507.1 General. The area of buildings of the occupancies and configurations specified herein shall not be limited.

507.2 Nonsprinklered, one story. The area of a one-story, Group F-2 or S-2 building shall not be limited when the building is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.3 Sprinklered, one story. The area of a one-story, Group B, F, M or S building or a one-story Group A-4 building, of other than Type V construction, shall not be limited when the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

Exceptions:

1. Buildings and structures of Type I and II construction for rack storage facilities that do not have access by the public shall not be limited in height, provided that such buildings conform to the requirements of Sections 507.2 and 903.3.1.1 and  NFPA  230.

2. The automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in areas occupied for indoor participant sports, such as tennis, skating, swimming and equestrian activities in occupancies in Group A-4, provided that:

2.1. Exit doors directly to the outside are provided for occupants of the participant sports areas; and

2.2. The building is equipped with a fire alarm system with manual fire alarm boxes installed in accordance with Section 907.

3. Group A-1 and A-2 occupancies of other than Type V construction shall be permitted, provided:

3.1. All assembly occupancies are separated from other spaces as required for separated uses in Section 508.3.3.4 with no reduction allowed in the fire-resistance rating of the separation based upon the installation of an automatic sprinkler system;

3.2. Each Group A occupancy shall not exceed the maximum allowable area permitted in Section 503.1; and

3.3. All required exits shall discharge directly to the exterior.

507.4 Two story. The area of a two-story, Group B, F, M or S building shall not be limited when the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.
 

507.5 Reduced open space. The permanent open space of 60 feet (18 288 mm) required in Sections 507.2, 507.3, 507.4, 507.6 and 507.10 shall be permitted to be reduced to not less than 40 feet (12 192 mm), provided the following requirements are met:

1. The reduced open space shall not be allowed for more than 75 percent of the perimeter of the building.

2. The exterior wall facing the reduced open space shall have a minimum fire-resistance rating of 3 hours.

3. Openings in the exterior wall facing the reduced open space shall have opening protectives with a minimum fire protection rating of 3 hours.

507.6 Group A-3 buildings. The area of a one-story, Group A-3 building used as a place of religious worship, community hall, dance hall, exhibition hall, gymnasium, lecture hall, indoor swimming pool or tennis court of Type II construction shall not be limited when all of the following criteria are met:

1. The building shall not have a stage other than a platform.

2. The building shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

3. The assembly floor shall be located at or within 21 inches (533 mm) of street or grade level and all exits are provided with ramps complying with Section 1010.1 to the street or grade level.

4. The building shall be surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.7 Group H occupancies. Group H-2, H-3 and H-4 occupancies shall be permitted in unlimited area buildings containing Group F and S occupancies, in accordance with Sections 507.3 and 507.4 and the limitations of this section. The aggregate floor area of the Group H occupancies located at the perimeter of the unlimited area building shall not exceed 10 percent of the area of the building nor the area limitations for the Group H occupancies as specified in Table 503 as modified by Section 506.2, based upon the percentage of the perimeter of each Group H fire area that fronts on a street or other unoccupied space. The aggregate floor area of Group H occupancies not located at the perimeter of the building shall not exceed 25 percent of the area limitations for the Group H occupancies as specified in Table 503. Group H fire areas shall be separated from the rest of the unlimited area building and from each other in accordance with Table 508.3.3 For two-story unlimited area buildings, the Group H fire areas shall not be located above the first story unless permitted by the allowable height in stories and feet as set forth in Table 503 based on the type of construction of the unlimited area building.

507.8 Aircraft paint hangar. The area of a one-story, Group H-2 aircraft paint hangar shall not be limited where such aircraft paint hangar complies with the provisions of Section 412.4 and is entirely surrounded by public ways or yards not less in width than one and one-half times the height of the building.
 

507.9 Group E buildings. The area of a one-story Group E building of Type II, III A or IV construction shall not be limited when the following criteria are met:

1. Each classroom shall have not less than two means of egress, with one of the means of egress being a direct exit to the outside of the building complying with Section 1018.

2. The building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

3. The building is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.10 Motion picture theaters. In buildings of Type II construction, the area of a one-story motion picture theater shall not be limited when the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and is surrounded and adjoined by public ways or yards not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in width.

507.11 Covered mall buildings and anchor stores. The area of covered mall buildings and anchor stores not exceeding three stories in height that comply with Section 402.6 shall not be limited.