A parking garage has a fire wall immediately adjacent to a
restaurant kitchen; the kitchen has its own non-rated wall
adjacent to the fire wall. Are either of the walls considered an exterior wall per FBC?
Interpretation #7702
Published December 22, 2015
Original Request
- Code Version
- 2014
- Code
- BUILDING
- Code Description
- Chapter
- Section
- 202 - Exterior Wall
- Topic
- Exterior wall
Question
Answer Published 12/22/2015 at 10:11 AM
They are exterior walls only if enclosing the building from
the outdoors.
the outdoors.
Commentary
If there is a lot line between the garage and kitchen the
opening between them is prohibited - 706.1.1.
Based on the comment to the question and since the kitchen
has its own wall, it does not sound as though the walls are
on a lot line or that the fire wall is used or adapted for
joint service between buildings.If that is the case, the
prohibition against openings of Section 706.1.1 does not apply.
If the kitchen has fuel fired equipment 406.4.7 applies.