Business Occupancies

Occupancies used for transaction of services.  Usually only occupied during normal working hours.  Including city halls, courtrooms, colleges, and office buildings.

Although some may be very large, most are less than 3,000 sq. feet per business.  Typically ordinary - light hazard classification.

Due to limited amount of fire spread, NFPA 101 does not require compartmentation or extinguishing systems (except in high rises).

• Some businesses have large floor areas, sub-divided into many small office cubicles.  These layouts are frequently changed.

The general rule of two (2) exits from every floor applies.  Exit doors must be capable of being opened from the occupied side at all times.  Travel distance must not exceed 200 ft. (300 ft. if fully sprinklered).

Fires normally result from common hazards:

• Careless smoking
• Electrical malfunctions
• Welding / Cutting operations

There is typically a massive flow of paper and similar materials.  Address trash collection, storage, and disposal.

Computer equipment may be protected with a halogenated system.  Inspect the occupancies records.  If the computer room has a raised tile floor, check under it for smoke detectors.

Sprinklers are required when buildings are more than 75 ft. in height.

Manual fire alarm systems are required when buildings are more than two (2) stories high.

           
INDEX Occupancies

FPT 102 - Fire Prevention and Inspection // Instructor: Kevin M. Kolb        Slide #12