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Interpretation #5937

Original Request

  • Date: October 28, 2008
  • Requested By: danny boncich
  • Requester E-Mail: danny.boncich@denvergov.org
  • Code Version: 2007
  • Code: MECHANIC
  • Code Description: Mechanical
  • Chapter: 4
  • Section: 402.2
  • Topic: Parking garage ventilation

  • Question: Is it the intent of natural ventilation to supercede mechanical exhaust requirements of table 403.3 for parking garages common for multiple units if garage doors meet 4% of floor area?

Answer on 10/28/2008 at 11:54 AM

No. 401.2 allows natural ventilation in accordance with
402.2, but 401.7 refers to Chapter 5. Sections 502.13 and
502.14 refer back to 403 and 404. Mechanical ventilation
is required unless the garage meets the definition
of "open" or is one-or-two family residential as 502.14,
Exception 2. Any enclosed parking garage (not meeting the
definition of "open") is required to have mechanical
ventilation unless it is accessory to an R-3 occupancy.

Commentary:

Per FBC 406.3.1 (handbook) a parking garage must be defined as one of the following 4 types: Private, Enclosed, Repair, or Open. The garage described above would be "enclosed" and must satisfy the specific requirements for enclosed parking garages FBC-M 404, not the general ventilation requirements of FBC-M 402.1 While this question was answered previously for the 2004 Florida Code in Report #5302, this response is based on the 2007 Code, per the request.