2 Chapter 1 ● Administration

Example 1: Determining Code Requirements Exhibit 1.1

for a Jewelry Store
Core chapters
A jewelry retail sales operation (i.e., a jewelry store) occupying all 1
2
of the twelfth floor of a multitenant building uses 5000 ft2 3
(465 m2), or 95 percent, of the floor area for sales purposes. Based 4
6
on the occupancy classification criteria and definitions found in 7
Section 6.1, the jewelry store should be classified as a mercantile 8
9
occupancy (see 6.1.10.1). In determining that the floor is a mer- 10
cantile occupancy, the Code user narrows the range of choice of
applicable occupancy chapters from Chapters 12 through 42 to
High-rise
the two that specifically address mercantile occupancies — buildings
Chapters 36 and 37. 11
Applicable
Based on the definition of existing building found in 3.3.37.5, Occupancy requirements
the user can determine whether the building is subject to the chapters 1
requirements for new construction or for existing buildings. If 12 2
13 3
the jewelry store used in this example was occupied subsequent 14 4
to the adoption of the Code currently being enforced, the user 15 6
16 7
determines that the life safety features required are those that 17 8
apply to new construction. Thus, the user could narrow the 18 9
19 10
applicable occupancy requirements to those for new mercantile 20
occupancies as detailed in Chapter 36. 21 11
22
The Code user next identifies the subclassification of the 23 36
mercantile occupancy (see 36.1.2.2) as Class A, Class B, or Class C 24
26
on the basis of the 5000 ft2 (465 m2) floor area used for sales pur- 28
poses. Because the jewelry store occupies more than 3000 ft2 29
30
(280 m2) but not more than 30,000 ft2 (2800 m2), it is classified as 31
a Class B mercantile occupancy. The user then locates the 32
33
requirements of Chapter 36 that specifically apply to Class B 36
mercantile occupancies and those requirements that apply 37
38
across all subclassifications of mercantile occupancies. The user 39
notes that Chapter 36 does not repeat the requirements found in 40
42
Chapters 1 through 4 and Chapters 6 through 10, because the
Code mandatorily references the use of those chapters. Because Selecting specification-based Code requirements that apply to a given
the jewelry store is located in the high-rise portion of the build- occupancy; in this case, a new mercantile occupancy on the twelfth
ing, 36.4.2 requires compliance with the high-rise building floor of a high-rise building.
requirements of Section 11.8.
In this example, the Code user recognizes that the require-
Section 43.5). The user also notes that the occupancy involved is
ments of Chapters 1 through 4, Chapters 6 through 10, a portion
mercantile.
of Chapter 11, and Chapter 36 apply and are required to be met.
Next, the Code user consults the mercantile occupancy sub-
This selection process is outlined in Exhibit 1.1.
classification criteria of 36.1.2.2 or 37.1.2.2. The previous tenants
were both Class B mercantile occupancies. The new tenant that
Example 2: Determining Code Requirements
will occupy the combined spaces of the previous tenants will be
for a Mall Structure
a Class B mercantile occupancy. The modification does not
Consider a two-story mall structure where two tenant spaces for- involve a change in mercantile subclassification, so the provi-
merly occupied by a shoe store and a children’s clothing store sions of 36.1.1.6 and 37.1.1.6 do not mandate compliance with
[each with 5000 ft2 (465 m2) of floor area for sales purposes] are the requirements for new construction.
to be gutted, combined in area, and outfitted for a new tenant Chapter 43 is consulted to learn whether Chapter 36 for new
that will sell sporting goods. The new tenant will occupy mercantile occupancies or Chapter 37 for existing mercantile
10,000 ft2 (929 m2) of floor area for sales purposes. The Code user occupancies is to be used. Per 43.1.1, the rehabilitation to be per-
first identifies that the rehabilitation work will require compli- formed must be classified as repair, renovation, modification, or
ance with the provisions of Chapter 43, Building Rehabilitation, reconstruction work. The reconfiguration of the space leads to
and that such work falls into the rehabilitation category of modi- classifying the work as a modification (see 43.2.2.1.3). Per
fication, as explained further in this example (see 43.2.2.1.3 and 43.1.2.1(1), for a modification, the requirements of the applicable

2018 Life Safety Code Handbook