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I know a bunch of us have been dealing with this and I think a major component has been overlooked and wanted to get some input here.... Background: There has been a legislative push, under the guise of affordable housing, to allow single egress up to 6 stories. Reality: 1. Single egress (unmodified) allows no emergency lighting. 2. It's an emergency response issue with people running out at the same time the FD is running in possibly 3. And the discussion that came up yesterday is this...
Hello All, I have a 117,000 SF sports facility being built under the 2015 IBC in my jurisdiction that will be used for sporting events and practice, with a concession stand. They are adding moveable bleachers which I would view as putting this into the A-4 occupancy classification with the concession stand being an accessory occupancy to the A-4. Section 507.4 Sprinklered, one story buildings, exception 2 states that "The automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in areas occupied...
Hello, I am looking to get clarification in regard to California Building Code section 402.8.1.1 Minimum Width for covered or open mall buildings. This section notes that the aggregate clear width shall not be less than 20 feet and shall be sufficient to accommodate the actual occupant load served. The code language continues to state that any portion of the minimum required aggregate egress width shall not be less than 10 feet measured to a height of 8 feet between any projection of a...
Thread 'Egress width'
2018 IBC S use group Is egress distance between pallets regulated by the IBC? An occupant can walk toward the back of the racking and come back out. They cannot get to the racking on the other side from this side.
Thread 'Open Stair as Exit Access'
Given: 2018 I-Code Jurisdiction. 2 story office building (plus 1 basement level below) with 2 rated enclosed stairways at each end, and an un-enclosed stair in the central core area. Fully Sprinklered. In addition to the unenclosed stair with a horizontal projected area of 163 sf, there is an adjacent but separate atrium area with a vertical opening measuring approx. 632sf Total cumulative occupant load for the 2nd floor is 148 occupants. Proposed Alteration: Prospective tenant #1...
Thread 'EERO'
does the section in red brackets apply only to r-3/ r-4?
I am looking at a project (Museum) that has an entrance lobby space which may also be used for small gatherings - receptions, etc. The space contains several fixed millwork items - reception desk, display cases - which are built in and permanent. In calculating the occupant load for the space, must the floor space occupied by such items be included in the "net floor area" of the space, or can that area be excluded from the net floor area?
Thread 'How do you separate two different occupancies where no separation is required. :)'
If you want to separate (B) from (S-1) per the following table, do you interpret it as it needs to be separated, but the separation is 0 rated? Or do you interpret it as it doesn't need a separation at all (that is no physical barrier at all)? ... I ask because I have a type VB where I'd like to separate these 2 occupancies, so the (B) can be 2 stories, and the (S-1) can be 1 story. If they were nonseparated, the entire building would have to be 1 story. Do you see my confusion...
2015 IBC sec 402.8.7 allows for mechanical rooms to open on an exit passageway in a mall scenario...nothing about penetrations Section 1024 only allows access to the exit passageway from normally occupied spaces and section 1024.6 does not allow any penetrations...is it the intent to allow penetrations in a mall situation?
IBC 2012 for NJ. Basically a roof over a full basketball court (high school dimensions) for a YMCA. Open on all sides. Non-combustible construction. Game lines would also make it possible for two smaller full courts and a volleyball court. Full court is 4,200 SF. If 50 SF/occ, that's 84 occ so A-3? Or closer to A-4? If less than 50 occ, B use? No spectator seating. Thanks for any help.
Does anyone know if there is a code requirement for minimum light levels on walk ways around and between buildings? do things like stairs and parking lots have different requirements? I have been asked to dim pole lights on our campus while holiday lighting is on. I'm not sure how much to dim them to and still meet any requirements.
Thread 'Help assessing if these corridors need to be rated.'
I'm working on a 5300sf unsprinklered, Type VB (B) & (S-1) Repair garage and car dealership.. The occupancy count is 49. Question: per TABLE 1020.1, do the corridors needed to be rated for 1hr? https://up.codes/viewer/wisconsin/ibc-2015/chapter/10/means-of-egress#table_1020.1 The corridor loads on the 1st floor are greater than 30 occupants so it looks like they need to be rated. If so, I'm assuming the corridors, highlighted in red, will need to be rated. I question my assessment...
So, repair shops are normally placed into Group F by the IBC (306.1) and considered industrial uses by the LSC (6.1.12.1); however, this is complicated by the fact the IBC puts automotive repair shops (311.2.2) and aircraft servicing hangars (311.2.1) into Group S-1 (even though the LSC considers them to be industrial uses as per 40.6 for aircraft and 42.8.1.2 for automobiles). However, neither the IBC nor the LSC have language for facilities where rail-related vehicles are maintained...
Thread 'Frontage increase in H shaped building'
I'm currently working on an addition to an existing building. I'm trying to determine allowable area (IBC 24) and how much frontage increase is available. The existing building is H shaped. I'm wondering if the area shown in blue below/attached: A. would be counted in the building perimeter B. Be considered to have no open space since it's only 18' between the two portions of the building. The above is my understanding of the code. I've had a colleague disagree. I appreciate any input...
I need to provide the UL assembly details for a building that has retail on the first floor and residential units on the two floors above. The construction type is VA. I’ve referenced UL Assembly L521 — is this the correct one for this condition? Also, would the same assembly apply for the ceiling of the second floor as well?
I am trying to determine if timber/glulam exterior curtainwalls (vertical glulam mullions with point supported glazing) can be used in type IIB construction (2018 IBC). FSD is not an issue. The top of the tallest mullion would 42' above grade. Would 603.1 (6) allow it? "Millwork such as doors, door frames, window sashes and frames". 603.1 (9) and (13) talks about show windows and bay/oriel windows which seems rather specific. It mentions exterior wall coverings. Looking in chapter 14...
When an exterior wall is required to be rated, not due to proximity to another structure or occupancy separation, is the rated wall considered a fire partition or a fire barrier? We are rating the walls to protect structural posts inside that support deck tie rods.
2022 Denver Building Code (2021 IBC), R-2 Apartment building, Type III-B, sprinklered. A client presented me with some SD drawings for a small apartment building with a single egress stair. This is allowed up to 3 stories. The apartments with their entry on the third floor have 2 floors within them, plus a roof top deck that are accessed by an internal stair. The upper floor and roof deck cover the full foot print of the unit so no mezzanine. Am I correct that the second level of the...
Hello everyone, I am working on a project for a university library, which is connected to the campus district energy system (chilled water and steam). The IECC 2021 specifies that: Chilled water: For systems using purchased chilled water, the chillers are not explicitly modeled and chilled water costs shall be based as determined in Sections C407.2 and C407.4.2 and Fossil fuel boiler: For systems using purchased hot water or steam, the boilers are not explicitly modeled and hot water or...
Thread 'Accessible means of egress in R-2 TH'
My first time posting here. Appreciate the great discussions and wealth of knowledge shared on this site. I'm learning a lot from this community. I'm working on a new multifamily development, 32 4-story multi-level units in two buildings (R-2, NFPA 13D). Each unit has its own entry from exterior. Half of them are townhouses and the other half are inter-locked multi-story units (back-to-back units with living space over neighbor’s garage). 2018 IBC with Seattle amendments. Based on IBC...
Thread 'Minimum width between fixture and toilet compartment?'
Morning, I'm currently reviewing an Educational Facility using the 2020 BCNYS. Does anyone know a code section regarding the min. width required between a fixture and the entrance to a toilet compartment? Please see pic below. I don't like this layout, but can't seem to find anything in the code that prohibits it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Looking for a crawl space definition , I didn't find any. I have an existing sloped area below a building's ground floor maximum 7 feet tall , housing just pipes running chilled and hot water from one side of the building to the other. There are some electric HVAC circulators and a passive buffer tank in the area, which is accessible via a hatch 4X4 ft wide. Does such a space qualify as a crawl space? No preventive maintenance is foreseen, just a technician visiting in case of a leak or...
The unlimited area provisions state that the distance for the required open yards be measured to the property line however in this instance the property line (which does not provide the required 60'-0") overlaps a storm sewer easement which, if included, would provide the required distance...it is similar to using the entire width of a public way since it is a public utility and cannot be built upon...thoughts on allowing?
Out of curiosity, why would a designer specify a GA assembly instead of a UL assembly? For example, GA wp3269 is specified, which has fire test UL design U341. Why specify wp3269 and not U341?
Thread 'What is "readily visible" according to IBC 2018 Section 1028.1, ex. 1.1?'
I have a new construction where we have 2 stairs, 1 of which reenters the building. This is allowed per IBC 2018, Section 1028.1, exception 1. I'm getting flagged on exception 1, item 1.1 because they're saying my exit is not "readily visible". There is an exit sign directly in front of you when you pass through the stair doors and exit signs directing you to the exterior exit door. Is there some definition to "readily visible"? ........... .
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