30A-032 Zea Mays Plan and Code review 2013-06-10M e t c a l f e A s s o c i a t e s architecture & interior design
142 Main St. Northampton, MA, 01060 Tristram W. Metcalfe III, Ma. Reg. 5393
Phone number > 413 586 5775 Cell number > 413 695 8200 Email > twm3@rcn.com
NCARB, NYS, MA, CT registrations
WMAIA
AIA
May 29, 2013
Louis Hasbrouk, [413 587 1239]
Building Inspector City of Northampton
Puchalski Municipal Building,
212 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060
RE; Renovations building permit
FOR; Zea Mays Printmaking Residential R Use
Loc;The Cutlery Building, #2, Riverside Drive, Bay State, Northampton, Ma
Dear Louis,
This follows the prior permit application in a pdf collection document “binder 10.28.11.pdf” which
addressed these issues;
1. clear description of business model on public uses; A letter from ZMP dated 10/26/11 is included.
2. categorize chemicals as to hazard; noted below etching [oxidizer?] at their quantity on site are
well below charted
3. statement of quantities; is in Zea mays 10/26 letter
4. statement of storage details for all hazardous materials; is in Zea mays 10/26 letter
5. occupant load by space; is on revised drawing
6. comment on shower use; In an email ZMP stated no shower uses nor chemical emergency eye
wash issues exist.
This phase is to add an R Residential use transient bed rooms with another bath and kitchenette fire
separated and with modifications to the existing Sprinkler system.
The review below will use following codes with my comments underlined;
CMR780 - MA Amendments to the IBC, IEBC - International Existing Building Code, Code521
CMR - MA accessibility regulations which is also in IEBC 310.
Under IEBC we meet existing situations as follows;
Section 101.5
OPTION 1: Work for alteration, repair, change of occupancy, addition or relocation of all existing
buildings shall be done in accordance with the Prescriptive Compliance Method given in Chapter 3.
[The similar method is provided in Chapter 34 of the International Building Code].
Our phone conversation leads to a focus on areas of;
Change of use, Fire sprinkler system, Egress and fire separations.
The zoning approval for R use has been granted.
SECTION 303 ALTERATIONS [B]
303.1 General. Except as provided by Section 301.2 or this section, alterations to any building or
structure shall comply with the requirements of the International Building Code for new
construction. Alterations shall be such that the existing building or structure is no less conforming to
the provisions of the International Building Code than the existing building or structure was prior to
the alteration.
Exceptions:
2. Handrails otherwise required to comply with Section 1009.12 of the International Building
Code shall not be required to comply with the requirements of Section 1012.6 of the
International Building Code regarding full extension of the handrails where such extensions
would be hazardous due to plan configuration.
Our two existing egress stairs will be used.
303.6 Means of egress capacity factors.
We will only be adding time occupied not increased occupancy thus the existing approved egress
system qualifies.
SECTION 307 CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
306.2 Factory Industrial F-1 Moderate-hazard Occupancy.
SECTION 310 RESIDENTIAL GROUP R
310.1 Residential Group R. Residential Group R includes, among others, the use of a building or
structure, or a portion thereof, for sleeping purposes when not classified as an Institutional Group
I or when not regulated by the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2.
Residential occupancies shall include the following:
R-1 Residential occupancies containing sleeping units where the occupants are primarily
transient in nature, including:
Boarding houses (transient)
Hotels (transient)
Motels (transient)
Congregate living facilities (transient) with 10 or fewer occupants are permitted to comply with
the construction requirements for Group R-3.
This leads to R-3 use since we are adding only 3 rooms or 6 max occupants.
307.1 Conformance. No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any building that would
place the building in a different division of the same group of occupancy or in a different group of
occupancies, unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of the International
Building Code for such division or group of occupancy. Subject to the approval of the building
official, the use or occupancy of existing buildings shall be permitted to be changed and the building
is allowed to be occupied for purposes in other groups without conforming to all the requirements of
this code for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is less hazardous, based on life and fire
risk, than the existing use. [B]
The residential R-3 use is not a higher hazard [ TABLE 912.4] but we will increase enclosure egress
by adding a new direct exit from residential use corridor to the existing enclosed exit way. The
second means traverses the occupied common space to another enclosed exit way.
Original existing use was a print ink handling facility, but it was down graded to S-1 storage, which
has been changed back to the original from.
311.2 Moderate-hazard storage, Group S-1.
IBC
306.2 Factory Industrial F-1 Moderate-hazard Occupancy.
912.2.1 Fire sprinkler system. Where a change in occupancy classification occurs that requires an
automatic fire sprinkler system to be provided based on the new occupancy in accordance with
Chapter 9 of the International Building Code, such system shall be provided throughout the area
where the change of occupancy occurs.
912.2.2 Fire alarm and detection system. Where a change in occupancy classification occurs that
requires a fire alarm and detection system to be provided based on the new occupancy in accordance
with Chapter 9 of the International Building Code
We will add fire detection sensors to the new spaces with alarms and fire pulls as shown on plans.
We have had Fire Service Group
PO BOX 1244
Belchertown, MA 01007
Fax: 413-213-6567
Phone: 1.888.279-8590
Email: dan@fireservicegroup.com
Dan Boulanger inspected the system telling us the system is more than adequate and only minor
head relocation exists which will be submitted following design during construction.
912.4 Means of egress, general. Hazard categories in regard to life safety and means of egress shall
be in accordance with Table 912.4.
TABLE 912.4 MEANS OF EGRESS HAZARD CATEGORIES
RELATIVE
HAZARD
OCCUPANCY
CLASSIFICATIONS
1 (Highest Hazard)H
2 I-2, I-3, I-4
3 A, E, I-1, M, R-1, R-2, R-4
4 B, F-1, R-3, S-1
5 (Lowest Hazard)F-2, S-2, U
912.7.2 Stairways. When a change of occupancy classification is made to a higher hazard category
as shown in Table 912.4, interior stairways shall be enclosed as required by the International
Building Code.
We are not increasing hazard in use change, but we are improving egress separation from R-3 use as
shown on plans.
TABLE 707.3.9 FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE BARRIER
ASSEMBLIES OR HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLIES BETWEEN FIRE AREAS
OCCUPANCY GROUP
FIRE-RESISTANCE
RATING (hours)
H-1, H-2 4
F-1, H-3, S-1 3
A, B, E, F-2, H-4, H-5,
I, M, R, S-2 2
U 1
707.3.3 Exit passageway. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas
from an exit passageway shall comply with Section 1023.3.
SECTION 709 FIRE PARTITIONS
709.1 General. The following wall assemblies shall comply with this section.
1. Walls separating dwelling units in the same building as required by Section 420.2.
2. Walls separating sleeping units in the same building as required by Section 420.2.
420.2 Separation walls. Walls separating dwelling units in the same building, walls separating
sleeping units in the same building and walls separating dwelling or sleeping units from other
occupancies contiguous to them in the same building shall be constructed as fire partitions in
accordance with Section 709.
1022.1 Enclosures required. Interior exit stairways and interior exit ramps shall be enclosed with
fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in
accordance with Section 712, or both. Exit enclosures shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less
than 2 hours where connecting four stories or more and not less than 1 hour where connecting less
than four stories.
We will ensure the sleeping rooms and exit-way are minimum 1 hour fire rated enclosures
Please let me know if there is any other information you seek.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tris Metcalfe