I am still able to divide my two first floor functions as type A-3 for the Exhibit Hall and type B for the rest of the building and upper floors. Education facilities 12th grade and above only require a type B use and I have carried those IBC codes through the building. I am under the max height, max stories, and sq. ft. per floor as described by the noncombustible, sprinklered construction type. which allows me to build at the minimum fire protection requirements. Egress from the farthest points in my building do not exceed 150' which is well under the minimum required by code. I have provided alternative egress through dorm room windows for added safety (although not required). I am using a smoke skirt system for the studio platforms to supress any fire or smoke in the main space and will exhaust vent through the roof (systems to be sized and spec).
6 comments:
Matt,
the plans look great. Why do you propose not to sprinkler the exhibit space. In my experience the money saved doesn't offset the hours dicussing it with the fire chief...
Ditto! Saving lives would be great also. If we truly analyze the overall components for life safety we could perhaps have some other monetary relief on ratings of smoke enclosures, i.e. a 20 min fire rated door as oppose to 45 min., etc. Perhaps comparmentation could be less stringent if there was the benefit of a Fire protection system.
I am not sure that you would need a Smoke evac. system, I don't think the area is large enough, however we need to consider the stack effect of the outdoor temperature vs. interior during the cold months. This may not allow your smoke to dissipate at the top.
So after much deliberation (2.7 sec) I’ve decided to sprinkler the Exhibit Hall. I was originally thinking that I didn't want to soak the models if there was smoke or small fire to set off the sprinklers. But if there is a fire, it's better for the people to be safe than the models.
Matt,
Your response just made me smile at the begining of what is to be a very long day!!! Thanks.
Besides, if the fire is hot enough to set the spinklers off above the models, the models are already burning and are probably what set off the sprinklers anyway!
Great 3D egress plan!! I like the use of the model showing your egress.
Trusses have become much less overbearing – they are looking like they belong.
Smoke skirt sounds like addresses the smoke/fire problem: is that a deluge sprinkler? Or just smoke exhaust? I am not an atrium expert but I am curious how this works if it is more than two stories without mechanical assist.
Very effective entry solution to wrap the lower part of the building around the corner. And it helps integrate the other sections also. Plus it makes sense as shading for all that glass in the studios – the roof was not going to shade the lower floors all of the time.
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