Self-storage building separation

[ptmoss]

I posted this in the NFPA discussion, but as it doesn't look real active I thought I'd post it here as well. It's somewhat of an urgent issue as the fire chiefs comments came through at the eleventh hour.

Can anyone help me out with what NFPA specifies as the distance needed between self-storage buildings? I spoke with the local fire chief before designing a project and we talked about 20-25' needed for aisle width between the buildings, so we used 25'. He has now come back and said the new NFPA requirement is for 30'.

There are to be four buildings, averaging about 20'x300', on slabs. Three will be single-story, one will have access from two levels. In short, your typical storage unit building.

Thank-you, Pete

 

[greenone]

Have you asked the Fire Dept to give you the Code Section they are using? If they require 30', they should be able to cite the NFPA section where they got that number from. From that, it should be easy enuf to review the section and determine if it applies to your design, or if you qualify for an exemption or variance.

 

[RDK]

It’s always fun to ask someone to cite the code reference. Often they cannot give one or are misusing the reference. (i.e. perhaps 30’ applies to combustible buildings when you are talking about non combustible buildings).

That’s why I make it a point to never try to memorize any code requirements. I look them up each and every time.

Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com