• 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.

Search results

  1. M

    Is two different MOE's allowed

    First see if one or two means of egress are required. One is required by the IRC but some states require two which would be found in an amendment. If a double door serves as the egress and one leaf is normally held shut with a floor or head bolt, the operating leaf must have a clearance of...
  2. M

    Birds Mouth

    In other words, the horizontal force of a sloping rafter should be resisted by floor/ceiling joists/ties or a ridge beam. When the tie is blew the top p; I have yet to find a way to edit comments. What I wanted to say is that the horizontal force of the rafter must be neutralized/resisted by...
  3. M

    Birds Mouth

    If the roof is properly framed, the load at the top plate will be vertical instead of parallel to the rafter pitch.
  4. M

    Using OSB on exposed areas?

    OSB and plywood swell when wet but plywood pretty much dries to its original thickness and OSB doesn't unless its treated for exposure. Was there no specifications or standards in the contract? Building codes generally deal with structural and waterproofing issues rather than appearance...
  5. M

    Birds Mouth

    Simpson makes a variable pitch rafter to top plate connector (VPA) that costs about $5. I don't know of any other code compliant method.
  6. M

    Deck Stairs Landing

    What I would want to know is the thickness and reinforcing of the existing slab and how much gravel is below it and if the site is well drained. To me for such a light loading gravel and drainage would be more important than slab thickness.
  7. M

    Deck railing versus fence

    To be clear, in the IRC and many other codes fall protection at a platform above the ground is a "guard" and a handrail is not required; a handrail is required at a stair and can act as a guard as well.
  8. M

    less than 32" Door size

    In MA the 30" and 28" habitable room and bathroom door dimensions are nominal door sizes even though the 32" exit door dimension is a clear dimension measured to the face of the door at 90 degrees. Just another example of the confusion caused by a long string of uncoordinated revisions.
  9. M

    NYC residence "convenience stair"

    I ws forced to modify the design of a high rise dormitory in Manhattan during construction and found the plans examiner to be unreasonably strict and I was using a very expensive code expediter but perhaps I didn't pay him enough. It might help to know the borough. In the 68 code the minimum...
  10. M

    Single Family Home Precast Floors

    These are prestressed "hollow core precast concrete" panels formed by an extrusion process with edges shaped to form a recessed "keyway" for field grouting. I've used them in parking garages. I only saw them used in a house in a side-by-side duplex in France where you could stand in the garage...
  11. M

    Current code regulations enforceable on properties built 10+ years previous?

    You need to contact a code consultant in the state. Its almost certain that fall protection was not required when it was built but it might have been required if the use of the unit was changed or the windows were replaced or there was a major renovation. The consultant will know and be able...
  12. M

    Asphalt shingles for a 1:12 roof pitch?

    Obviously Ice & Water Shield must be placed directly on a clean and smooth roof deck or it won't adhere. In this case it would be wise to use Grace's WB (Water-Based) Primer. I've used it and after you put the membrane on the primer its impossible to remove it without separating the poly sheet...
  13. M

    Drywall requirement for multi-story residence

    In the ICC codes and BOCA and CABO codes before them, fire resistance rated separation assemblies (partitions, fire walls, floor-ceiling assemblies, etc) occur between different uses or occupancies so they would occur in a two-family house or townhouses but not in a single-family house. And the...
  14. M

    less than 32" Door size

    The amendments to Chapter 3 of the 9th edition add a new subsection R311.2.1 "Interior doors".
  15. M

    less than 32" Door size

    It depends on the code adopted in your jurisdiction. If its the 2015 IRC, one egress door (usually the front door) must have a "clear width" of 32" measured from the face of the door at 90 deg. to the wall and the face of the door stop. That means the minimum front door "size" is 34" as...
View older results
Back
Top