Fireproofing in Type 1 B building with Occupancy S 2

[Roger 27253]

I am currently building a distribution center (250,000 sq/ft) with 28' min clearance @ eve, with ESFR heads approx 2500 heads and a pump on the system as well. The owner is pressing me (CM /GC) to find a way to NOT have to apply 1 hour fire proofing on the columns and structural connections (joist girders). I do not know of a way to do this. Is anyone out there aware of any way to get around this. It is strictly a budgetary issue. I strive to provide the best building practices possible and have been placed in a not so good situation with this. Any advice would be appreciated. This building is located in North Carolina and comes under the IBC 2015 North Carolina state Building Code.

Any advice is welcomed

 

[TravisMack]

Have you consulted a local fire protection engineer that may be able to review your building plans and provide assistance? There are some great guys in this forum, but for something like you describe, you may want someone that can give a far better answer than on an internet forum.

From a sprinkler protection sense, using ESFR sprinklers provides enough of a discharge that you are not required to put the sidewall sprinklers at the 15' elevation of each column. However, I doubt that is what you are talking about.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

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[Roger 27253]

I have tried almost every avenue that I know including the state fire marshal office. Was told if the occupancy designation were changed I could possibly get away without fireproofing but I don’t see how you can change occupancy a building pretty much is what it is by my understanding. Does anyone offer any ideas on this. And I would not be trying an Internet forum if I hadn’t exhausted all means that I am aware of. Thank you, for any assistance.[pre][pre][/pre][/pre]

 

[cdafd]

Which section or sections out of the IBC require the one hour for the columns and joists??

What construction type out of IBC is it going to be?

 

[stookeyfpe]

I'm wondering why the warehouse is classified as a Group S-2? That limits what can be stored inside the building. However, that cow has already left the barn so it is what it is. Also, what is the building's construction classification using the 2015 IBC?

Under the 2015 IBC an unlimited area Group S-2 occupancy isn't required to be sprinklered. (See IBC Section 507.3). The column protection requirement is more than likely being based on IBC Table 601 and IBC Section 704.2. But without knowing the IBC construction classification I'm just speculating.

As TravisMack said, ESFR sprinklers would take care of this. Assuming some other provision wasn't driving the sprinkler protection (i.e., fire flow) you could use the sprinklers to eliminate the fire-resistive construction requirement.

 

[Roger 27253]

Thank you all for the replies, it is section 601 out of IBC 2015 The walls are tilt up, 9.25" thick 35' height columns 50' o/c and as for classification I do not know why it is S-2 other than there isn't any travel room around the outside of building like it is on some projects that we have completed. Where we had a sixty (60') travel area (basically fire lane) around the structure. Nothing stored over 20' AFF The owner is basically wanting to avoid the cost of the 1 hour fire spraying on the columns and connecting joist girders and I do not know of a way around this.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Roger 27253:

One option is to retain a licensed fire protection engineer and have them use the sprinkler system as equivalency to the passive fire resistive construction. The IBC offers very good guidance for such a condition in Section 703.3 and 703.4.