• 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. Ryan Schultz

    Change of occupancy - Sprinkler requirement in a mixed use (R2/B)

    We potentially converting an existing (B) space to an (R2). There's 2 stories. 3400sf per story--unsprinklered. Type VB. The first story has (3) existing B/M tenants The 2nd floor has (4) existing R2 tenants. We would like to remodel an existing, 1200sf (B) occupancy on the 1st floor, to...
  2. Ryan Schultz

    Open, unrated, stair condition?

    Could the counter argument be that the wall around the stair is actually a corridor wall, that might need to be rated per TABLE 1020.1--as the (65) occupant load is greater than 30 occupants?
  3. Ryan Schultz

    Open, unrated, stair condition?

    The following is a 2 story, non-sprinklered Type VB. 1st floor: total renovation 2nd floor: existing Question: Per 1019.3 exception 1, can that stair, circled in blue below, be un-enclosed and unrated? Thank you Kindly, Ryan
  4. Ryan Schultz

    existing wood floor joists within 18" of a Type I hood, you have to replace these joists with non-combustible ones?

    Per the following, if you have existing wood floor joists within 18" of a Type I hood, you have to replace these joists with non-combustible ones? Seems onerous and not what I have anecdotally seen. https://up.codes/viewer/wisconsin/imc-2015/chapter/5/exhaust-systems#507.2.6 507.2.6...
  5. Ryan Schultz

    To avoid sprinklers in the cavity, can you use fire-retardant blown-in cellulose?

    You know the NFPA exception if you fill a floor cavity with non-combustible insulation, you can avoid sprinklers in the cavity? Can you use blown-in cellulose insulation in this condition? From my understanding it's typically made fire-retardant through chemical additives. I couldn't find much...
  6. Ryan Schultz

    Upgrading a corridor's fire-rating relative to work area.

    Just reporting back. I just heard back from our AHJ, and they agreed, per IEBC Section 805.2, Exception 2, the corridor doesn't need to be rated. Thank you again @RLGA and @steveray.
  7. Ryan Schultz

    Upgrading a corridor's fire-rating relative to work area.

    Yes, it is 'yes' and 'no'. :) Per that exception 2, it seems like I'd want to verify with the AHJ code official, to get the ultimate ruling, correct? 2. Means of egress conforming to the requirements of the building code under which the building was constructed shall be considered compliant...
  8. Ryan Schultz

    Upgrading a corridor's fire-rating relative to work area.

    In a renovation, with the following 'work area', where we have to upgrade a corridor wall to 1hr rated, would approach (1) work, or would we have to do (2)--that is upgrade the entire corridor wall to 1hr? How about in the 2nd image, with a more internal work area? Would we have to upgrade...
  9. Ryan Schultz

    Do these corridor walls need to be rated?

    Thanks @RLGA Doesn't TABLE 1006.3.2(2) allow stories above to have one exit? That is, if the values for maximum occupant load per story and maximum common path of egress travel distance are satisfied. My example above doesn't satisfy this, but just wanted to ask the question nonetheless.
  10. Ryan Schultz

    Do these corridor walls need to be rated?

    looking at this closer, i think that corridor needs to be rated since Table 1006.3.2(2) is not satisfied. That is 49>29. For the sake of education, however, what if the office suites were less than 29 occupants?
  11. Ryan Schultz

    Do these corridor walls need to be rated?

    In the situation like the following, in a non-sprinklered 2 story, (B) building, do the corridor walls need to be rated? It has a basement, as well. My thinking that since each space is less than 50 occupants, they only need one exit--which the stair egress satisfies. So the corridor is not...
  12. Ryan Schultz

    If an elevator is not required to be an accessible means of egress, does it's lobby need two-way communication?

    If a building has an elevator, but it is not required to be an accessible means of egress per an exception outlined in 1009.4, does the 3rd exception in 1009.8 allow you to forgo adding a Two-Way Communication in the elevator lobby? 3rd exception: Two-way communication systems are not required...
  13. Ryan Schultz

    Is expanded or extruded polystyrene is considered 'Flammable solid', as it relates to hazardous materials in a Group H occupancy.

    Intuitively it seems they are not, since big box stores like Menards and Home Depot, with stacks of EPS ans XPS, would have to be categorized as a H-3, if so.
  14. Ryan Schultz

    Is expanded or extruded polystyrene is considered 'Flammable solid', as it relates to hazardous materials in a Group H occupancy.

    I'm having a hard time determining if expanded or extruded polystyrene is considered 'Flammable solid', as it relates to the storage of hazardous materials in a Group H occupancy. Can anyone point me to any literature that makes this abundantly clear? Google is failing me. [F] FLAMMABLE...
  15. Ryan Schultz

    For a Type VB, do perpendicular exterior walls need to be rated if they are within the FSD?

    For a Type VB, do perpendicular exterior walls need to be rated if they are within the FSD?
  16. Ryan Schultz

    Governing exit access travel distance w/ multiple occupancies in unseparated building.

    Let's say you have an unseparated building with (2) occuancies-- F-1 and B. The exit access travel distance for a sprinklered building are the following. F-1: 250ft B: 300ft Since this is an unseparated, would the more restrictive (250ft) apply for both occupancy areas? --- whatever the...
  17. Ryan Schultz

    When do you need a platform around an RTU?

    Thanks!... also found this. https://up.codes/viewer/wisconsin/imc-2015/chapter/3/general-regulations#304.11
  18. Ryan Schultz

    When do you need a platform around an RTU?

    Would it be just this section? When it's above 30 inches? https://up.codes/viewer/wisconsin/ibc-2015/chapter/10/means-of-egress#1015.2
  19. Ryan Schultz

    When do you need a platform around an RTU?

    Is there a code section that outlines when a platform is necessary around the perimeter of an RTU unit? Is it when the RTU is elevated above a certain dimension above the roof top surface? I could not seem to find it, if one exists.
  20. Ryan Schultz

    How far outside the 'work area' do we need to upgrade the fire rating of corridor walls?

    Thank you, I think I follow you now.
  21. Ryan Schultz

    How far outside the 'work area' do we need to upgrade the fire rating of corridor walls?

    But it does say 'throughout the floor'. Sorry, if i'm missing what you're saying.
  22. Ryan Schultz

    How far outside the 'work area' do we need to upgrade the fire rating of corridor walls?

    "...and where specified they shall apply throughout the floor on which the work areas are located" This part makes it sound as though all the corridor walls, on that floor where the work area is, need to be rated. Maybe i'm reading it wrong.
  23. Ryan Schultz

    How far outside the 'work area' do we need to upgrade the fire rating of corridor walls?

    Per IEBC 804.1, if we have alt 2 renovation for a non-sprinklered B occupancy, w/ a work area that is about 10% of the overall floor footprint, are we required to upgrade the fire rating of all the walls along corridor to 1hr, if the corridor serves 30 or more occupants? Or just the corridor...
  24. Ryan Schultz

    increase the dead-end corridor from 20ft to 50ft using NFPA 13R?

    Related to this thread. We have a 18 unit, 3 story, R-2 in Texas. Is the only way to increase the dead-end corridor from 20ft to 50ft, is to use a NFPA 13? or can NFPA 13R be used as well? related code: https://up.codes/viewer/texas/ibc-2015/chapter/10/means-of-egress#1020.4
  25. Ryan Schultz

    We have a 18 unit, 3 story, R-2 in Texas. The AHJ is saying we cannot use NFPA 13, and have to use NFPA 13R.

    We have a 18 unit, 3 story, R-2 in Texas. The AHJ is saying we cannot use NFPA 13, we have to use NFPA 13R. Has anyone heard this one before?
Back
Top