H2 occupancy

[Billiejack]

Is there a maximum sq foot area for combining two H2 occupancies that are close to each other without using a fire wall

 

[stookeyfpe]

Yes.


No one can answer your question unless you provide the location of all walls in relation to the lot line, perimeter wall length on every side of the building, the construction type, and the area of Group H-2 occupancies. Do you know if the building is allowed to have unlimited area? Is it protected by an automatic sprinkler system?

 

[Billiejack]

This is at one of our Natural gas production facilities. We are not intruding on any boundry line, other than one of our modules needs to be closer than 60ft from another module. Both are H2 occupancy and type IIB construction, protected by a listed Fire and Gas detection system. Not sprinkled. Class one Division wiring and professional people allowed into this area. We have a variance for sprinkling. Both module combined will be abut 3000sq ft. I think this is over the maximum and probably will have to ask for another variance. Please reply. Thank you for your initial input.
B.J. Dempsey

 

[stookeyfpe]

You cannot be a compliant Group H-2 occupancy without automatic sprinkler protection. If you are asking if you can deviate from the code, it is allowable, but it must be approved by the jurisdiction's code official. In such a case you must develop an Alternative Means and Method to demonstrate how you will provide equivalent protection.

In my mind, fire detection and gas detection does not offer equivalency to an automatic sprinkler system.