Appeal 34785

2902.1

2902.1 Requires Plumbing fixtures shall be provided in the minimum number as shown in Table 2902.1 based on the actual use of the building or space. Uses not shown in Table 2902.1 shall be considered individually by the code official. The number of occupants shall be determined by this code.

Request for plumbing counts to be calculated based on the actual maximum number of occupants in the building (52), which is lower than the plumbing occupant load (145) due to the non-simultaneous use of the acoustic lab and the supporting office spaces. This approach aligns with the building’s specialized research function and actual occupancy patterns.

The Oregon Acoustic Research Lab (OARL) is a 14,130 SF acoustic testing facility located on the Port of Portland’s Terminal 2 site. The facility includes:

A full-scale acoustic testing chamber (F-1 Factory),
Research offices for the OARL and the Energy Studies in Buildings Lab (ESBL) (Group B),
Storage areas (S-1 Storage).
While the total calculated occupant load is 145, only the ESBL offices and the Acoustic Lab offices will be used simultaneously. The acoustic lab is used for intermittent, short-duration testing and is only accessed by the same researchers who otherwise occupy the supporting office spaces (office bar). The office bar includes Rooms L100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, and 110, all of which are work, control, and support rooms for the lab. During normal operation, only the office bar, ESBL (Room 100), ESBL storage (Room 100A), and Electrical Room (Room 120) will be simultaneously occupied. The total occupant load for this simultaneous-use zone is calculated to be 51.86 occupants.

Per OSSC Table 2902.1, the required number of plumbing fixtures for this occupant load is:
-Male Water Closets: 0.98 (rounded up to 1)
-Female Water Closets: 0.98 (rounded up to 1)
-Male Lavatories: 0.62 (rounded up to 1)
-Female Lavatories: 0.62 (rounded up to 1)
-Drinking Fountains: 0.49 (rounded up to 1)

Plumbing Fixtures Provided:
-2 Water Closets – both unisex and fully ADA-compliant
-2 Lavatories – one in each restroom
-1 Drinking fountain to be provided per OSSC.

Reconsideration Text:

The Oregon Acoustic Research Lab (OARL) is a specialized research facility for the University of Oregon, located at the Port of Portland Terminal 2. The building includes an acoustic testing lab (F-1 occupancy), Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory (ESBL) and acoustic lab offices and support spaces (B occupancy), and accessory storage rooms (S-1 occupancy).

For the purposes of plumbing fixture calculations, we request that the occupant load be based only on the non-simultaneous use of the B-occupancy office and the acoustic testing lab (F-1 occupancy), consistent with the lab space’s actual use as controlled, intermittently occupied test environments. This appeal also calculates S-1 occupancy separately per OSSC standards.

Per the City of Portland Office Space Code Guide (BCG 22-10), the following areas are included in the gross B occupancy floor area calculation: 100 - ESBL (1,294 sf); 101 - Conference Room (339 sf);103 - Toilet/Shower (91 sf); 104 - Toilet Room (59 sf); 105 - Break Room (233 sf); 106 - Control Room (321 sf); 108 - Office (304 sf); 109 - Manager's Office (182 sf); H100 - Corridor (589 sf); H101 - Corridor (611 sf); L100 - Lobby (149 sf). These spaces total 4,172 sf, and applying the B occupancy load factor of 1 occupant per 150 SF, the occupant load is 28.

The S-1 occupancy support spaces include the following spaces: 100A - ESBL Storage/Loading (524 sf); 102 - JC (60 sf); 107 - IT (183 sf); 110 - Riser Room (106 sf); 120 - Electrical Room (253). These spaces total 1,126 sf. Per OSSC Table 1004.5, storage areas use an occupant load factor of 1 occupant per 300 SF, resulting in 3.75 occupants, rounded up to 4 occupants. Therefore, the total plumbing fixture occupant load is 32 occupants when excluding the F-1 occupancy from the plumbing fixture counts due to non-simultaneous use of the F-1 acoustic testing lab space.

Per OSSC Table 2902.1:

Water Closets (WCs):
1 per 25 occupants for the first 50 for B occupancy
1 per 100 occupants for S-1
? For (28) B occupants, 0.56 WC male and 0.56 WC female are required
? For (4) S-1 occupants, 0.02 WC male and 0.02 WC female are required
? Total: 0.58 WC male and 0.58 WC female are required
? 1 WC male and 1 WC female are provided

Lavatories:
1 per 40 occupants for B
1 per 100 occupants for S-1
? For (28) B occupants, 0.35 lavatory male and 0.35 lavatory female are required
? For (4) S-1 occupants, 0.02 lavatory male and 0.02 lavatory female are required
? Total: 0.37 lavatory male and 0.37 lavatory female are required
? 1 lavatory male and 1 lavatory female are provided

Fixtures Provided:
The proposed design includes 2 unisex, ADA-compliant restrooms, each equipped with 1 water closet and 1 lavatory. These restrooms are centrally located and easily accessible.

The proposed fixture count accurately reflects the actual maximum number of simultaneous users of the facility. Due to the nature of the building's use as an acoustic testing lab, the testing chambers are not occupied at the same time as the office and research support zones. All plumbing fixtures are located adjacent to the occupied zones and are readily accessible to all users. The provided unisex, ADA-compliant restrooms are sufficient to serve the limited and consistent staff that operate within the office and lab zones.
Providing more fixtures based on the full calculated building occupant load would not improve hygiene, accessibility, or life safety, as the additional spaces (e.g., acoustic chambers) are never occupied concurrently and do not generate demand for additional restroom facilities.

Reconsideration Text:

This calculation method follows OSSC Table 2902.1 and Portland’s BCG 22-10, reflects the actual use of the facility, and provides equivalent life safety and sanitary access. We respectfully request approval of this alternate plumbing fixture calculation based on non-simultaneous use and compliance with code intent.