Plan review on a new fire station. Trucks downstairs, upstairs has 6 bunk rooms, kitchen, showers, bathrooms, day room, exercise room.

NEC defines 'DWELLING UNIT" as a place for one or more persons that provides 'space for living, sleeping, cooking, sanitation'.

Am I correct that this floor requires Arc-Fault breakers, tamper resistant receptacles, smoke alarms and CO alarm?

Lynn Adams
Escambia County (Pensacola)

Yes, you are correct. You have different occupancy classifications. Residential upstairs and Business (Civic Administration)/Storage S-2 (Parking) downstairs.

I agree with Joe. We typcially classify those portions of mixed-occupancies with sleeping untis as R-2. Therefore, the NEC provisions for dwelling units must be complied with...

This would be a mixed use R-2/S-2. It would not be a dwelling unit as much as a dormitory or group living arrangement. I would apply 210-8 and AFCI requirements. Where it gets tricky is in the kitchen. A commercial kitchen requires a Class I kitchen exhaust hood, grease duct and suppression. The Florida Accessibility Code would also apply.