I have a project where a wood enclosure that is 18 feet x 23 feet in plan view and 10'-3" in height is proposed to be installed within a Type I-A building to house a new MRI machine. This enclosure will be made completely out of fire retardant treated (per IBC Chapter 2303.2) wood with a layer of copper installed as a radio frequency shield at the ceiling, walls and along the top of the slab-on-grade below the flooring of the wood enclosure.
This enclosure will have the MRI machine in it...
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I have an existing A-3 two story occupancy (19th century historic building) connected on two levels to an existing three story addition built in 1924 (also historic building) which has office space supporting the main occupancy and I am trying to evaluate its compliance with IBC.
Unfortunately, the existing construction type floor area limits are much less than the actual floor areas of both occupancy floors, even after retrofitting sprinklers.
We can separate the A-3 from the B occupancy...
Hello all-- longtime lurker, first time poster. This place has been a valuable resource over the years and I've come across a topic on a project that I'm not finding too much discussion around here.
I'm currently working on an existing two-story building, B occupancy throughout. The second story has an occupant load of 51 and is served by two exit stairs in a 1hr enclosure. The building is in Seattle which has a unique addition to the existing building code stating "Accessible means of...
I'm working on a renovation/change of use of a two story building with a B occupancy, per the 2021 IBC. The first floor is around 5,000 sf and will have 3 exits doors. The second floor is only 500 sf and is served by a single existing exit access stair. I'm slightly confused on whether this 2nd story needs to comply with table 1006.3.4(2) Stories With One Exit or Access to One Exit
Per 1006.3.3, "Each story and occupied roof shall have the minimum number of separate and distinct exits...
Hello, New to the forum, and my code consultant is currently unavailable. I can post a floor plan but I don't see an option to attach.
We are starting a 3 story, 12 unit apartment building, slab on grade here in Minnesota, where we use the 2020 Minn. Bldg. Code. (2018 IBC Amended) We have done a preliminary code review to determine that we will not fall into the residential code, the units will be separated by 1 hour construction both vertical & horizontal.
1.) We are assuming the interior...
Hi everyone, I'm working on an existing project with CMU block on the exterior. There is recently a leak through the building, and it is claimed that due to the fact the CMU walls does not have water repellent application on them. The project is in CA and I have been researching CBC to great length and yet to find any code requirement for the CMU wall to be coated.
CBC Section 1403.2 Exception actually says that "A weather-resistant exterior wall envelope shall not be required over concrete...
I am working on an assembly space with 1 story above grade and a basement level within a mall. The basement level requires only 1 means of egress, which is provided and meets capacity req's. The client/designer are proposing a spiral staircase from the first floor to the basement- it will not be a required means of egress, and cant act as one if it would be needed. Can they place it in the space as a design element and should I be meeting chapter 10 of the IBC for this non-egress element?
What are the requirements for an existing four-story R2 (protected) undergoing a large exterior renovation? It is attached via a breezeway and elevators to an open concrete and steel parking garage. Can it be a VB?
Is there anything in the code to allow experimental set-up of equipment under a temporary permit and then it's removal?
I have a plant that produces some Co2 and they want to reduce that CO2. There is experimental equipment to be installed and I was asked if a permit would be required. There's no GC involved and the equipment would be installed to see if it works and then it could be removed. I have seen bits an pieces of the proposed plans but nothing is stamped, no cost estimate provided...
Hello all,
Per 2021 IBC 1011.7.3, it looks like there cannot be any storage closets under stairs within an interior stairwell enclosure unless it is accessed outside the enclosure and properly rated. I have come across this at multiple newly constructed buildings where a door is located inside the stairwell. I’m wondering if I’m missing something and they are allowed somehow in certain cases? Or was this likely an oversight? Seems pretty black and white though.
Thank you for your input.
I have a Golf Clubhouse that is wanting to add a banquet hall to and provide golf cart storage below. We are not on municipal water supply and are allowed in WI to get a statement from the fire marshal stating we don't need to be sprinklered, which we have done.
The current basement is a walk-out on the short end and just used for storage. With the addition, I no longer meet IBC 903.2.11.1 exception 2 as I do with the existing building.
See plan below....If I space windows/doors 50' apart...
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?
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...