting of features of construction; occupant safety requirements, especially building limitations; means of egress; fire protection systems; and interior finishes.

Section 301 Scope
301.1 General
The provisions of this chapter shall control the classification of all buildings and structures as to occupancy and use. Different classifications of occupancy and use represent varying levels of hazard and risk to building occupants and adjacent properties.

Section 302 Occupancy Classification and Use Designation
302.1 Occupancy Classification
Occupancy classification is the formal designation of the primary purpose of the building, structure or portion thereof. Structures shall be classified into one or more of the occupancy groups specified in this section based on the nature of the hazards and risks to building occupants generally associated with the intended purpose of the building or structure. An area, room or space that is intended to be occupied at different times for different purposes shall comply with all applicable requirements associated with such potential multipurpose. Struc

Todd E Wyatt

5/17/2023 12:45:16 pm

See "Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Physician on-call sleep rooms" for a similar interpretation (https://www.healthcarefacilitiestoday.com/posts/Regulations-Codes-Standards-QA-Physician-on-call-sleep-rooms--20603)

Q: Are non-patient sleeping rooms (i.e. physician sleep rooms) that are located in a hospital occupancy considered part of that hospital occupancy classification?

A: Well…. There is no occupancy classification called ‘hospital occupancy’. Probably what you are referring to is healthcare occupancy, which is where inpatients are located. So, to answer your question… it depends. Non-patient sleeping rooms are usually physician on-call rooms and they are often located in close proximity to where their inpatients are located. They must comply with Lodging or Rooming House occupancy classification, and usually they are not separated from the healthcare occupancy, so it would be considered a mixed occupancy situation. That means the physician on-call sleeping rooms must meet the most restrictive requirements between Lodging or Rooming House, and Healthcare occupancy.

If the physician on-call sleeping rooms are part of the healthcare occupancy, they still must meet requirements from Lodging or Rooming House occupancy, which means the room must have smoke detectors.

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.

Jon

5/19/2023 08:41:59 am

Based on that analysis I think its safe to say that a 1/2 hour rated corridor would also be required for the means of egress for the R occupants, would you agree?

Todd E Wyatt

5/19/2023 10:17:40 am

It depends ...

,,, IF the AHJ determines that the wellness room is required to be classified as Group R-2, the AHJ could require that the fire-resistance rating (FRR) of the corridors (serving as the required Means of Egress for the R-2 occupants) meet 2021 IBC Table 1020.2 which requires corridor partitions to be 0.5-Hour Fire Partitions ...

... IF the Occupant Load (OL) for the Wellness Room is calculated as >10 occupants.

Since the Wellness Room was identified as 500 sf, the following OL Factors per Table 1004.5 would determine the calculated OL:

Assembly - Unconcentrated (Tables & Chairs) = 15 NSF/Occ = 33.3 = 34 Occupants
Business Areas = 150 GSF = 3.3 = 4 occupants
Business Areas (Concentrated) = 50 GSF = 10 occupants
Residential = 200 GSF = 2.5 = 3 occupants

While the Owner could claim that since only (5) (non-fixed) lounge chairs were to be provided, the OL should be <10 occupants and the corridor would not be required to be FRR. The problem is, once the AHJ completes their inspection for Certificate of Occupancy, the Owner could add additional lounge chairs and the OL could be >10.

Some AHJs will permit a "reduced" calculated OL if a "Maximum Occupancy" signage is posted in the room, area, or space.

JP link

5/15/2023 08:45:14 am

Hi,

These rooms, especially in a Group B building, would be considered Group B. The occupant load factor is like that of Assembly (unconcentrated). We typically refer to this as a small assembly space under 50 persons and under 750 sf allowing it to be considered Group B or part of the main occupancy per IBC 303.1.1 and 303.1.2.

The key as to not mislead the AHJ is the naming in the room. We typically would refer to this as a "Quiet Room." Nomenclature such as "Rest Area" or " Resting Space" may give the impression that the space is intended for extended stays/sleeping.

Alex

5/15/2023 08:47:27 am

These rooms are becoming more common. If located within an office, I would design the room as Light Hazard and ensure corridors (dead-end) are designed per Group B.

Anthony

5/15/2023 08:59:21 am

As others have said I'd include these as part of the B areas. For FP particularly I'd look at LH not residential protection for the sprinkler system. Might want to bump up the FA to include a horn strob in the room if someone 'forgot' to read the sign about not napping in the room.

Adam

5/15/2023 09:46:02 am

I'm not sure about a transit building, but in an office, I would expect the employees to be more-or-less on the clock and only in the building during daytime hours (someone working overtime at night could fall asleep at their desk anywhere in the building), and would not be permitted to take an extended "dead to the world" nap.

When I was in my twenties, working at a large office, employees would put their heads down on the lunch room tables and take naps, but then they'd have the boss send someone looking for them if they were not back at the end of their break time.

I don't see how a rest area in an office could slip into residential use due to the nature of the building - the employees have responsibilities while they are there, and would not be in the same mind set as someone sleeping in a dorm or hotel room overnight. They may be napping even in a chair, but a part of them is still at work.

And as others have mentioned, I assume the building materials are the same in this room as the rest of the office. I would call it a break room, and treat it like the rest of the occupancy.

Jon

5/19/2023 08:44:40 am

These are rooms specifically designed to let employees step away from their work for an extended period of time, mostly geared towards employees who wouldn't be behind a desk all day. Its not intended as a traditional break room, more like a nursing station room; you're not working but you're also not going to spend your entire day in there.

Franck

5/15/2023 10:05:16 am

As indicated above, in an office building, I will protect it as the remaining areas as a LH occupancy (minimum).
There is no argument to consider it as a residential occupancy just for this room, with different installation rules…
What if this room is suddenly used as an office in a few years ? You will have to re-design everything ?

Pete H

5/15/2023 10:33:05 am

Agree with everyone else, it's the occupancy of the surrounding (presumably office) area.

Break Room
Light Hazard

In my opinion.

Pete H

5/15/2023 11:04:04 am

Rereading the question again and the replies.... I think this guy is asking more in regards to fire alarm than fire sprinkler.

So like would the break room need a strobe and auditory device the same as a room where someone sleeps in a hospital, hotel, or dormitory where the devices have to be set to "wake someone the hell up" levels.

--

I'd say no. Even with the knowledge that people will sleep in the break room, the break room is not designed or meant for sleep and it is not to be designed or meant as a sleeping area. Your system is to work with the building as designed, not as will inevitably be executed because people don't play by the rules.

Other examples of this: (in reality): think of residential balconies. Assuming they are not of combustible obstruction and the overhang is small enough, many of these do not actually require (sprinkler) fire protection for the exterior projection. However many AHJ's will go "I don't care if the code can omit this area, I don't care if the building says tenants can't have grills or hot plates on the balconies, the tenants will break that rule and I want a dry head protecting it." But similarly, many AHJ's will take the building design and intent and rules of the building and honor the omission allowed by the accepted standard. So the code will have you go by designed intent of the facility, but an AHJ may override it for actual execution. But that is up to the AHJ.

Example (In fiction): Think of Harry Potter's room. It's a closet under the stairs. Yes, the Dursley's use it as a sleeping area for Harry, but that is not the design and intent of the room. So if there was a residential fire alarm system being installed in their home, as no one can reasonably be expected to know whether or not they'd use that closet as a sleeping area, the area is to be designed and installed as a closet until that knowledge of it being a sleeping area is realistically and actually confirmed to designers and/or AHJs.

Jon

5/19/2023 08:57:53 am

Your last sentence hit the nail on the head; the intent isn't sleeping but its almost certainly going to occur. Even though its not permitted its one of those things that is going to be difficult to police, like people using wedges on fire doors that don't have hold-opens installed. It a problem than can be engineered around (put the doors on hold opens and they won't get chocked open) but real question is how much additional protection should reasonably applied to protection a potential sleeping occupant? Is the rated corridor that an R occupancy requires really necessary? Is CO detection necessary if there are no CO emitting appliances or equipment?

Mike link

5/16/2023 09:47:23 am

Stick with the the first comment by Glenn, not complicated add smoke detector, horn/strobe, sprinkler as used in the rest of the building.

Treat Wellness Room as Residential Occupancy?

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