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...
-
Welcome to The Building Code Forum
Your premier resource for building code knowledge.
This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.
Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.
Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.
Featured content
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...
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?
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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?
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!
I have an existing old motel building that a non-profit is renovating and changing from an R-1 to an R-2 to provide affordable housing using federally funded dollars. We are a VB Construction, 8,962 sf total, single story. We will be adding a sprinkler system (NFPA 13R). Some units will be getting new flooring if they haven't been updated already. All units will be getting a small kitchenette to include small sink, fridge, and stove. (see attached plan) I have a few questions:
1. Along...
I have an existing F-1/B building that is partially sprinklered (currently separated with a 3-hr fire barrier). Total 36,370sf. We are going to sprinkler the whole building as we technically have a COO in expanding F-1 into the current non-sprinklered portion of the building that is open space. There is office space that is also getting expanded into the leftover open space (B). They want to add a large break room that is most likely going to be more than 750sf or 50 persons. I have a...
4 story building divided by Firewall to meet area limitations
IBC 2018 1011.12 Stairway to roof. Requires a stairway for roof access
Due to the Firewall this would technically be two buildings would it require a stair from each side of the firewall to extend to the roof? or is it acceptable to have only a stair on one side of firewall access roof.?
IBC 2018
Project: K-12 school addition, including new cafeteria and kitchen
This'll be an easy one, but I've managed to confuse myself.
Could someone point me to where K-12 kitchens are classified?
I understand that the cafeteria is an "E" -- unsure about the kitchen.
Our proposed kitchen is about 2800 SF on a total floor level area of about 10,000 SF.
Thanks in advance.
I’m designing a 2,900 SF 2 story sprinklered building in Florida that has a dentist office on Level 2 and an open parking lot below. There is an elevator and stair leading up to the office on the north side. I have a second exit stair leading down to grade on the south side of the building. I’m posting this to see if you all agree I need this second stair. The occupant load is 20 and if I were to remove the second stair and only use the first stair for emergency egress, the maximum...
I'm working on a project in Delaware and the client plans to build the core and shell and fit-out the building a few year later when they have more money. They will be the sole occupant so there will be no other tenants. The core and shell will include the exterior assemblies, main electrical rooms, one tele data room to support cameras, egress stairs, and elevator hoist ways (no elevators installed). The question is since this will be sitting empty for years and they will not be using it...