Hi
A seemingly simple question which I haven't been able to find the answer for...
We're doing a renovation of an airplane hangar, which primarily involvers recladding and reroofing the building. No change in use, and little overall alteration to the building other than the cladding (well, new MEP and a few other minors things).
In addition to the newly built restroom, we're putting in a laundry room.
Do these new rooms in the existing building need to comply with the "new" requirements...
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I looked to see if this issue has been discussed previously, but I do not see that it has been - apologies of this repeats a prior discussion!
I am looking at a project where a monumental stair is proposed (A3 occupancy). The project will be governed by 2021 IBC. The proposed stair is not a required means of egress in that it can be eliminated and all required egress from the upper level will still be served. The stairway has a directional change that uses winder treads.
I see that IBC...
Michigan Building Code 2015. Un-separated mixed use fully fire suppressed. 1/2 hour rating required at the apartments.
However, there is one business use space in the same area. I haven't received a formal write up but am being told the door and glass for this office space needs to be rated. Likely because it's shared corridor.
My question is, is the whole enclosed space considered the corridor? Or is it just the space in the path of egress? Here is a link to a diagram of the space...
Interesting code conundrum when a jurisdiction adopts the International Property Maintenance Code and the International Building Code. All code references in this post are based on the 2021 IBC and 2021 IPMC. The IPMC is clear it only applies to exiting buildings (101.2). IBC 1204.1 requires spaces for human occupancy shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings OR artificial light. A living room in a multifamily apartment building can be built with no windows...
https://apnews.com/article/florida-miami-beach-surfside-building-collapse-438007b29e291eecb6ca953f0d55c248
In New York city we have to do a separate permit drawing called public assembly along with the normal permit set of drawings. This is similar to a life safety plan that shows the occupancy loads and travel distances, but mostly focuses on public areas such as the dining area of a restaurant. One thing that's always confusing to me is that if it is done in 2010 using the 1968 NYC building code and I have to do a new or I guess an updated public assembly drawing in 2024 or 2025 does it still...
I'm electively putting a LULA elevator (from the 1st floor to basement) in an existing building undergoing Level 2 Alteration.
Everything in the Code that I've come across seems to indicate that standby power for the elevator is required.
Is there something I'm missing that would not require it in this case?
I have A-3 occupancy (more than 10% of the first floor area) in the first floor of a 4 story residential building with NPSF 13 sprinklers. The building is type VA. The building height is less than 50'. When I calculate the allowable area for A-3. Should I use SM (without height increase) or SM (with height increase) in table 506.2?
I had a similar project, the plan check comment said that I have to use SM(with area increase). I don't understand why I have to use this.
In table 504.3...
I'm putting an elevator in a (A2 occupancy) building connecting the first floor and basement floor.
2020 BCNYS Section 3002.1 says "Elevator... hoistway enclosures shall be shaft enclosures complying with sections 712 and 713.
712.1.9 says vertical opening are allowed if they don't connect more than 2 stories.
If the opening is allowed and thus does not need protection, does that mean that the elevator hoistway does not have to be a shaft enclosure?
There have been some topics about this item, just not the situation I ran into.
(feel free to move to ADA code section if needed, but this is regarding non-ADA restroom
2018 code, but there are chapters in 2021,2024, IPC that are pretty much the same
Small assembly renovation in existing building. Occupancy under 50.
Based on 2902.2.1 I'm proposing 2 family/unisex restrooms instead of a 1 male/1 female RR . Inserting 50% 1109.2 exc 3 I'm proposing 1 ADA and 1 non-ADA based on the 50% rule...
2018 IBC 1009.7 for an exterior area for assisted rescue. Given an exit stair with the exit discharge not at grade, using an exterior landing and stair to grade. The 2nd paragraph says that where the ED does not include an accessible route from the exit to the public way, an exterior area of assisted rescue shall be provided on the exterior landing. The exterior stairs are part of the ED. The commentary for this section then says you have two options: either the exterior area for...
I have a covered walkway that runs alongside a site fountain. Are railings required If the distance between the top of the wall and bottom of the water containment area is less than 30"? I've seen plenty of instances where there are no railings alongside a water feature, see 2nd image below for an example.
Hello,
2015 IBC & IEBC
Proposed project is a currently operating furniture store -- almost entirely showroom space -- very small receiving area where unpacking occurs
Freestanding building, approx. 16,000 SF single story with partial basement (unused except for storage).
IIIB construction type (interior and exterior walls are masonry)
I had an owner of a furniture call me and let me know that the City had informed him that his building is not code compliant due to the lack of sprinklers or...
My understanding is that the required egress width cannot be reduced along the path of travel to a public way, but that the overall pathway width can, as long as the required width is maintained. Correct? In the example below, the width between exterior walls at the exit door from the interior to exterior is wider to accommodate door maneuvering clearances, but due to site constraints, the pathway walls reduce to 4'-8", but the minimum 3'-8" (44") egress width is maintained.
We have a pending application under review for a new medical facility. It's not a hospital, but it's a diagnostic clinic associated with a hospital and will include an MRI facility within the building. Type II-B construction, sprinklered.
As is usual (at least around here) the detailed design of the sprinkler system is a deferred submittal. What got my attention is a note on the building construction drawings that the water service for sprinklers will be verified at the time of the...
This is a project I'm not the architect on, so didn't provide the detail, but I have been asked about it by the contractor (am an in-house architect for the contractor). They had an inspector ask for a rating for the detail below. I told them she asked because they penetrated the 2hr UL U419 assembly by screwing through the two layers of drywall into blocking in the assembly. They responded with "it's no different than hanging cabinets on a fire rated wall and we do that all the time"...
Has anyone come across this situation. We are getting complaints about the odor from a cannabis extraction facility. does the building code address ventilation for odor outside of the facility. or has any jurisdiction added any requirement to the local code to address this issue.
Hello all,
We have a metal building with a mezzanine. Offices are on the rated mezzanine, separate occupancy in the rest of the building. and the walls supporting the mezzanine are rated. The rated west exterior wall that is supporting the mezzanine has windows on the ground floor. The building inspector is questioning if the window returns need to be rated as well (3 layer fire barrier). Do the windows on the ground floor need to be rated in the wall that is supporting the mezzanine?
thanks
Consider an exterior stair in a three-sided alcove, meaning it is open on one long side. If one wants to use the adjacent walls as guards (which is typical on interior stairs) what code provision limits the gap between the stairs and the wall? Is it the max 4" opening? That is what is shown in the attached diagram. If that is code compliant it seems like a really bad idea. It would be so easy to step into that gap. Is there anything in the code stopping someone from building that?
Also, see...
I'm working on a level II alteration. The tenant space is factory 1 (they make prosthetics) and business. Building is type II construction. They have built a wood framed storage mezzanine (ladder access) over a portion of the office that overlooks their assembly area. Obviously unprotected wood framing is not allowed in type II construction. Can I complete the alterations to the rest of the space and simply gray out this area and indicate "not in contract" or will I have to have them...
I have a stair coming out of a building, under a little porch, that has an exterior opening the same width as the stairs. The bottom 2 or 3 treads extend out past that opening, and those bottom treads wrap around to become wider than the stair main width. So the bottom 3 steps are basically 3-sided. Can the hand rail on each side turn and run along the wall outside the opening, along the 2 sides of the wraparound treads? Or do the rails need to continue down straight, effectively cutting...
I have an existing 36" wide outswing door out of a commercial stairway, we need to add a landing on the exterior of the building ... I recall it needing have the 18" pull, putting the landing 4'-6" wide and a minim of 36" deep ... will someone please point me at the code section that defines these dimensions.
Thank you
I have an Architect stating a Fire Department Garage, if over 5,000 sf, is not required to be sprinkled. He is stating it does not meet the intent of Commercial motor vehicles definition. Of course per the 2021 IBC section 903.2.9 Group S-1 item 4) A group s-1 fire area used for storage of commercial motor vehicles where the fire area exceeds 5,000 sf requires a sprinkler system.
The definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle sates: A motor vehicle used to transport passengers or property where...
I need to add a walk-in cooler to my store, which would require a 5 ft wide by 24 ft long addition. I have had a designer draw it, and the engineer stamped it.
We are in a park so no municipality and under the arm for Building permits of the Office of the Fire Commissioner. Have been asked for a Building code analysis.
The house was built in 2009 to attach to the store that was built in the 30's to 40's. The store is all pine inside but has been redone with new insulation ect.
The house's...
Hi,
For a funeral home there is a chapel on one side of the building and a reception hall on the opposite side. There is a wide hallway/corridor leading from one to the other. We're using "7" for the factor for the chapel and assembly, what factor would you use for the hallway? Presumably it's for the same people that would be in the chapel/reception.