Expert: Mark Sundberg - 8/11/2009

Question
My church has a building that was built in the late forties and was used first as an A&P neighborhood grocery store. It has a curved roof like a quonset hut with a parapet wall running along  one side. Can this parapet wall be removed?
Thank you so much.


Answer
Aloha Lonnie,

Unfortunately, it would be almost impossible to say, without seeing the situation and, more importantly, knowing where the property line is. Structurally, it's probably not needed, at least I can't think of any reason for such. But you never know. On the other hand, parapet walls are usually employed when a building is on or near the property line as a fire prevention mechanism. If that's the case, it can not be removed. Period. The distance to the property line can be quite a bit, up to 20' or 30' depending on the occupancy of the building and how it's built and how big it is and what code is in effect.