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Forum Categories BOMA 2017 - Office Buildings Question

Unenclosed Occupant Circulation

Mateo Sardone: Sardone Design Group; January 17, 2018

If unenclosed circulation, at grade, provides the only access to restrooms, does that constitute including the entire area of unenclosed circulation area into rentable or extended circulation? Or can unenclosed circulation not provide access to service areas and only to tenant area? The illustrations within the publication only show including the area of unenclosed circulation that lies between tenant access doors. Please provide clarification.

Thank you

David Fingret: Extreme Measures Inc.; January 17, 2018

Hi Mateo,

In order to apply Unenclosed Occupant Circulation, there should be no means of access to Tenant Areas, other than from the exterior of the building. If unenclosed circulation is used to provide access to restrooms, but there is also access to the tenant spaces from the building's interior, then you should not apply Unenclosed Occupant Circulation.

There is text that supports the illustrations you've noted. The standard states:
"Unenclosed Occupant Circulation is intended to provide access to Tenant and Amenity Areas only and should not be extended unnecessarily to Service Areas"