Occupancy Classification and Layout Guidelines H3? S1? F1? B? U? H6? M? H7? A1? Presented to PIBA Seminar Group Todd LaBerge, P.E. Senior Fire Protection Engineer
Presentation Overview Occupancy Groups Limits of Group Classifications Sample Egress Issues Life Safety Equipment Guidelines Converting Buildings
Occupancy Groups Defined by Uniform Building Code (UBC) Chapter 3 Each Group has a specified Letter A, B, E, F, H, I, M, S, U Each Group has a Sub-Category 1, 2, 3 etc. Some have no sub-category
Occupancy Group Types A= Assembly (Theaters, Lecture Halls etc) B= Business (typical Offices) F= Factory (production of goods) H= Hazardous (the bad stuff) M= Merchantile (shops, mall stores, REI, etc.) S= Storage (warehouses, parking garages etc.)
Sub-Categories Each sub-category is different for each Occupancy Group Increase in number does not mean hazard increases or decreases See Occupancy Handout
Occupancy Group Example Semiconductor Chip Fab = H6 : H for Hazardous 6 for Subcategory fitting description Large Conference Room = A3 A for Assembly 3 for Stage/Occupant Limiters
Popular Business Occupancies A3 = Large conference rooms, Cafeterias B = Offices and labs* F1 = Factory Most chemical-free production H6 = Fabs H3 = Physical Hazard Chemical Storage H7 = Health Hazard Chemical Storage S1 = Storage - Warehousing * With limits and restrictions
Limits of a B Occupancy Small offices, labs, etc. that do not use, store or otherwise have more chemicals than what is allowed in Tables 3D & 3E See Handout for determination See UBC Chapter 3
Occupancy Limit Tables Table 3-D: Physical Hazard Limits Table 3-E: Health Hazard Limits
Egress Issues in Industry (UBC Chapters 3 and 10) Definitions Number of Required Exits Intervening Rooms Travel Distances Doors
Egress Definitions Exit Access The travel from any point in the building to an EXIT Moving from your desk to an EXIT door May include a hallways or corridors i.e. if we leave this room and move to an EXIT Stairway
Egress Definitions (Cont d) The EXIT The Area between the Exit Access and the EXIT Discharge Doors, Interior Stairwells, Vestibules i.e. any Exterior Door, Stairwell 3
Egress Definitions (cont d) Exit Discharge The area between the EXIT and the Public Way Exterior Stairs, Ramps, Courtyards, Docks i.e. Where the EXIT door dumps you out at
Number of Required EXITs All H Occupancy areas need 2 EXITS Exception: Areas less than 200 sq.ft. An EXIT is either an EXIT door or an EXIT Access Door (i.e. into a corridor)
Intervening Rooms Any rooms between your location and an EXIT Door Hallways are intervening rooms Exiting may be into an intervening room* Less than 10 people can leave their room, go through another and then hit an EXIT. Small Machine Area Large Lab Corridor
Travel Distances Vary from 100 ft. to 250 ft. before you reach an EXIT or EXIT Corridor Additional 100 ft. to EXIT if you are within a corridor in a sprinklered building
Exit Path Clearances Minimum 36 inches CLEAR PATH anywhere Minimum 44 inches in a Corridor and main Main Aisleways
Dead End Corridors Any Dead End portion in H Occupancies cannot be greater than 20 ft. from an exit door
EXIT Doors Must Swing in Direction of Travel in A and H Occ y, and in any area requiring 2+ EXITS No locks, or it must be equipped with PANIC HARDWARE
Life Safety Eq. Guidelines
Life Safety Equipment EXIT Signs Locations Above Every EXIT Door In conspicuous places Anywhere a clear path is not easily seen
Life Safety Equipment Alarm Systems Fire Alarm Systems Horns and Strobes must be installed in ALL H and A Areas Usually combination horn/strobe Needed every 20-100 ft. (depending upon device) Manual Pull Stations Must be installed at every main EXIT, and at least ONE regardless of Occ y.
Life Safety Equipment Fire Extinguishers Extinguisher Types Clean Agent Data Centers, Clean Rooms CO2, Halon, FE36 Dry-Chemical for most occupancies Location Preferably at the EXIT door Maximum Travel Distance to an Extinguisher is 50 ft. in City of Santa Clara
Converting a new Building Space B H?
Converting or Renovating Things to Look Out For Separation from Other Occupancies A, H, and F must have 1 hr. separation from B 1 hr. separation from H3 or H7 storages 4 hr. separation between H and any A
Converting or Renovating Things to Look Out For Chemical Introduction for Labs Strict limits on Toxic, Corrosive and Flammable gases Maximum Quantity of 250 scf or LESS 1 hr. separation may be needed Control Areas issues may arise General Exhaust might not be adequate
Converting or Renovating Watch Egress issues Travel Distances to EXITs B, F, S etc. = 250 ft. + 100 Corridor A, H = 100 ft. + Corridor
Converting or Renovating More Egress Issues Number of EXITs Each H6 needs 2 EXITs if > 200 sq.ft. Most B s need 2 EXITs if > 3,000 sq.ft.
Converting or Renovating Storage Room Requirements Separation Issues and Construction Location in Building H3 s need to have one exterior EXIT door if > 500 sq.ft. Mechanical/Electrical Equipment Compatibility
Things to Remember Everything is Occupancy Dependent! What works for one, doesn t work for all Egress, Egress, Egress! 2 EXITs 100 ft. or 250 ft. Travel? Visible Signs and smart locations 36 inch clear path Only 1 Intervening Room
Things to Remember Fire Extinguishers every 50 ft. of travel Separation/Compatibility with surrounding areas and occupancies Watch Lab chemicals, especially Gases
Questions?