Higher education laboratories complying with the requirements of Sections 428.1 through 428.4 shall be permitted to exceed the maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in control areas set forth in Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2) without requiring classification as a Group H occupancy. Except as specified in Section 428, such laboratories shall comply with all applicable provisions of this code and the International Fire Code.
The provisions of Section 428 shall be applied as exceptions or additions to applicable requirements of this code. Unless specifically modified by Section 428, the storage, use and handling of hazardous materials shall comply with all other provisions in Chapters 38 and 50 through 67 of the International Fire Code and this code for quantities not exceeding the maximum allowable quantity.
Where laboratory suites are provided, they shall be constructed in accordance with this section and Chapter 38 of the International Fire Code. The number of laboratory suites and percentage of maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in laboratory suites shall be in accordance with Table 428.3.
[F] TABLE 428.3
DESIGN AND NUMBER OF LABORATORY SUITES PER FLOOR
| FLOOR LEVEL | PERCENTAGE OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER LAB SUITEa | NUMBER OF LAB SUITES PER FLOOR | FOR FIRE BARRIERS IN HOURSb | |
Above Grade Plane | 21+ | Not allowed | Not Permitted | Not Permitted |
| 16-20 | 25 | 1 | 2c | |
| 11-15 | 50 | 1 | 2c | |
| 7-10 | 50 | 2 | 2c | |
| 4-6 | 75 | 4 | 1 | |
| 3 | 100 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1-2 | 100 | 6 | 1 | |
Below Grade Plane | 1 | 75 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | 50 | 2 | 1 | |
| Lower than 2 | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | |
- Percentages shall be of the maximum allowable quantity per control area shown in Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2), with all increases allowed in the footnotes to those tables.
- Fire barriers shall include walls, floors and ceilings necessary to provide separation from other portions of the building.
- Vertical fire barriers separating laboratory suites from other spaces on the same floor shall be permitted to be 1-hour fire-resistance rated.
Laboratory suites shall be separated from other portions of the building in accordance with the most restrictive of the following:
Fire barriers and horizontal assemblies as required in Table 428.3. Fire barriers shall be constructed in accordance with Section 707 and horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711.
Exception: Where an individual laboratory suite occupies more than one story, the fire-resistance rating of intermediate floors contained within the laboratory suite shall comply with the requirements of this code.
- Separations as required by Section 508.
The floor assembly supporting laboratory suites and the construction supporting the floor of laboratory suites shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
Exception: The floor assembly of the laboratory suites and the construction supporting the floor of the laboratory suites are allowed to be 1-hour fire-resistance rated in buildings of Types IIA, IIIA and VA construction, provided that the building is three or fewer stories.
The maximum number of laboratory suites shall be in accordance with Table 428.3. Where a building contains both laboratory suites and control areas, the total number of laboratory suites and control areas within a building shall not exceed the maximum number of laboratory suites in accordance with Table 428.3.
Means of egress shall be in accordance with Chapter 10.
Standby or emergency power shall be provided in accordance with Section 414.5.2 where laboratory suites are located above the sixth story above grade plane or located in a story below grade plane.
Ventilation shall be in accordance with Chapter 7 of NFPA 45, and the International Mechanical Code.
Portions of laboratory suites where hazardous materials are present shall be provided with a liquid-tight floor.
Buildings containing laboratory suites shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
The percentage of maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in each laboratory suite shall be in accordance with Table 428.3.
Pursuant to the UCC, child day care facilities are permitted to operate in a one- or two- family dwelling unit (home) provided the facility conforms to Sections B-429.1.1 through B-429.4.2.
A dwelling unit where child day care services are provided for 12 or fewer children shall be classified as an R-3 occupancy and as a Family Child Day Care Facility, provided that it is in accordance with 1 through 4.
- The dwelling unit is contained within a one- or two-family dwelling.
- Child day care services are provided for less than 24 hours.
- The dwelling unit is used primarily as a private residence.
- The provision of child day care services is accessory to the principal use of the dwelling unit as a residence.
- The facility shall be operated in accordance with the Philadelphia Fire Code Section F-409.
At least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2-A:10-B:C shall be mounted in the portion of the building used for the Family Child Day Care Facility and in kitchens and other cooking areas used by the Family Child Day Care Facility.
Family Child Day Care Facilities that are classified as Group R-3 occupancies pursuant to Section B-429.1.1 of the Philadelphia Building Code with six or fewer children shall comply with Sections B-429.3.1 through B-429.3.2.
A single-station smoke alarm shall be installed in each story including basements. The smoke alarms shall be powered by either the building wiring system or 10-year, nonremovable batteries, both of which shall be listed by Underwriters Laboratories and shall sound an alarm when activated that is audible to persons in the dwelling unit’s indoor child care spaces with all intervening doors closed. Where battery powered smoke alarms are used, the building owner shall keep the proof and date of purchase of the smoke alarms in the unit's fire drill logs.
The dwelling unit and the accessory Family Child Day Care Facility shall comply with the means of egress requirements for an R-3 occupancy and licensure under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3290 (relating to Family Child Day Care Facilities).
Family Child Day Care Facilities that are classified as Group R-3 occupancies pursuant to Section B-429.1.1 of the Philadelphia Building Code that provide child day care services to more than six but no more than 12 children shall comply with Sections B-429.4.1 through B-429.4.2.
Interconnected, multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in each story including basements. The smoke alarms shall be powered by the building wiring system and shall sound an alarm when activated that is audible to persons in the dwelling unit’s indoor child care spaces with all intervening doors closed.
The dwelling unit and the accessory Family Child Day Care Facility shall comply with the means of egress requirements for an R-3 occupancy and licensure under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3280 (relating to Group Child Day Care Facilities).
Assembly Group A occupancies classified as Special Assembly Occupancies shall comply with the additional provisions of this Section.
An Assembly Group A occupancy shall also be classified as a Special Assembly Occupancy if 50 or more people congregate primarily for social entertainment purposes as defined in Section 9-703 of The Philadelphia Code at such location at one or more times during the course of any year. Such facilities shall include but not be limited to any of the following: nightclub; discotheque; cabaret; tavern; bar; restaurant; private club; banquet hall; and similar place of assembly without primarily fixed seating.
A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907.5 shall be installed in all Special Assembly Occupancies. Portions of Group E occupancies occupied for assembly purposes shall be provided with a fire alarm system as required for the Group E occupancy.
Exceptions: Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in Special Assembly Occupancies where the occupancy is protected throughout with a rate-of-rise heat detection system, provided one manual fire alarm box is installed in a location that is constantly attended by staff during periods of occupancy by the public.
In Special Assembly Occupancies, a shut-off (shunt trip) device shall be provided to automatically shut off electricity to circuits controlling audio equipment in the facility upon activation of the fire alarm system or automatic sprinkler system.