Occupancy Classificationand Layout Guidelines

Presented to PIBA Seminar GroupTodd LaBerge, P.E. – Senior Fire Protection Engineer

H6?

B?

F1?H3?S1?

H7?M?

A1?

U?

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 eachOccupancy 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 chemicalsthan 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 anEXIT Access Door (i.e. into a corridor)

Intervening Rooms

Any rooms between your location and anEXIT 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. beforeyou reach an EXITor EXIT Corridor

Additional 100 ft.to EXIT if you arewithin a corridorin a sprinkleredbuilding

Exit Path Clearances

Minimum 36 inches CLEAR PATHanywhere

Minimum 44 inches in a Corridor andmain Main Aisleways

Dead End Corridors

Any Dead End portion in “H”Occupancies cannot be greater than 20ft. from an exit door

EXIT Doors

Must Swing inDirection of Travel in“A” and “H” Occ’y,and in any arearequiring 2+ EXITS

No locks, or it mustbe equipped withPANIC HARDWARE

Life Safety Eq. Guidelines

Life Safety EquipmentEXIT Signs

Locations Above Every EXIT Door In conspicuous places Anywhere a clear path is not easily seen

Life Safety EquipmentAlarm 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 EquipmentFire 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 RenovatingThings to Look Out For Chemical Introduction for Labs

Strict limits on Toxic, Corrosive andFlammable 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 EquipmentCompatibility

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 withsurrounding areas and occupancies

Watch Lab chemicals, especially Gases

Questions?