Article 100 Definitions. Building.

Notice that the demising wall between adjoining occupancies is framed clear to the under-side of the roof deck. This 2-hour fire rated wall separates the two occupancies and according to the Building Code, creates two separate occupancies altogether.
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Notice that the demising wall between adjoining occupancies is framed clear to the under-side of the roof deck. This 2-hour fire rated wall separates the two occupancies and according to the Building Code, creates two separate occupancies altogether.

Code Change Summary: The definition of a “Building” has been modified for clarity.

The previous definition said that buildings are “cut off” from adjoining structures by fire walls and that openings are protected by “approved fire doors”. Now, a building is “separated” from adjoining structures simply “by fire walls”.

The Building Code specifies how a building can be separated from an adjoining structure and there are several other ways to accomplish this without protecting all openings with “fire doors”.

There are many different types of openings that occur in a fire wall that are not actual door openings. Fire rated window assemblies, rated shutter assemblies, view ports and air transfer openings are all examples of openings occurring in fire walls that are not actual door openings and cannot be protected by using a fire door.

Below is a preview of Article 100. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2017 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.

2014 Code Language:

Building. A structure that stands alone or that is cut off from adjoining structures by fire walls with all openings therein protected by approved fire doors.

2017 Code Language:

Building. A structure that stands alone or that is separated from adjoining structures by fire walls. (CMP-1)

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Article 100 Definitions. Building.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following is permitted to separate two buildings that are joined by a common demising wall?

A: A smoke barrier.
B: A smoke partition.
C: A fire wall.
D: Metal fencing.
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