Section 403.50  General Construction Requirements

a)         Grandstands

1)         Grandstands shall comply with the requirements of NFPA Standard No. 102-1972, Tents, Grandstands and Air Supported Structures Used for Places of Assembly, and NFPA Standard No. 101-1973, Life Safety Code, except as modified in Sections 5.12 through 5.13. (11 Ill. Adm. Code Sections 403.50(a)(2) and (3))

2)         Exits from enclosed grandstand spaces which empty into open grandstand spaces from which occupants can make their way to a safe location or which are a safe area of refuge can be counted as part of the required exit capacity for the enclosed spaces.

3)         The occupant load of enclosed grandstand spaces shall be based on the seating capacities of these spaces plus an allowance for standees' floor area, if any, based on one person for every 10 sq. ft. of net standing floor area. Required aisle space serving the fixed seats shall not be used when computing net standing floor area.

4)         Automatic sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with Section 7.3 (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.70(c)) throughout all enclosed grandstand areas of unprotected combustible construction. If the roof structure alone is combustible, sprinklers shall be required only in all concealed roof spaces.

5)         Automatic sprinklers shall be installed in all grandstands in the following locations:

A)        All spaces used for storage and maintenance having an area of over 100 sq. ft. and that are not enclosed with at least 1-hour fire resistive construction and fire doors. Automatic sprinklers may be supplied by the domestic water system up to a limit of 20 sprinklers per space provided that a density of at least .15 gallons per minute (GPM) per sq. ft. in the space can be provided. Such space shall also be enclosed with at least 1-hour fire resistive construction and an approved self-closing fire door when deemed necessary by the Fire Marshal.

B)        Inside combustible concealed spaces of over 2500 sq. ft. fire area.

C)        All spaces used for displays or exhibitions or storage of display or exhibition materials.

D)        All kitchens with interior finish having a flame spread rating over 25.

E)        All interior spaces with an occupancy load of 200 persons or over 4000 sq. ft. in area, which have interior wall and ceiling finish having a flame spread over 75, unless the interior wall finish is of solid lumber at least 1 inch thick.

F)         All interior spaces and rooms under 4000 sq. ft. having wall or ceiling finish with a flame spread rating of more than 100.

G)        All interior exitways, including corridors, stairwells, and other paths to the exterior which have interior wall or ceiling finish with a flame spread of over 25.

6)         Emergency fire escape provisions shall be provided from the stewards stand and press areas where required, and subject to the State Fire Marshal's approval.

b)         Barns

1)         Construction Classification Structures used as barns shall be classified as follows:

A)        Class A – Walls and roof of noncombustible materials. Stall dividers of noncombustible material or two inch dimension hardwood lumber. Use of combustible kick boards shall not cause otherwise noncombustible stall dividers to be classed as combustible.

B)        Class B – Walls masonry; roof of combustible materials.

C)        Class C – Walls and roof of combustible material.

2)         Size Limitations:

A)        Buildings used as barns constructed after the adoption of these rules shall not exceed in area the values in the following table:

B)        Class B and Class C construction without sprinkler protection shall not be permitted.

3)         Height Limitations: The height of barns used primarily for horses shall not exceed one story. Where dormitory rooms are located above the barn structure the structure shall not exceed 2 stories in height.

4)         Spacing Requirements:

A)        Structures enumerated in Section 5.2 (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.50(b)) constructed after the adoption of these rules shall be separated by the following minimum distances:

B)        A reduction in spacing of 50% shall be permitted for a masonry wall without openings and with a parapet extending at least 18" above any combustible roof construction within 10 ft. of the parapet and a reduction of spacing of 33⅓% shall be permitted for sprinklered combustible barns in accordance with Section 7.3 (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.70(c))

5)         Fire Walls: Barns divided by a fire wall having at least two-hour fire resistance shall be considered as separate buildings in applying the size limitations of Section 5.22 (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.50(b)(2))

A)        Fire walls when required shall extend through combustible roofs and walls. The height of the wall shall be at least 32" above the roof and the side shall extend at least 24" beyond combustible exterior walls.

B)        All openings in fire walls separating barns shall be protected by self-closing 1½-hour B label fire doors.

6)         Exits: Barns shall be designed so that there is a doorway leading directly outside within 100 ft. travel distance of all portions of the building. It shall be possible to exit from any point in the building in at least two directions; dead ends longer than 30 ft. shall not be permitted. Travel distance may be increased to 150 ft. when the barn is of masonry or masonry veneer construction and is protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

A)        Doorways provided to meet the requirements of Section 5.26 (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.50(b)(6)) shall be at least 8 ft. high and 6 ft. in width.

B)        All latches on exterior barn doors shall be operable from inside the building.

7)         Smoke Relief Venting: Stall areas in unsprinklered barns shall be provided with exterior openings for smoke relief, located at a high level to permit natural removal of heat and combustion products. Vent openings shall be provided on the basis of 1 sq. ft. of venting area for each 60 sq. ft. of stall floor area.

c)         Sleeping Facilities

1)         Dormitories, tack rooms, and other facilities used for sleeping purposes shall be of at least ¾-hour fire resistant protected construction and shall comply with applicable provisions of NFPA Standard No. 101-1973, Life Safety Code.

2)         Fire Separation: Individual sleeping rooms shall be separated from each other and from barns, stalls, laundry rooms, rest rooms, storage rooms, and similar occupancies by walls, floors, and ceilings having at least a ¾-hour fire resistive rating. Any wall openings shall be protected by a self-closing solid core wood or hollow metal door, 1¾" thick.

3)         Fire Detection: An automatic fire alarm and detection system complying with Section 7.7 (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.70(g)) shall be provided in all sleeping rooms, heating rooms, kitchens, laundry and storage rooms. A fire detection system shall not be required in sleeping facilities protected by an automatic sprinkler system complying with Section 7.3, (11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 403.70(c)) or in sleeping rooms of at least ¾-hour fire resistant construction with a direct exit to the exterior.

d)         Roof Coverings

All track buildings shall have roof coverings meeting Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. requirements for Class C roofing or better.

e)        Insulation

Track buildings shall not use combustible insulating materials installed so that the surface of the insulation is exposed.