ORcowboykorea
Military
- Apr 25, 2002
- 1
I'm an Architect working for a US Army Corps of Engineers A-E contractor. We are designing a protected underground structure (bunker). This structure will be protected from surface and underground conventional weapon explosions and from chemical and biological warfare. It is designed to be sealed off from the world for several days while a war/crisis is waging on the surface. The building will be used during peacetime as office and equipment space and will operate 24/7. Personnel will report to work and go home during peacetime. We are providing a high level of security and fire & life safety measures. The building is fully sprinkled (with stored water supply) and has smoke evac systems in addition to normal measures. We are required to met requirements of both UBC 1997 and NFPA 101 2000.
As part of the design of this building we are providing two multi-purpose spaces and mini-offices. During peacetime these spaces will be used as small work areas, break rooms, conference/training rooms, or be unoccupied. But during a crisis, high-ranking officials, and key functional personnel will move into the structure for several days. We are providing sleeping facilities (like train berths) in the mini-offices, and will set up three tiered sleeping cots in the two large multi-purpose rooms. People will not leave the building is it will be safer to be in the bunker than outside. My question is how do we treat the multi-purpose rooms? Their function as sleeping areas will only be during a war/crisis. Can we consider them accessories to a "B" occupancy or do we have to call them "R-1". Occupancy separation will be a problem for their peacetime function.
Any thoughts on how to approach this issue? Thanks.
As part of the design of this building we are providing two multi-purpose spaces and mini-offices. During peacetime these spaces will be used as small work areas, break rooms, conference/training rooms, or be unoccupied. But during a crisis, high-ranking officials, and key functional personnel will move into the structure for several days. We are providing sleeping facilities (like train berths) in the mini-offices, and will set up three tiered sleeping cots in the two large multi-purpose rooms. People will not leave the building is it will be safer to be in the bunker than outside. My question is how do we treat the multi-purpose rooms? Their function as sleeping areas will only be during a war/crisis. Can we consider them accessories to a "B" occupancy or do we have to call them "R-1". Occupancy separation will be a problem for their peacetime function.
Any thoughts on how to approach this issue? Thanks.
