emergency generator requirements

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Grouch1980

Grouch1980

Senior Member
Location
New York, NY
Hi all,
I'm trying to interpret something in the 2014 NYC Building Code. Section 2702.2.20. it states that low rise buildings (occupancy group B) need an emergency generator if the following is true:

"Group B occupancies with occupied floor less than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest fire department vehicle access having a gross floor area over 15,000 square feet (1393.6 m2) per floor or a total gross floor area of 100,000 square feet (9290.3 m2) or more."

The building I am looking at is less than 75 feet in height, and less than 100,000 sq. ft. gross floor area. So I have to look at the floor areas. 3 floors are greater than 15,000 sq.ft., but the 2 top floors are less than 15,000 sq.ft. Does this building require a generator?

I'm not sure if the code section is implying that each and every floor has to be 15,000 sq.ft., or if at least one floor is greater than 15,000 sq.ft., then you need the generator.

thanks!
 
gadfly56

gadfly56

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
Grouch1980 said:
Hi all,
I'm trying to interpret something in the 2014 NYC Building Code. Section 2702.2.20. it states that low rise buildings (occupancy group B) need an emergency generator if the following is true:

"Group B occupancies with occupied floor less than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest fire department vehicle access having a gross floor area over 15,000 square feet (1393.6 m2) per floor or a total gross floor area of 100,000 square feet (9290.3 m2) or more."

The building I am looking at is less than 75 feet in height, and less than 100,000 sq. ft. gross floor area. So I have to look at the floor areas. 3 floors are greater than 15,000 sq.ft., but the 2 top floors are less than 15,000 sq.ft. Does this building require a generator?

I'm not sure if the code section is implying that each and every floor has to be 15,000 sq.ft., or if at least one floor is greater than 15,000 sq.ft., then you need the generator.

thanks!
Click to expand...

The section is badly written, but I would take it to mean if any single floor is over 15,000 sq.ft. It's kind of a killer though. You could have a building for a B occupancy that is 20,000 sq.ft. and one story high and that would need a generator. But a 6 story building at 14,000 sq.ft. per floor for a total of 84,000 sq.ft. wouldn't. Go figure.
 
Grouch1980

Grouch1980

Senior Member
Location
New York, NY
gadfly56 said:
The section is badly written, but I would take it to mean if any single floor is over 15,000 sq.ft. It's kind of a killer though. You could have a building for a B occupancy that is 20,000 sq.ft. and one story high and that would need a generator. But a 6 story building at 14,000 sq.ft. per floor for a total of 84,000 sq.ft. wouldn't. Go figure.
Click to expand...

Thanks. You're in agreement with 2 of my colleagues at work. I interpret it differently such that all floors have to be 15,000 sq.ft. or greater to require a generator. you're right in that its badly written, which opens it up for interpretation, which is bad and can be costly. I'll go with how you and my colleagues interpret it, which is any single floor over 15k would need the generator.

good example! the 6 story building not needing the generator, but the single story would. it's lopsided.
 
Grouch1980

Grouch1980

Senior Member
Location
New York, NY
lielec11 said:
2nd...
Click to expand...

So assuming I take the average (sorry for the example, just want to make sure I have this correct).... Say 3 floors are each 16,000 sq ft, and the top 2 floors are each 7,000 sq ft... I take the total of 62,000 sq ft and divide by 5 floors for an average of 12,400 sq ft per floor, thereby I don't need the generator?
 
L

lielec11

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
Grouch1980 said:
So assuming I take the average (sorry for the example, just want to make sure I have this correct).... Say 3 floors are each 16,000 sq ft, and the top 2 floors are each 7,000 sq ft... I take the total of 62,000 sq ft and divide by 5 floors for an average of 12,400 sq ft per floor, thereby I don't need the generator?
Click to expand...

That is my belief, however NYC DOB are a funky bunch and I would try and reach out to them for an interpretation so you're covered. Does this job have an expeditor? They may be able to get you an answer more quickly.
 
ron

ron

Senior Member
Location
New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
I have found [FONT=&quot]Mathher Abbassi to be very helpful with interpretations. [/FONT][FONT=&quot](212) 393-2030[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/codes/ecric.page
 
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