A major data center required several large, self-contained generator enclosures to ensure continuous power in all circumstances.
The client's concern stemmed from an initial regulatory review suggesting these enclosures might demand a higher-hazard occupancy classification. Had this interpretation stood, the construction budget would have escalated significantly to meet additional fire resistance requirements.
PBFPE conducted a thorough code review and worked closely with project stakeholders to analyze the nature of the enclosures and their relationship to the overall data center operations. We recognized that these generator enclosures, by design, are only accessed for maintenance and do not function as occupied spaces. Through our expertise in building codes, fire protection standards, and local regulations, we confirmed that a more restrictive classification—and the costly additional barriers that came with it—was unwarranted.
The team’s findings helped the client avoid major retrofits and unnecessary fire-rated construction, yielding substantial cost savings without compromising safety or compliance. By clarifying the correct code pathway, we helped streamline the approval process and limited project delays.
2024 Ohio Building Code
2017 Ohio Fire Code
2024 Ohio Mechanical Code
2021 Edition of NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
2020 Edition of NFPA 31, Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment
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