Interpretation #7548
Published August 03, 2015
Original Request
- Code Version
- 2010
- Code
- MECHANIC
- Code Description
- Mechanical
- Chapter
- 4
- Section
- 404
- Topic
- Garage ventilation
Question
A 20 unit private condominium that was built in 2008 has 38 parking spaces within the building on the ground floor. All but 7 of these spaces are enclosed with drywall and standard garage doors. The enclosed garage spaces have minimal vents installed to the open floor area, but these enclosures do not have individual forced air ventilation, and they are not vented to the outside. What floor area should be used for the application of Code Section 404.2 ?Minimum Ventilation? to define the required ventilation for the central fans? Should the entire ground floor garage parking area be used including the enclosed garages spaces(16,994 SF), or can the floor area of the enclosed garage spaces be excluded and the floor area calculation to define the required ventilation (7895 SF)? If the enclosed spaces can be excluded from the floor area calculation for the central fans, then do these individual enclosures require their own ventilation system to exhaust to the outside?
Answer Published 08/03/2015 at 8:16 AM
It is not clear if this a remodeling of an existing building
or if changes have been made since the original
construction. What is the level of alteration? The level of
alteration may impact what changes are required or if
changes to the building were made without the benefit of
plans, proper reviews and inspections, in which case, it
must meet the terms of the Code.
Any space on the story used for parking motor vehicles is
garage area and needs to be included in sizing the
ventilation. Openings in individual bays need to be sized to
provide the required minimum air flow.
or if changes have been made since the original
construction. What is the level of alteration? The level of
alteration may impact what changes are required or if
changes to the building were made without the benefit of
plans, proper reviews and inspections, in which case, it
must meet the terms of the Code.
Any space on the story used for parking motor vehicles is
garage area and needs to be included in sizing the
ventilation. Openings in individual bays need to be sized to
provide the required minimum air flow.
Commentary
None