Letters

Regarding your story on workshop condos in the January edition of BD&C ("A new building type: 'workshop condos,'" p. 9), these types of self-storage developments are typically issued a Certificate of Occupancy for S2 occupancy (low-hazard storage). When other types of businesses that are not categorized as S2 move in, a new Certificate of Occupancy must be issued, based on the type of business. Most contracting firms, for example, are classified as F1 (moderate hazard factory and industrial), which would require, among other things, a three-hour separation wall between units.

Other occupancies, like class B (business office), would require toilet rooms for each gender, as well as handicap facilities. The owner may also be required to provide handicapped/van-accessible parking spaces on fully paved surfaces. Many self-storage facilities, on the other hand, are permitted to have gravel-access lanes.

Also, what about zoning requirements? A workshop condo occupant may produce odors or loud noises, or generate explosive dust from sawing and sanding that may not be permitted by the local zoning code. A quiet storage facility is not disruptive in this manner.

I can see this storage unit owner getting himself into a lot of problems by permitting occupancies that are not storage-related in his facilities.

Philip Heine, AIA, Philip A. Heine Architect, Spokane, Wash.