BCAB #1680 - Separation of Suites for Group D, Business and Personal Services Occupancies, Article 3.3.1.1.

December 16, 2010

BCAB #1680

Re: Separation of Suites for Group D, Business and Personal Services Occupancies, Article 3.3.1.1.

Project Description
The building is a fully sprinklered office building containing exclusively Group D (business and personal services) occupancies.

Reason for Appeal
Sentence 3.3.1.1.(1) states that suites in other than business and personal services occupancies shall be separated from each other by a fire separation having a 1 hour fire resistance rating.  3.3.1.1.(3) provides specific exemptions for fire separations between different occupancies, including business and personal services occupancies and some others, provided certain other conditions are met.

Appellant’s Position
The appellant contends that no fire separation is required between adjoining Group D occupancies as Sentence 3.3.1.1.(1) waives the requirement for a fire separation.

Building Official's Position
The building official maintains that a fire separation is required between adjoining Group D occupancies and only the fire resistance rating is waived by Sentence 3.3.1.1.(1).  The only exemptions to fire separations are provided in 3.3.1.1.(3).

Appeal Board Decision #1680
It is the determination of the Board that no fire separation is required between suites of group D occupancy.

George Humphrey, Chair