• 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. MarkRandall

    Commercial Retaining Wall

    Yes, many modular retaining wall systems have tables, but we're still at the same conclusion, they need to provide the the engineering or (tables) to show compliance.
  2. MarkRandall

    Electrical Inspection question

    I'm not exactly sure how electrical review and inspections work in WA (I should). Even with designed electrical drawings, the subcontractor has always handled permitting of the electrical work. It's always a last resort, but if I have a situation with building code that I know is correct and...
  3. MarkRandall

    Open exit access components?

    If that is a workable solution for the building owner/occupants, I think you are good.
  4. MarkRandall

    Commercial Retaining Wall

    Section Fatboy references, but since it's over 4', have them show you the engineered design. Note that the 4' measures from bottom of footing to top of wall, not the retainage from one side to the other.
  5. MarkRandall

    Commercial Retaining Wall

    This section pretty much says it all! Have them show you the design.
  6. MarkRandall

    Open exit access components?

    I agree with your logic. Like I said in my first post, the only code drawback I could think of is the ability to lock the building. If this is the second story, thieves would have easy access to parts of the building that might normally have more control over access.
  7. MarkRandall

    Open exit access components?

    Interesting concept. My gut reaction was "no way", but on second thought I don't see where the code would outright prohibit this. I don't see anything in "1014.2 Egress through intervening spaces" that prohibits it. Keep in mind though, locking of the doors would not be allowed which means...
  8. MarkRandall

    Good news: I can dump chrome!

    I tried Chrome for awhile, then dumped it and came back and tried again a few months later. First impressions weren't to good (hated bookmarks), but now it's my default browser. In my experience, it's the fastest of all major browser and best with new html 5 code. Opera does have some nice...
  9. MarkRandall

    Exceptions to enclosed Exit Enclosures

    texasbo, Thanks for confirming my code research. Exiting of this building was last analyzed under 2003 IBC when current client\owner bought the building and did alterations. I'm glad some things regarding 2 story sprinklered buildings have lightened up since 2003 IBC (especially smoke...
  10. MarkRandall

    Exceptions to enclosed Exit Enclosures

    Coming back to the issue of enclosed & unenclosed stairways: Building is two stories, sprinklered, unlimited area. The existing 2nd floor (B occupancy) is served by 4 stairways (two of which are enclosed). The client is adding another 8,800 SF of second floor space (B occupancy) in what is now...
  11. MarkRandall

    Accessibility basics for California

    I'm not in California, but I can guess that just about everything except single family residential has accessibility requirements. ADA is enforced through the court system.
  12. MarkRandall

    Fire Marshal 1, NFL 0, Fans -1250

    There's really no excuse for Jerry Jones not to have been on top of this long before game day. From what I've read, it sounds like structural capacity for these extra seats were figured in the original design, but for some moronic reason, they could not finish the actual design, construction and...
  13. MarkRandall

    Indoor archery range occupancy class

    I would think you would need to know how it will be used to determine occupants load. Franks comment on 5 per lane like a bowling alley sounds too high. This would seem to be like a golf driving range to me where typically there's one person per tee off, maybe an instructor or a friend hanging...
  14. MarkRandall

    I-Joists and HVAC Requirements

    I like it...structural duct work. Is this a new concept?
  15. MarkRandall

    Mold and lumber left onsite too long

    I designed an industrial building about 10 years ago, a metal building, but the owner wanted to use wood I joists for the mezzanine structure. He had found a good deal on these joists a couple years prior. I'll never forget the contractor's email to me after they were all installed. The email...
  16. MarkRandall

    TJI and blocking

    Looks correct to me. See: http://www.ilevel.com/literature/TJ-4000.pdf
  17. MarkRandall

    ADA Upgrades vs. Change of Occupancy Class

    The wise move is to rebuild them and make them comply. The problem I see here, is who is going to pay for that? Some of the spaces may not require accessibility upgrades due to minor alterations and I don't think you can pin that on the tenant that's leaving. I also don't see this has an...
  18. MarkRandall

    Main Page suggestion

    Ha! Checked out the "new" home page layout. The recent messages showed two posts from the off-topic taxes joke. We'll get all kinds of people signing up today!
  19. MarkRandall

    code analysis - tenant spaces

    Some good comments on both sides. As the architect, I've been on both sides of providing detailed code analysis and not providing it. When I was younger and working in small offices, we typically did very little drawings for tenant improvements that required no load bearing modifications. A...
  20. MarkRandall

    SOFTWARE UPDATE AGAIN and an update from me

    I think Mule is kidding, but to look at it a little more seriously, I'd like see there only be one message board and that it is independent from ICC, but still having links from ICC (so that first time guy with a question can find us). Jeff is doing a great job and the speed is not a big issue...
  21. MarkRandall

    Is this legal?

    Pc, You have a choice to put the rail on the inside condition or the outside condition. In this example the hand rail is located on the inside condition. I doubt the residential code makes mention of inside condition, but I'll do a quick check in the code and update this post. Update: Looking...
  22. MarkRandall

    drawing the line

    If the contract says what I think it probably says, he may not be designing something against the code, it may have just been someone else's responsibility. I don't really like standing up for him (the architect) as I (as an architect) would never have let a condition get this far without making...
  23. MarkRandall

    Crematories. Use Group?

    B or F-2, but I lean toward F-2. The closest similar occupancy I could think of would be occupancies with a large fired furnace like a glass blowing shop or a ceramics kiln shop. Ceramics and glass both fall into F-2.
  24. MarkRandall

    Is this legal?

    Looks like an inside handrail condition..., so it needs to be continuous. It is continuous, but just about the worst hatchet job I've seen. It very well may meet the code, though.
  25. MarkRandall

    drawing the line

    My thinking is along the lines of brudgers. Most likely, the architect had a limited scope of services for alterations inside the building. Anything outside the building may be the responsiblility of the civil engineer which it sounds like (there was none). The architect should have had the...
Back
Top