This post provides an overview of the alarm requirements in a distillery, when the apply, and how they apply. This article is based on 2018 IBC & IFC. When do alarms apply? Alarms come into play when a distillery is designated as an H occupancy. This occurs when the MAQ (maximum allowable quantity) of 240 […]
NFPA 30 (2015 edition mentioned here), the “Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code” Offers a route for buildings containing large volumes of flammable liquid to be non – sprinklered. Normally, when exceeding the MAQ’s of 120 gallons, sprinklers would be required, but chapter 13 of NFPA 30 provides an exception to allow for an unprotected (non […]
Dalkita and Greystone Technology have been working hard on re-vamping our website. Well, the time has come, our new site is up and running, so check it out! We spent a lot of time expanding our portfolio to display our breadth of experience that we are very proud of, as well as some other additional […]
If you are storing barrels containing spirits in your facility, over 6 ft in height, then the provisions of chapter 32 of the IFC apply. This post is based on the 2015 IFC. These concepts generally apply to 2021 IFC as well, with minor adjustments. Chapter 32 of the IFC is titled “High-Piled Combustible Storage”, […]
The default for egress per the code is 2 exits out of spaces and stories, but the code does have several provisions permitting a single exit from a smaller spaces with limited number of occupants. Here will will go over the main concepts for single exit spaces and single exit stories. Single Egress from spaces […]
The 2021 and newer editions of the IBC (International Building Code) involved major changes affecting the design of distilleries. Jurisdictions adopt different editions at varying times. Many jurisdictions are still utilizing 2018 and earlier codes, but in the coming years, most jurisdictions will begin to adopt 2021 and newer editions. Check with your location jurisdiction […]
This is a question we get a lot. As with most questions in life, the answer is “maybe.” We can say, more often than not, bottling equipment does not have to be in a hazardous occupancy. Where International Code Council (ICC) Building Codes or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Codes are concerned the […]
Since the last post, we have been wrapping up all the final touches. Final electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire sprinkler, painting and trim were all completed. Our power was turned on. We got the septic started up. Got internet service installed. Installed a garage door opener, and finished the fireplace. There was very nearly A MILLION […]
We keep hoping that we will get to a point where it’s less busy, but it just keeps getting busier! We are pushing towards finishing this thing and about 3 weeks out! Since the last post, we’ve has all tile go in, our wood ceiling, wood flooring, cabinets, counters, interior doors and trim. This week […]
Drywall is going in! There were some delays because the delivery of drywall got delayed, but were hoping its all done in about 2 weeks. We’re in a bit of a time crunch because the tiler can only get in on the week of the 17th, so needing to make sure we get drywall done […]
A lot has happened since I last posted! Last time I posted, we had just cleared the trees to prep the lot for digging. We have excavated and installed the septic, excavated the house, formed the foundation walls, perimeter drain/ dampproofing, installed underground plumbing/radon, poured the floor, and started framing! It has been a busy […]
There are several instances when you may be required to have a fire resistant wall between two areas or rooms within a building. One of the most common reasons for this would be two different occupancies that require a fire rating between them. For instance, an H-3 (High Hazard) occupancy adjacent to an A-2 (Assembly […]
Sprinklers in Single Family Homes, say what???? I don’t believe I have ever seen a fire sprinkler system in a stand alone, single family home. Unlike large office buildings, apartment buildings, or warehouses, where fire sprinkler systems are common, I always assumed that single family homes were exempt from needing sprinklers. So, when I went […]
Hi, my name is Matt Taylor-Rennert. Recently, my husband I decided to build a custom home for our family in Evergreen, CO, a mountain community just outside of Denver. We currently live in Denver, and have always wanted to live in the mountains. After not finding any existing homes that we liked in our price […]
Here we will cover cover the general processes that go on when getting a building permit for a new building or remodel. While every jurisdiction will have their own specific ways of permitting, there are many similarities that seem to span across many different places. Zoning Review Most jurisdictions have zoning rules. Some areas will […]
The majority of liquid waste from a distillery is stillage/ spent wash: the leftover liquid after a still run, mostly water. Wastewater districts typically have rules and regulations stating what, and how much of different materials they will accept in their system. Every locality is different, so contact your local wastewater treatment authority to find […]
Egress is defined as “the action of going out of or leaving a place”. Egress is a major component of safety features in the building, and has an entire chapter devoted to it in the IBC (International Building Code). This post will cover some of the main concepts that the code uses to ensure a […]
The IBC (International Building Code) and the IPC (International Plumbing Code) provide prescriptive requirements to calculating the minimum number of plumbing facilities needed in a building, including toilets, sinks, & drinking fountains. Calculate Occupant Load First you need to calculate the number of occupants for a space. The occupant load table in chapter 10 of […]
One of the first steps in the planning and design of a Distillery is Programming. It is an important process that will help you define the space you need, or want to have to achieve your goals as a business. Architectural programming is a structured research and problem-solving process used to identify, examine, and elaborate upon […]
Slow As Molasses w/ Coty Edwards from Hidden Stills Spirits – Lebannon, PA Distilling Craft: Slow as Molasses by Dalkita Architecture & Construction is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Molasses fermentation is discussed along with tips for buying and storing it. Coty Edwards with Hidden Still Spirits in Lebanon, PA is interviewed […]
What Are IBC Plastic Totes and what is prohibited from being stored in them? If you’ve been to a few distilleries, you might have seen these around: Large plastic IBC (intermediate bulk container) totes. IBC totes are lightweight, come in a variety of sizes (often seen in 275 gallons or more), and are affordable. They […]
There’s many ways to capture the energy of the sun to help heat a building. This can be often be done by simply thinking about the path of the sun. It may have no cost increase , and can potentially have dramatic savings on utility costs. Using the Sun For Natural Heating & Cooling The […]
example of a steam boiler used in a distillery Location, Location, Location Ideally, the location of a boiler room in your distillery wants to be as close to the equipment that it is serving as possible. In general, this means as close to your still and fermenters as possible. This is meant to minimize the […]
What is Secondary Containment? Secondary containment requirements are found in the International Fire Code, a model code that is extensively used throughout the U.S. for safe building design and function. Most jurisdictions in the U.S. adopt this code as law, with some jurisdictions adopting a variation of it. For the purpose of distilleries, high proof […]
Welcome! The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is an important topic that those involved with the construction or remodel of buildings or spaces should be aware of and informed on. This post touches on some of the main ADA design issues we often come across when working with new and existing buildings, especially in distilleries! […]
