I'm doing an addition to an existing light industrial building. Butler style building, with the typical warehouse side (in this case, vehicle repair) and offices boxed out inside a portion of the building. Like many of these buildings, they are using the ceiling of the offices as additional space - some of it is open mezzanine to the vehicle warehouse below, and there are some boxed out offices as a 2nd story. This upper area is too large to be a "mezzanine" so it's an official 2nd story. There's no need to separate the two occupancies (S-1 and B) and the building does have sprinklers.
We are adding onto this building, the addition will have a real 2nd story, which will connect back to this wonky hybrid of offices and mezzanine. (When I say mezzanine, I mean it's open to the level below). Access from the offices / mezzanine is partly at an enclosed stair, and also has 2 stairs that are wide open to the warehouse/vehicle repair level below.
I'm struggling with the code review since this upper level isn't separated from the level below (open exit access stairs plus the open "mezzanine").
Can someone check me? I'm reading that (2015 IBC) 712.1.9 Two-Story Openings are allowed (which should allow the mezzanine to be open, no need to separate the levels) and 1019.3 Occupancies Other Than Groups I-2 and I-3 exception 1 allows exit access stairs to be open. As long as my travel distances work (all the way down the stairs to the exit door), do you think I have any glaring code issues? I do note that this means multiple exit access stairs open to the level below, any issues with this?
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David Sisson AIA
Architect
David Sisson
Providence RI
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