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27.3.4.3 Risk Analysis for Mass Notification Systems. A risk analysis for mass notification
systems shall be provided in accordance with Section 55.13.
Committee Statement
Committee New language has been added to Chapter 55 regarding conducting a risk analysis to
Statement: determine the need for the installation of a mass notification system in a building. The
committee is generally interested in this subject area but is seeking additional
information regarding the application of new Section 55.13 specific to Mercantile
occupancies. A task group has been formed to further explore the issue and will present
its findings for the Second Draft phase.
Response
Message:
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(1) Mall buildings and anchor buildings of Type I, Type II, or Type IV construction shall not
exceed three stories in height.
(2) Mall buildings and anchor buildings of Type III construction shall not exceed two stories in
height.
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27.4.4.5.2.2
An additional 200 ft (61 m) shall be permitted for travel through the enclosed mall space or 300
ft (91 m)for travel through the open mall space ,, provided that all of the following requirements
are met:
(1) The mall shall be of a clear width not less than that needed to accommodate egress
requirements as set forth in other sections of this chapter, but shall be not less than 20 ft
(6100 mm) wide in its narrowest dimension.
(2) A.27.4.4.5.2.2 See Section 27.2.5.7.
(3) On each side of the mall floor area, the mall shall be provided with an unobstructed exit
access of not less than 10 ft (3050 mm) in clear width parallel to, and adjacent to, the mall
tenant front.
(4) * The exit access from a mall, as specified in 27.4.4.5.2.2 (2), shall lead to an exit having
a width of not less than 66 in. (1675 mm).
(5) The mall, and all buildings connected thereto, except open parking structures, shall be
protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in
accordance with 55.3.1.1 (1).
(6) The sprinkler system specified in 27.4.4.5.2.2 (4) shall be installed in such a manner that
any portion of the system serving tenant spaces can be taken out of service without
affecting the operation of the portion of the system serving the mall.
(7) * Walls dividing tenant spaces from each other shall have a fire resistance rating of not
less than 1 hour, and all of the following also shall apply:
(8) The partition shall extend to the underside of the ceiling or to the roof or floor
above.
(9) No separation shall be required between a tenant space and the mall.
(10)* Malls with a floor opening connecting more than two levels shall be provided with a
smoke control system.
27.4.4.5.3
Dead ends not exceeding a length equal to twice the width of the mall concourse for enclosed
mall concourses or two and a half times the width of the mall concourse for open mall
concourses , measured at the narrowest location within the dead-end portion of the mall, shall
be permitted.
27.4.4.5.4
Each assembly occupancy with an occupant load of 500 or more shall have not less than
one-half of its required means of egress independent of the mall.
27.4.4.5.5
Every story of a mall building shall be provided with the number of means of egress specified
by Section 11.4 and as modified by 27.4.4.5.5.1 or 27.4.4.5.5.2.
27.4.4.5.5.1
Exit access travel shall be permitted to be common for the distances permitted as common
paths of travel by 27.2.5.3 .
27.4.4.5.5.2
A single means of egress shall be permitted in a Class C mercantile occupancy or a business
occupancy, provided that the travel distance to the exit or to a mall does not exceed 100 ft (30
m).
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27.4.4.5.5.3
Every floor of a mall shall be provided with the number of means of egress specified by Section
11.4, with not less than two means of egress remotely located from each other.
27.4.4.5.5.4
Class A and Class B mercantile occupancies connected to a mall shall be provided with the
number of means of egress required by Section 11.4, with not less than two means of egress
remotely located from one another.
27.4.4.5.6
Each individual major tenant of a mall building shall have a minimum of one-half of its required
means of egress independent of the mall.
27.4.4.5.7*
Each individual anchor building shall have means of egress independent of the mall.
27.4.4.5.8
Each individual tenant space shall have means of egress to the outside or to the mall based on
occupant load calculated in accordance with Table 11.3.1.2 .
27.4.4.5.9
Exit passageways shall comply with 27.4.4.5.9.1 and 27.4.4.5.9.2.
27.4.4.5.9.1
Exit passageways in a mall building shall be permitted to accommodate the following
independently:
(1) Portion of the occupant load assigned to the exit passageway from only the mall
(2) Largest occupant load assigned to the exit passageway from a single tenant space
27.4.4.5.9.2*
Rooms housing building service equipment, janitor closets, and service elevators shall be
permitted to open directly onto exit passageways, provided that all of the following criteria are
met:
(1) The required fire resistance rating between such rooms or areas and the exit passageway
shall be maintained in accordance with 11.1.3.2 .
(2) Such rooms or areas shall be protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler
system in accordance with NFPA 13 and 55.3.2; however, the exceptions in NFPA 13 that
permit the omission of sprinklers from such rooms shall not be permitted.
(3) Service elevators opening into the exit passageway shall not open into areas other than
exit passageways.
(4) Where exit stair enclosures discharge into the exit passageway, the provisions of
11.2.1.5.9 shall apply, regardless of the number of stories served.
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27.4.4.6.2
For any food court or other assembly occupancy areas located in the mall that are not included
as a portion of the gross leasable area of the mall building, an occupant load shall be calculated
based on the occupant load factor for the appropriate use, as specified in Table 11.3.1.2 . The
remaining mall area shall not be assigned an occupant load.
27.4.4.7 Fire Protection Systems.
27.4.4.7.1 Automatic Extinguishing Systems.
27.4.4.7.1.1
The mall building and all anchor buildings shall be protected throughout by an approved,
supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13, 55.3.2 , and 27.4.4.7.1.
27.4.4.7.1.2
The system shall be installed in such a manner that any portion of the system serving tenant
spaces can be taken out of service without affecting the operation of the portion of the system
serving the mall.
27.4.4.7. 1.3 Any shade structures, canopies, awnings, or similar structures in the open mall
concourse shall be protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system where
required by NFPA 13 and 55.3. 2 .
27.4.4.7.2 Hose Connections.
Where the mall is not protected by a standpipe system in accordance with NFPA 14, hose
connections shall be installed in accordance with 27.4.4.7.2.1 through 27.4.4.7.2.3.
27.4.4.7.2.1
There shall be a hose outlet connected to a system sized to deliver 250 gal/min (946 L/min) at
the most hydraulically remote outlet.
27.4.4.7.2.2
The outlet shall be supplied from the mall zone sprinkler system and shall be hydraulically
calculated.
27.4.4.7.2.3
Hose outlets shall be provided at each of the following locations:
(1) Within the mall at the entrance to each exit passage or corridor
(2) At each floor level landing within enclosed stairways opening directly onto the mall
(3) At exterior public entrances to the mall
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27.4.4.10.1 General.
Malls shall be provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 55.2 , as modified
by 27.4.4.10 .
27.4.4.10.2 Initiation.
Initiation of the required fire alarm system shall be by means of the required automatic sprinkler
system in accordance with 55.2.2 (3) and by manual means in accordance with 55.2.2.1.6 and
55.2.2.1.7.
27.4.4.10.3 Notification.
27.4.4.10.3.1 Occupant Notification.
During all times that the mall is occupied, the required fire alarm system, once initiated, shall
perform one of the following functions:
(1) It shall activate a general alarm in accordance with 55.2.3 throughout the mall, except a
positive alarm sequence in accordance with 55.2.3.4 shall be permitted.
(2) Occupant notification shall be permitted to be made via a voice communication or public
address system in accordance with 55.2.3.9.2 .
27.4.4.10.3.2*
Visible signals shall not be required in malls. (See 55.2.3.5.6.)
27.4.4.10.3.3 Emergency Forces Notification.
Emergency forces notification shall be provided and shall include notifying all of the following:
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27.4.4.12.1
Kiosks and similar structures (temporary or permanent) shall not be considered as tenant
spaces and shall be constructed of noncombustible or limited-combustible materials, or of
combustible materials meeting any of the following criteria:
27.4.4.12.2
Kiosks or similar structures located within the enclosed mall concourse shall be protected with
approved fire suppression and detection devices.
27.4.4.12.3 *
The minimum horizontal separation between kiosks, or groups of kiosks, and other structures
within the mall shall be 20 ft (6100 mm).
27.4.4.12.4
Each kiosk, or group of kiosks, or similar structure shall have a maximum area of 300 ft2 (27.8
m2).
Committee Statement
Committee The proposed changes are the result of task group work that was initiated at the
Statement: completion of the 2015 revision cycle and will continue through the 2018 cycle. The focus
of the task group was to update terminology related to shopping malls to better describe
the applicability and intent of the Code sections as well as develop language to address
both enclosed and open type mall concourses. The proposed Committee Input is
developed with the intent of soliciting public comment and additional review by the mall
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task group and is focused on the definition of open and enclosed mall concourses as well
as the impact of open mall concourses on existing code requirements. Prior to the
Second Draft meeting the task group will continue to meet and review the code
requirements for open versus enclosed mall concourses and determine how the code is
to be appropriately applied to either open or enclosed mall concourses. The task group is
looking at areas such as egress travel, fire protection systems and protection of the mall
concourse, as well as protection and presence of kiosks and equipment within the mall
concourse.
It should be noted that the term 'mall' will be replaced with 'mall concourse' and 'mall
building' will be replaced with 'mall structure' pending the results of revisions made by the
Committee during the First Draft meeting.
Response
Message:
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28.1.7.2 The occupant load for business use shall be 150 ft 2 /person.
Committee Statement
Committee This CI proposes to revise the current maximum floor area allowance per occupant in
Statement: Table 11.3.1.2 for business occupancies from 100 ft2/occupant (gross) to 150
ft2/occupant (gross) for determining the means of egress requirements in business areas
for public consideration in an effort to solicit public comments on this important subject.
The rationale is based on several past research studies that have concluded that the 100
ft2/occupant (gross) occupant load factor for business occupancies is very conservative
which has led to requiring Group B occupancies and office buildings in general to have
additional egress capacity and a greater number of exits to accommodate an "over-
estimated" building population. The increase from 100 ft2/occupant (gross) to 150
ft2/occupant (gross) for business occupancies is still a conservative figure; yet
reasonable, based on recent changes in office building design as well as changes in the
North American workplace and work style trends; such as work station configurations,
flexible work schedules, telecommuting, work at home, etc.
The existing occupant load factor of 100 ft2/occupant (gross) for business occupancies
first appeared in the 3rd edition of the Building Exits Code that was published in 1934.
The occupant load factor of 100 ft2/occupant (gross) was specified for office, factory, and
workrooms. All occupant load factors were based on the gross floor area of the building,
such that no deduction was permitted for corridors, closets, restrooms, or other
subdivisions. However, since the initial NBS study in 1935, several other studies have
been conducted to determine the occupant load factors for various occupancies. One
common similarity of each of the studies was that all of the subsequent studies have
concluded that the 100 ft2/occupant (gross) occupant load factor for business
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occupancies is conservative. Studies conducted between 1966 and 1992 have indicated
that occupant load factors in business occupancies ranged from 150 ft2/occupant (gross)
to 278 ft2/occupant (gross). In addition, a 1995 study of 23 Federal sector and private
sector office buildings also indicated a mean occupant load factor of 248 ft2/occupant for
all office buildings.
Lastly, a recent project to study the appropriateness of the 100 ft2/occupant load factor
for business occupancies was recently undertaken by the NFPA Fire Protection Research
Foundation. The study was conducted by WPI undergrad students. The
recommendations of this study have indicated that it is reasonable to increase the
occupant load factor to 150 ft2/occupant in business.
Response
Message:
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28.2.2.2.2 Where approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction doors shall be permitted to
be provided with locking devices that are capable of being unlocked from outside the room.
Committee Statement
Committee In the wake of many recent events, offering adequate protection for occupants in
Statement: business occupancies used for educational purposes, such as college and university
buildings, is an important and relevant issue. The committee is interested in the subject
of door locking in locations such as classroom doors and is seeking guidance of the
Educational and Daycare Technical Committee to provide consistent provisions for the
educational facilities that fall under the definition of Business occupancies. It is
recognized that the Educational committee is developing language on this subject and it
will be reviewed by this committee through direction of the Correlating Committee prior to
the Second Draft stage. Additional input from the college and university industry is
welcome.
Response
Message:
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28.3.4.4 Risk Analysis for Mass Notification Systems . A risk analysis for mass notification
systems shall be provided in accordance with Section 55.13.
Committee Statement
Committee New language has been added to Chapter 55 regarding conducting a risk analysis to
Statement: determine the need for the installation of a mass notification system in a building. The
committee is generally interested in this subject area but is seeking additional
information regarding the application of new Section 55.13 specific to college and
university campus buildings. A task group has been formed to further explore the issue
and will be looking at the following issues prior to the Second Draft meeting:
-Feedback from college and university industry on the impact of new 55.13
-How are the provisions applied to an entire campus versus a single building, and are
their implications of applying provisions for mass notification on a building by building
basis only.
-Extent of application: what types of buildings should this apply to? How can the Code
properly identify the type of college and university buildings that this requirement should
apply to?
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