Hello,
I live in a city in NW Montana where we get considerable snow. Last fall, a commercial property owner near me constructed a new porch roof over their main entry to a nearly 30,000 sq. ft. warehouse that is partially being converted to retail space. Being somewhat familiar with building construction and concerned the new roof seemed inadequately constructed, I requested a copy of the building permit from the city. They sent me a permit with nearly all the information required by the...
-
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
Type V-1 hour apartment building, 2021 IBC / 2022 CBC
Exterior walls 13' from property line.
Roof trusses have 1 hour rated roof-ceiling assembly throughout. It qualifies for IBC 705.11 exception#4 which says parapets need not be provided.
Parapets are not being used to provide a fire separation - - they exist to help direct rainwater towards the drains.
QUESTION: when non-required parapets are provided anyway(usually for drainage or for hiding rooftop equipment), do the parapets need to...
Question: Generally, what number is used for calculating the occupancy loads for general multi-purpose spaces? like general use in a university student center, where the room is big and empty and could be used for a career fair one day, and an awards banquet the next. Would that be Unconcentrated - tables and chairs, 15 net? what can I allowably take out from gross area since it is net?
What is the difference between Two-Way communication system and Emergency Coverage System? If I provide either one or another is that suffice to comply Code for a 4-story multifamily complex? Do I need to provide both systems?
I have a school facility with a mixture of occupancies: business, assembly, classroom, mechanical, and storage. I include the area of the mechanical and storage when figuring occupancy loads although I've seen opinions that these rooms should be counted as 0 occupants. When figuring the number of toilet fixtures required for these 2 occupancies however, and having to roundup before you add them together, I get an inordinate amount of toilets for what to some is considered 0 occupancy. In the...
Hi,
We have an exposed ceiling to deck (including metal beams) which we have painted black.
The previous Fire Alarm company installed their cables and didn't hide them well at all.
Is it permissible to wrap in black self-wrapping sleeve such as this: https://www.amazon.com/Kable-Kontrol-100-Organizer-Management/dp/B07CND83L4? In NC.
Hello!
We’re in Raleigh, NC and expanding an event space.
Where can I find the code for running speaker wire and cat 6? It’s a type 2B building and open ceiling 17’ to deck.
Many thanks!
David
I have a tricky demising wall question:
I have a 1 story tenant improvement project that is an existing commercial building (9,000sf total) with a triangular attic full of wood trusses and bracing. There is an existing layer of drywall on the existing bottom chord of the trusses.
The client's space will be 3,000sf and we obviously need to add a rated demising wall, as the adjacent space will be a different tenant. Same use though (B). The existing building is Type V with no sprinkler...
The question has come up whether a FSAE can be used to move garbage up and down a high rise.
I have not found any restrictions in the IBC or ASME 17.1 , but I only have an older edition at hand.
Any pointers?
Can anyone confirm that Hawaii has no requirement for a twelve-inch horizontal handrail extension at the bottom of stair, just the diagonal extension for one tread width?
I know that requirements for the additional extension were removed in the 2004 ADA Standard and the 2003 ANSI 117.1 and that the IBC has never required it except by reference to ANSI 117.1. I've looked at the State of Hawaii's Amendments to IBC (2018) and can't find anything. Are there local requirements I haven't found...
I noticed an odd discrepancy today and would love opinions from the people in this forum:
Privacy latch sets or locks are a standard provision on single user restroom doors, and are referenced as a requirement in several places as well (IE - 1110.2.1.6 for family restrooms). The thought occurred to me today while reviewing a hardware submittal that Section 1010.2.4 - Locks and Latches, does not specifically address or permit these privacy locks/latches in any way and I'd love to know why...
I am working on a 5-story condo in Florida (4 levels of type 3A residential over 1 level of parking). The typical floor is the standard double loaded corridor with stairs at either end and an elevator in the middle opening directly to the corridor (no elevator lobby).
I am trying to see if there is an exception to providing standby power to the elevator because it is required to be an accessible means of egress per 2003 IBC 1007.2.1 and have standby power per 1007.4. (don't get me started...
I've got a new automotive dealership to review and the applicant is wanting to apply the parts supply inventory as S-2 storage space to avoid sprinkling the building because the fire area exceeds the limits if it were deemed S-1. The adjacent repair garage area is separated by a Fire Wall and is appropriately classified as S-1.
What are some things I should consider or ask to ensure the parts room is indeed an S-2 classification versus S-1?
IBC states:
Group A-1.
Group A-1 occupancy includes assembly uses, usually with fixed seating, intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or motion pictures, including but not limited to:
Motion picture theaters
Symphony and concert halls
Television and radio studios admitting an audience
Theaters
Does a cafeteria, restaurant, or nightclub become an A-1 if there is a permanent stage "intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or motion pictures"
Does...
2021 IBC Section 1006.2.1 requires that two exit or exit access doorways shall be provided to any space if the design occupant load or the common path of egress travel exceeds the values outlined in Table 1006.2.1.
The classrooms shown in the plan below meet the common egress travel requirements and do not exceed the specified occupant load. However, there will be 180 occupants moving in one direction along the hallway. Do you believe this egress arrangement complies with Section 1006.2.1...
First Floor Plan
2nd to 4th floor plan
I have a 4 story type VA R-2 building in California. Please see plans above. The building is separated to two buildings. Below are my questions:
1. When I calculate the number of exits, I only need to consider this as one building. Is that correct?
2. I saw a previous project in my office showing the fire door at separation wall as a horizontal exit and showing occupant numbers at that door. Is that a horizontal exit? How to calculate the occupant...
2018 IBC
6000 sf dentist office with 1000 sf basement used as storm shelter, storage and mechanical
Didn't the 2018 IBC change that an accessory storage space of any size is allowed to be a part of the main occupancy meaning we are not required to have a seperation?
Trying to find in California Plumbing Code, Chapter 4, a reference for single toilet room in B occupancy.
2015 (!) Michigan Building Code. Type IIB Construction. S-1 Use Group.
Section 603 covers allowable combustible materials in Type II construction. 603.1.1.3 allows fire-retardant treated wood in roof construction. Although italicized, it does not appear that fire-retardant treated wood is defined in the Chapter 2 Definitions.
My question: Is "fire-retardant treated wood" considered "combustible" since it is listed in Section 603? More specifically, I am using this in the context of...
My 3rd party company just took over a new township. We found out there was a S1 addition that was finished without a permit or inspections. It's a real s**t show. Apparently, the last inspection company gave them a permit right before they went out of business. The 2,400 sq ft addition to a S1 approved building plans were just a shell, missing a lot of requirements including all the plumbing, mechanical, electrical, energy and accessibility requirements. The building is already being used to...
2nd floor office space, occupant load of 15. One exit required, 2-hr interior exit stairway provided.
We have an additional unrated exit access stairway. We showed an exit sign in corridor leading to this unrated exit access stairway. Reviewers are requiring that exit sign to be removed. This door will be unlocked but it is not a "required exit" so they are telling us to remove sign.
I see the exception in 1013.1 that says the exit sign is not "required" if only one exit is required, but...
Working on a plan for a full-floor office tenant (~24k SF). Pretty typical user and with a full floor office space they want/need a larger conference room and break room (larger than 50 occupants). The two rooms are about 1,000 SF each, nothing too huge. The issue I am running into is when I run the occupant load for the floor (A-3 15/SF pp in the two larger assembly areas and B everywhere else 100 SF/pp), the occupant load is exceeding the allowed width of the existing stair (and door)...
Hello,
I need to add some cat 6 and maybe other cabling in-wall before the electrical rough-in inspection tomorrow.
What are the conduit requirements? Can I just use 3/4 blue plastic flex conduit?
many thanks!
David
Hi,
Newbie here. We are expanding our venue and the framer has just completed adding new interior walls (non-load bearing) with metal studs to deck. He told me he needed to add wood trimmer studs around the doorways to make it possible / easier to install door frames and casing nailing into wood instead of metal studs. He added double studs on top and both sides.
The inspector flagged this, though, and said the only way to do that is to use flame retardant 2x4's.
Can someone please help...
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...