Converting Doctors Office To Restaurant

ATS

I was asked to bid on this project. The building is 4,000 sq. ft and has suitable ampacity (400 amp single phase). I've never bid on something like this and could use some input. My main concern is that this building is wired in romex and NY considers this building a place of assembly. I still have to call the fire underwriters and see what they say about this. The problem is the customer does not want to re-wire the entire building. She just wants new wiring and lighting for one dining area and new wiring for the kitchen and equipment. I know this depends on the inspector but has anyone had experience with a change in the buildings use but without gutting the building completely? Are there exceptions? The other question I have is in regard to placement of smoke and heat detectors as well as emergency lights, some guidelines would be helpful. The building inspector, not electrical, says that an emergency light is required outside the entrance on the outside of the building, never heard of that one. The restaurant owner is doing most of the work and there are no plans or prints (other than the placement of the kitchen equipment). There is no architect involved either. I was thinking of T&M for the bid to protect myself. I may pass on this one but haven't decided yet. Any help here would be appreciated.

Speedy Petey

Steeeerike 1
Steeeerike 2
Steeeerike 3 Yer out!


Sorry, this whole thing sound like a mess. I have NEVER done a restraunt that was not gutted or at least brought up to code. NY is very strict about POA structures and I can't ever see an inspector looking past the fact that this is a POA with NM wiring.

The building inspector sounds as nuts as the owner too. Outside the door???

What area of NY is this?

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Bob Kovacs

I was gonna say that I've never done a commercial project without a set of plans signed by either the architect, or the contractor of record. Most places won't let you "just build" a building that will be used by the public.

Bob

wolverines57

I would stay for from that one. I just started the electrical buisnees thing on the side for now. I was aked to do a job that is somewhat like yours but it was a resturant and apts. attached it needed to be rewired a new service with each apt with a sub panel in it. And also, he wanted this done while the buisness and renters were there. This guy wanted it done cheap as posiable, after talking to the guy I thought, you no what you could not pay me enough to take the job.

steveprichard

Make sure you get EVERYTHING she wants in writing, especially everything in the kitchen, i.e. vent-a-hood lighting, exhaust fan, water heater, etc.

I worked on a new small candy manufacturing building for a man that was getting his PhD in business. He started this business from scratch. He wasn't interested in getting everything to code, he just wanted to get the whole thing completed so he could get his degree. Anyway, at the end of the job, he had to add several overlooked items. One of them was a rooftop exhaust fan and extra HVAC for cooling. Caused some major problems.

Get it in writing first.

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Steve

"Keep thee thy airspeed, lest the earth rise up and smite thee!"

ATS

Update. Just talked to the electrical inspector and he said romex is no problem. I'm surprised. He's meeting us there today to go over some things.

Speedy Petey

Not all areas of a restraunt are POA. Only the dining, meeting, banquet, etc. rooms.

What town is this in?

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ATS

Turns out she'll just need to keep the seating to 49 people or less and the romex is acceptable. As for the e-light outside the door, yep, it's required. The electrical inspector confirmed this today. Learn something new everyday. BTW, this is in the Buffalo area, western NY.