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Thread 'Room vs. compartment (NOT a toilet question)'

What's the difference between a "room" vs. a "compartment" in IBC 713.13.3? Access openings for waste, recycling or linen chutes shall be located in rooms or compartments enclosed by not less than 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. Is a "compartment" like a small closet that is not intended to be fully entered by the user? Almost like how people put a slam door in front of an elevator?

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Thread 'IEBC Sect 305.7 and Exception 1'

Regarding the "20% rule" and compounded renovation costs. I seem to remember running into a code authority one time a while back that had a stipulation about multiple renovations over a short span and compounding of renovation costs. The idea being that a building owner couldn't get around (major) accessibility upgrades by having multiple projects where the 20% of the construction costs would never get you to the point of having to do a major accessibility upgrade like accessible public...

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Thread 'What would you do? Occupant load distribution'

I know of no specific code for how OL MUST be distributed beyond 1005.5 ('21 IBC) for the loss of of one exit. If I have a classroom with 100 occupants and all occupants can fit through one door does the required capacity at the other door need to demonstrate that it could handle 50 occupants? Does that load need to be accounted for in the exit capacity leading from the other door all the way to exit discharge? I say yes to both questions, but I have a DP who continually tries to herd all...

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Thread 'Is a scoreboard a sign?'

2018 IBC Appendix H "Signs" Question 1. Is a scoreboard a sign? I think it is per definition but the guy working for the ICC that supposed to interpret the code didn't think it was. What do you think? (Scoreboards usually include an advertisement) SIGN. Any letter, figure, character, mark, plane, point, marquee sign, design, poster, pictorial, picture, stroke, stripe, line, trademark, reading matter or illuminated service, which shall be constructed, placed, attached, painted, erected...

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Thread 'Definitions?'

The IBC discusses/regulates "occupancy classification" and "use" (Chapter 3), yet the code doesn't define either term. I'm old enough that I began my career as an architect under my state's amended version of the BOCA Basic Building Code. Back then, if I remember correctly, all we had was "use groups." Them, somewhere along the way, the code introduced "occupancy classification" as something related to but different from "use group." I'm trying to write a layman's guide to understanding the...

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Thread 'Open-ended corridors - 2018 IBC'

Trying to solve an issue on my apartment project regarding exterior stairs with open-ended corridors. 2018 IBC. Construction Type V-A, Group R-2. Four stories. NFPA 13 sprinkler system. The building plan is very simple. Double loaded corridor with a stair at each end. No change of direction in the corridor. It appears from Section 1027.6, exception 3 that no separation is required between the stairs and the open-ended corridor. The corridors are 1-hour rated, so my assumption is that the...

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Thread 'NYC Fire Code vs NY Building Code Stair Signs'

Hi I make signs in New York City. My company has been making signs for elevator banks since way before I got here. Pretty standard signs - a diagram of the floor, "you are here," and large ""IN CASE OF FIRE, USE STAIRS UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED". This is all per §27-01 (b) (1). The section of NYC's building code requiring the same signage (3002.3) requires "IN FIRE EMERGENCY, DO NOT USE ELEVATOR. USE THE EXIT STAIRS." We've only ever done the former, and none of our clients has failed...

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Thread 'Toilet Rooms and Circulation serving both A-2 and B spaces'

For a project under WI code (Modified IBC codes) I have a building which contains (2) currently separated occupancies (A-2 and S-2), each operating indepently. This building is physically connected to another building, which only has B occupancy. (We'll say each is only 1 story and the same type of construction for simplicity). The two buildings are separated by an existing fire wall between the buildings (but no real property lines). Proposed work is place a code-approve opening in the...

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Thread 'Allowable area calculation'

Given: Four story apartment building, type VA construction, 13R sprinkler system, divided in half with a two-hour fire-rated wall from foundation to the underside of the non-combustible roof deck. Thirty feet clear separation on all four sides. 2018 IBC Section 506.2.3 Question: What is the maximum allowable fire area (including all four floors with a single fire compartment) on each side of the fire wall? Please check my math and let me know if I miscalculated. As always, thanks in...

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Thread '2 Hour rated exterior wall'

I am looking for a UL design or GA for 2-hour exterior wall bearing wall no batt insulation within the stud space 2 layers of 5/8” Type X gypsum board on interior side 1 layer of gypsum board on the exterior side I searched on the UL website and GA. It seems like 1. if the batt insulation within the stud space is optional, then 2 layers of ¾” Type X gypsum board or 3 layers of ½” Type X gypsum board on the interior side are required 2. if 2 layers of 5/8" Type X gypsum board on the...

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Thread 'Panic and Fire Exit Hardware'

During inspections I am seeing more and more doors are being equipped with panic hardware. In most cases it is not required and a very expensive item to install. I have also been on inspections and another inspector (fire and building) would make the statement that panic hardware is required. They make the statement without researching first and I have corrected them for this. Below is an outline on the requirements, excluding some exceptions; When is panic and fire exit hardware required...

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Thread 'Handrail, Guardrail, edge protection requirement'

Hi All, Im in process of designing a private high school and Im trying to create this communal space with a level elevation change in the center of the room. Now, the client really would like to not have any walls, guardrails, handrails etc. separating these 2 spaces and would like it to be a 1 volume of space with a 18" drop. I think its a tripping hazard but i said i would review the code and i cannot find anything preventing me from doing this.... I could use this edge to add cushions...

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Thread 'IBC & A117.1 Handrail Extensions'

I have a fabricator with a project in which the design professional is wanting the handrail to change in direction around a corner per say. I know we have covered this before here but I am starting a new thread just to keep it project specific to get your feedback. I will explain more with each of the pics' as to code, to simplify we will start with assume 2018 IBC and later, and A117.1 of 2017 and later, I forgot to ask, but know it is likely 2021 or 2024 IBC, but nothing has really...

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Thread 'Children’s Indoor Playground, Play Structures Building Code Issues in PA'

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone here has experience or advice on a situation we’re facing! We’re preparing to open a Children’s Indoor Playground in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Most of the preliminary work has been done. We submitted the finalized layout drawings for a preliminary review with the Township. However, we’ve run into an issue. The Township is saying they can’t approve our permit because our play structure layout doesn’t fully comply with the Children’s Play Structure...

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Thread 'Coolers in Exitway?'

The exit pathways in the sketch below run either side of a kitchen in a commercial restaurant and discharge to the exterior. Wouldn't adding beverage coolers on both sides of a portion of the exit way make that portion an extension of the Kitchen thus violating the prohibition of exiting thru a kitchen?

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Thread 'CAH1 Group B Guard Infill Loads'

This cycle I am currently working on an infill load being added to the model codes, IRC & IBC, and are hoping to gain some feedback from for those of you here on the forum. The proposals are S80-25 IBC Section 1607.9 RB53-25 IRC Section Table R301.5 Besides the information in the monograph, we have a webpage with more detailed and up to date information, which will be being updated through the entire code cycle for these proposals. https://railingcodes.com/icc-2025-group-b/ Looking...

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Thread 'ENT used as a low voltage cable sleeve?'

Does anyone know of a listed assembly when electrical non-metallic tubing (smurf tubing) is used as a through penetration sleeve for low voltage wires in a one hour wood framed wall assembly? The sleeve sizes are 1, 2, and 3 inches.

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Thread 'Door Classifications & Sizing in IBC'

Are there door classifications for the International Building code? We do a lot of projects in New York city & we list the doors as class1 or class2, etc. Does the International Building Code have a similar classification? I could not find anything, or maybe I need to look at the IFC code? Also is there an Egress capacity calculation for each door. In NYC we use 0.2" per occupant.

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Thread 'Equipment platform?'

Any thoughts on whether or not a wood framed equipment platform is allowed in a IIB building? What about a wood structure that stuff hangs off of? 505.3 Equipment platforms in buildings shall not be considered as a portion of the floor below. Such equipment platforms shall not contribute to either the building area or the number of stories as regulated by Section 503.1. The area of the equipment platform shall not be included in determining the fire area in accordance with Section 903...

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Thread 'Demising Wall in Existing 1 story building Questions'

I'm working on a commercial TI project in an existing 9,000sf 1 story building with a gable roof. There is an attic space above with wood trusses. There are vented eaves and an open ridge with 4" shingle over ridge vent. Currently, there is a single tenant in the space and the plan is to subdivide the building into two tenant spaces and a new 1 hour demising wall will be provided. The wall will need to go up into the attic space up to the sloping roof sheathing. Do I need to do anything...

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Thread 'Multi Story area with Stacked Mezzanines'

We have a 2 story UL area building with a set of mezzanines in an open room. Its set up with a ground floor/ mezzanine / second floor / second mezzanine. We need the floor to be a floor as it has enclosed offices & restrooms How would you count the area of the area per 505.2.1 - IBC 2021 This is all one room / space. IBC 505.2.1 stats that is the floor area of the room / space in which its located. My interpretation is (GROUND FLOOR + SECOND FLOOR) / (GROUND FLOOR MEZZANINE / SECOND...

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Thread 'Using Prescriptive Fire Resistance (CH 7) to Design Fire-rated Assemblies'

I am an architect in Indiana. I am working on a 12,000 SF +/- type V-A church project. The owner does not want to install a sprinkler. Indiana is presently governed by the 2012 IBC with Indiana amendments. Indiana has an amendment which allows for a fire area to be up to 7,000 regardless of occupant load, so I broke the building into three wings (Fellowship, Sanctuary, and Education), which are separated by a 2-hour fire barrier to create three separate compliant Fire Areas. Although...

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Thread 'Partially sprinklered school'

IBC 2018 Illinois location K-12, Group "E" Type IIB construction of new addition Two-story building addition, 10,500 SF / floor New addition to be fully sprinklered. Existing school buildings are not sprinklered -- one is type IIB, one is type VB. School addition is to be placed between two existing and separate campus buildings. Each existing building is between 10 and 30 feet of separation, but will be connected by small new corridor "connectors". Given the size of the new floors, I...

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Thread 'Group S - 1 or Group - U for a metal-covered open storage structure?'

How do I classify a 20 feet high , 4,000 square foot, metal-covered open storage structure? Group S-1 or U? It will have uninsulated metal roof panels, exposed steel columns, and uninsulated metal wall panels on the north and west sides, with loading access from the south and east sides. It is intended for storage of items that can be exposed to the weather. Can I consider it a shed, thus go for Group U, or not?

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Thread 'Daycare Center_Outdoor play area requirement'

Hi, This project is in Anaheim, California. We are working on Tenant Improvement for day care center required to have Conditional Use Permit. Our occupany load is 45 children and 4 employees. When we designate the area for outdoor play, do we require 45 x 75sqf = 3,375sqf or Can we have a shift plan for outdoor activity spliting the kids group into 3, 15x75sqf= 1,125sqf Thank you!

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