# PJM Day 20 Objective 4.4 - Potential Errors?

**URL:** <https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pjm-day-20-objective-4-4-potential-errors/7931>\
**Category:** Project Management\
**Created:** [October 12, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pjm-day-20-objective-4-4-potential-errors/7931 "2026-10-12T00:17:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mlb082600](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/24.png) [@mlb082600](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mlb082600)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pjm-day-20-objective-4-4-potential-errors/7931/1 "2026-10-12T00:17:45Z")

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Potential errors in PJM Day 20 video. 2021 IBC Table 504.3 & 504.4 indicate NS values for R-2 occupancy are for evaluation of existing buildings only (footnote d) and that new R-2 occupancies are to be fully sprinklered (footnote h). The scenario is for a new non-sprinklered 3 story building without fire separation between the A-2 & R-2 occupancies which would not be permitted unless I am misunderstanding something.

Also, PJM Day 20 video suggests that having a new unsprinklered, nonseparated R-2 occupancy on a 3rd story is acceptable as long as there are only two R-2 stories per 2021 IBC Table 504.4 while I am seeing Upcodes diagrams suggesting that placing it on the 3rd story is a violation of the 2 story limitation. I’m not sure if Upcodes or Black Spectacles is correct in that interpretation of the story limitations. This is aside from footnote h indicating that R occupancies must be sprinklered.

Finally, the same video states that IBC Table 506.2 limits A-2 nonsprinklered areas to 5500 sf. I’m seeing that the limitation is 6000 sf when I check the 2021 IBC for that occupancy for type VB construction. Am I missing something here?

Let me know what you think and thanks for any clarification you can provide. Sorry if I am mistaken in anything.

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**Author:** ![charles.broomfield](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/charles.broomfield/32/1959_2.png) [@charles.broomfield](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/charles.broomfield)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pjm-day-20-objective-4-4-potential-errors/7931/2 "2026-10-15T20:33:30Z")

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Hi @mlb082600, thanks for the question!

I checked with Chris Hopstock, our architect. He agrees the A-2 area limit is 6,000 sf, not 5,500 sf. We made this video before the ARE switched over to the 2021 IBC, so it was correct when it was written.

He also wanted to point out that this is a PjM video about the process of doing a code analysis. You’re not expected to memorize any of these figures for any division of the ARE, and definitely not for PjM. It’s an example to show the process.

Quick note: I removed the screenshots from your post, since our community doesn’t allow images of member-only content.

Charles Broomfield  
Community Manager  
**[Black Spectacles](https://www.blackspectacles.com/en-us/)**