BCAB #1392 - Fire Separation of Apparatus Bays in a Fire Hall, Sentence 9.10.9.16.(2)

April 20, 1995

BCAB #1392

Re: Fire Separation of Apparatus Bays in a Fire Hall, Sentence 9.10.9.16.(2)

Project Description

The project in question is a new fire hall comprising a 230 m2 apparatus room for storage of the fire fighting vehicles and a 244 m2 portion containing an office, washrooms and a change room and an all-purpose room with kitchen space. The apparatus room contains less than 5 vehicles.

Reason for Appeal

Sentence 9.10.9.16 (2) requires storage garages containing fewer than 5 cars to be separated from other occupancies by a 1 hour fire separation unless the garage serves only a single dwelling.

Appellant's Position

The appellant contends the portion adjacent to the apparatus room is not an "other occupancy" as referred to in Sentence 9.10.9.16.(2). and is not required to be fire separated from the all-purpose room. The appellant considers the all-purpose room and the apparatus room are subsidiary to each other and are not separate occupancies.

Building Official's Position

The building official maintains the portion of the building adjacent to the apparatus room is a different occupancy from the apparatus room and must be separated from it in conformance with Sentence 9.10.9.16.(2).

Appeal Board Decision #1392

It is the determination of the Board that the portion of the building adjacent to the apparatus room is an "other occupancy" and must be separated from the apparatus room by a 11/2 hr fire separation in conformance with Sentence 9.10.9.16.(1). Sentence 9.10.9.16.(2) is only applicable where cars are involved, not trucks.

George R. Humphrey, Chair