large doctors waiting room

[mshields]

I've got a waiting room with more than 50 chairs in it. To me that signals that it is an assembly area (which I believe is in keeping with NFPA 101 and the IBC. As such, it requires 2 doors and an exit sign at each door. But this prompts me to ask something that has always confused me. The NEC, in Article 518, defines assembly occupancies as area's intended for more than 100 persons. Why the inconsistency particularly between two NFPA codes/standards, namely 101 and 70?


Also, are doctors office waiting rooms handled separately anywhere as a special case?

 

[Jraef]

I have no good answer, but I was thinking this had to do with a place for large doctors to wait... :dunce:

As a generality though, I'd say that the NEC has to do with the ELECTRICAL installation requirements for an "assembly area" as the NEC defines it, which has nothing to do with what the area is CLASSIFIED as from a Life/Safety standpoint as per NFPA 101, and vice versa, NFPA 101 has nothing to do with the ELECTRICAL aspects of the building design (as far as I know).

 

[kwired]

I have no good answer, but I was thinking this had to do with a place for large doctors to wait... :dunce:

As a generality though, I'd say that the NEC has to do with the ELECTRICAL installation requirements for an "assembly area" as the NEC defines it, which has nothing to do with what the area is CLASSIFIED as from a Life/Safety standpoint as per NFPA 101, and vice versa, NFPA 101 has nothing to do with the ELECTRICAL aspects of the building design (as far as I know).

I agree with your assessment. Should wiring methods give off toxins because they are burning that might kill 100 or more people, but won't hurt them if there is only 99 people in there:blink:

 

[steve66]

I agree with Jref's answer - assembly per the NEC and assembly occupancy per the IBC or life safety code are two separate things.

I would also add, I'm not an architect, but after a quick scan of the definition of "assembly" in the IBC, I don't see anything that automatically makes a space for more than 50 people an assembly occupancy.

The IBC has typical spaces that would be considered assembly, and they are mostly "concentrated seating" or occupant loads. The only waiting room listed is for transportation terminals.

 

[mshields]

Large Doctors indeed

Large Doctors indeed

that got an LOL

Thanks for all the input.

 

[gadfly56]

I agree with Jref's answer - assembly per the NEC and assembly occupancy per the IBC or life safety code are two separate things.

I would also add, I'm not an architect, but after a quick scan of the definition of "assembly" in the IBC, I don't see anything that automatically makes a space for more than 50 people an assembly occupancy.

The IBC has typical spaces that would be considered assembly, and they are mostly "concentrated seating" or occupant loads. The only waiting room listed is for transportation terminals.

One of the examples provided for an A-3 assembly is "funeral parlors". Whilst you might not want to make too close a comparison to a medical waiting room you can see the similarity. Also, in the general info for "Assembly Group A" there are a number of exemptions that re-classify an area as "B" or with it's main use, but only if the occupancy is under 50.