Section 400.18628. Construction.

A congregate facility constructed after the effective date  of these rules, an addition made to a congregate facility after the effective date of these rules, and a building converted for use as a congregate facility after the effective   date  of  these rules, shall   be  made  of fire-resistant construction, except as follows:

(a)   The construction, addition, or conversion may be 1-hour protected ordinary construction, solid  masonry  exterior  walls,  wood  joist   and studding, if it is not more than 1 story in height without the basement or attic and if it is protected throughout with  an  approved   automatic sprinkler system.

(b)   Forming materials that are left in place as a part of the permanent structure shall be noncombustible. The forming materials shall not be  more hazardous than class A materials as defined in R 400.18639(3).

(c)     In  a  building  where  a  fire-resistive   ceiling    constitutes   an essential part of a floor or roof assembly to meet  the  required   fire resistance rating, it shall be installed as tested and may have openings to accommodate noncombustible piping, ducts,  or  electrical  outlets.   The aggregate area of the openings in the ceiling shall not be  more  than  16 square inches for  each  90   square  feet  of   ceiling  area,   unless the equipment was a part of the test assembly. All ceiling duct openings shall be protected with fire dampers as tested in the assembly.

(d)  All alterations shall be in compliance with these rules.

(e)   This rule shall not apply to a building which is attached to a congregate facility and which is not used in any fashion for facility purposes if the building is separated from a congregate facility building by an unpierced fire wall that has not less than a 4-hour-fire-resistance rating. This rule shall not apply to buildings that are not used in any fashion for facility purposes if located to provide a horizontal outside separation by distance from the building  in  accordance  with  recognized standards.

(f)  Additions to existing sprinklered buildings shall be separated from the existing building by fire walls and B-labeled fire doors,  unless   the addition is sprinklered.

(g)     An unsprinklered addition to an existing unsprinklered building  of combustible construction shall be separated from the  existing  building   by not less than a 15-foot breezeway that has a  1-hour   fire  separation  at either end of the breezeway.

(h)       During remodeling, alterations, or construction  of   additions, building openings that are exposed to construction operations shall be protected by noncombustible  material.   Remodeling,   construction,   or alterations shall not obstruct or render unusable any required means  of egress. Where any required means  of egress is obstructed or rendered unusable due to any remodeling, construction, or alteration, a temporary means of egress shall be provided to assure the safety of occupants  or else the area affected shall be vacated during such work.

History: 1994 AACS.