What is the opinion for self-storage buildings and how they are classified? These are buildings that are divided up into small rooms (say 3mx3m) where people rent a room to store furniture and “stuff”. You rent the room and have 24/7 access with the issued key or security card. Occupancy numbers are usually fairly low. While it is storage, it is used by the public, as opposed to being industrial storage/ warehousing as a business operating in the building.
These developments are becoming more common and larger. Some of these are multi-level bespoke units and I have been in some which are conversions with a complex layout of the escape routes. To what extent do the details of the building come into the decision?
I looked up overseas codes without much help. Under IBC codes, while S1 – storage, they often need to be sprinklered and/or have firecell limits around 230sqm, with shorter travel distance allowances than any of the options in C/AS2.
For those who are interested, there have been some fire testing of self-storage units published “Fire Behaviour at Self-Storage Facilities” - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358263762
From discussions with colleagues, there seem to be 2 approaches with a fairly even split of those I have asked.
- Risk group WB as it is “storage”. The building is not available to the general public to walk in at random but limited to the keyholders. Occupancy is low and short term – i.e. they will only be there while people are moving goods or checking their unit.
- CA as it is used an rented by the public, even if the primary person is limited to the person renting the unit. This is unlike industrial factories and storage; the people are employees there every day and hence aware of the building layout which may not be the case for self-storage units. The users may bring in others, including children during the use of the unit to help move etc. All those involved may or may not have been there before.
My opinion tends at present to (2) above, but I can se eboth sides and I am interested to hear what others say.
It obviously has a significant difference for travel distances and requirements, and probably some knock on effects in other code clauses such as access.
Geoff