BCAB #1460 - Fire Separation of Repair Garage in Automobile Dealership, Article 3.3.5.6.

February 19, 1998

BCAB #1460

Re: Fire Separation of Repair Garage in Automobile Dealership, Article 3.3.5.6.

Project Description

The project in question is a new automobile dealership of approximately 1600 sq. m and including sales and general offices, showroom, service department reception area, repair garage and body shop. The building is fully sprinklered and of noncombustible construction.

Reason for Appeal

Article 3.3.5.6. requires a repair garage and the ancillary spaces serving it, such as reception area and parts storage, to be separated from other occupancies by a 2 h fire separation.

Appellant's Position

The appellant contends that the entire building is classified as a Group F Division 2 repair garage and the other uses within the building are ancillary to the principal use. No fire separation is necessary between a repair garage and the ancillary spaces serving it.

Building Official's Position

The building official maintains that Article 3.3.5.6. is quite clear in its requirement to separate repair garages from other occupancies. The sales and general offices and the showroom are not ancillary spaces serving the repair garage as intended by Article 3.3.5.6.

Appeal Board Decision #1460

Article 3.3.5.6. requires a repair garage to be separated from other occupancies, as distinct from major occupancies. An automobile sales showroom and its associated offices are not considered ancillary to the repair garage. It is the determination of the Board that the repair garage must be fire separated from the showroom and associated offices.

George R. Humphrey, Chair