A problem that keeps popping up among folks planning to build residential airpark homes is the size of the hangar and the related building code or fire department regulations.

The question usually occurs when building plans are submitted for a structure that includes a hangar of more than 2000 square feet. The plans frequently are rejected or, at the very least, the agency providing the building permit requires the structure to meet commercial construction code limitations. These can include a wide variety of restrictions including requirements for fire retardant interiors, sprinkler systems, explosion proof electric outlets, locations of electrical outlets and much more.

According to fire department officials with whom we have spoken, these requirements have been set up in the national fire code, which subsequently has been accepted and adopted by most localities. As a result, insurance companies have used these standards for insurance underwriting.

Have you built a hangar of more than 2,000 square feet? Did the permitting agency require anything different from a large garage? Was this hangar and integral part of a house or a stand-alone building? In what state are you located and in what permitting locality is the house and or hangar? Did you have any extra problems obtaining insurance?

Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to get a good understanding of how 2,000 square feet came to be the cutoff point. If you’ve got any information on this matter it could be helpful to many people interested in building on residential airparks.