Section 428 Higher Education Laboratories
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 | FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING 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.