• 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. Mr Softy

    ICC's perspective on 'work area' and its effect on IEBC compliance.

    in our never-ending quest to get a clear, working definition of the 'work area' and it's relationship to Levels 1,2 & 3 work, we recently had an interesting chat with ICC on said subject. we recently had a 3-family (traditional 3 decker) under renovation on all 3 floors. architect submitted...
  2. Mr Softy

    R-Use and Type V construction height question

    Yes, I can see that. 509.4 allows a 1 story Type I parking structure under a R building. the floor count starts above the parking garage. thanks!
  3. Mr Softy

    R-Use and Type V construction height question

    Am I missing something? I keep hearing about Type V construction now being allowed to go to 5 stories. Best as I can tell, 504.2 (sprinkler height increase) specifically says "maximum number of stories is increased buy one, but shall not exceed 60 feet or four stories" is there something else...
  4. Mr Softy

    How do others on this site handle inspections on these types of guards?

    damn right it would. we treat it as a guard.
  5. Mr Softy

    Expired Permits

    this. i have one residential project ongoing that is at least a year away from completion. and it's probably been 8 months since i signed off on an inspection. there's been 20 workers on site every day since. that permit is still very much alive, according to the code in effect when it was...
  6. Mr Softy

    Expired Permits

    the Building Permit, once issued, is open ended so long as work is progressing. as there is no strict definition of that, the loosest interpretation is that someone on site driving a nail would be the work progressing. we generally don't make a fuss over the length of time a project takes. we...
  7. Mr Softy

    Minimum Submittal Requirements

    that's crap. we're first come. first served. nobody jumps the queue. an expediter doesn't get anything done any faster. and if i have issues, it's the RDP that gets called.
  8. Mr Softy

    How does your jurisdiction issue permits?

    separate permits. plumbing and electric are promulgated under different legislation, so those are stand-alone permits.
  9. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    the CO will say specifically 'non-habitable storage only' for the basement. and no worries globetrekker, a bit of a misunderstanding on my part.
  10. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    it has nothing to do with being 'lax on enforcement' more coming to an acceptable interpretation, and solution, to all parties. sometimes it can be achieved. sometimes, like when the code is dimensionally specific, it can't btw, Mr Softy is the AHJ. but at one time was the guy on the other...
  11. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    I'd be OK with a passageway of 6-6 under the duct to make the entire (both sides of the) basement habitable - "5311.4.2.1 Interior Doors. All doors providing access to habitable rooms shall have a minimum nominal width of 30 inches (762 mm) and a minimum nominal height of six feet, six inches "...
  12. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    to further muddy the waters... the original submitted plans showed nothing in the basement. labelled as 'Future Laundry, Bath, Rec-room'. inspection has the space finished with wall-to-wall rugs, ceiling cans, cable hookup - the works for a real nice man-cave or something similar. but...
  13. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    the builder's interp does count. just not as much as mine. :-) and, of course, it has been marketed as habitable space. my interp would be that if i can't get to the isolated habitable space through a compliant area (or opening) it isn't habitable. the only habitable space in the basement is...
  14. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    Yes, I think we can use 'Height Effect on Room Area' section which states that the area under a furred ceiling less than the required height shall not be calculated as floor area. It says nothing about that space possibly running down the middle of the room. So the further issue is - can one...
  15. Mr Softy

    ICC's new code forum announced

    i think that's when we get the bill for our new codebooks.
  16. Mr Softy

    Habitable basement ceiling height.

    House in question - single family built under MA 7th Edition (based on 2003 IRC). basement ceiling height amended to allow 6-8 for habitable basements. basement built is one large room with a ceiling height of 6-10 finish floor to finish ceiling. but. there's a duct trunk line running down...
  17. Mr Softy

    ICC's new code forum announced

    eeewwwwwwww!
  18. Mr Softy

    Minimum Submittal Requirements

    i have a similar speech - The plans should contain enough information so that i could go and build the project without having to ask questions.
  19. Mr Softy

    Minimum Submittal Requirements

    the MA Building Code , last edition, our last home-grown code, had specific language prohibiting the use of the "all work shall conform' statement. IBC 2009 has similar language in 107.2.1 i view this practice as lazy design, setting up the field inspector as the bad guy. there's certain...
  20. Mr Softy

    Minimum Submittal Requirements

    i use sticky notes during plan review to accent areas of concern on the drawings, as well as a homemade checklist with notes. and then review those with the RDP and get a revised set of drawings (the RDP is welcome to get a copy of my notes). the revised drawings are then reviewed. the...
  21. Mr Softy

    Church capacity

    cool. i see that now. i scanned the replies and missed that the first time.
  22. Mr Softy

    Church capacity

    why is the BO requiring an existing building to be sprinkled? EDIT: is this a MO requirement? and is the church use (zoning-wise) grandfathered?
  23. Mr Softy

    Stage Collapses at Indiana State Fair

    [video=youtube;SRkdwrmzYXg] frightening. it's on the ground in no time
  24. Mr Softy

    B or I-4 or other...

    i'd call it an I-4 then. In MA, a day care use triggers compliance with code for new construction. (IEBC CH 9 Change of Occupancy, 902.1 [#10 Day Care - MA amendments])
  25. Mr Softy

    B or I-4 or other...

    the IBC does have an exception that if the occupants can respond in an emergency the designation is R-3. (?) that doesn't sound right. are the clients there for the day, or is it more out-patient care? are the clients dropped off and picked up?
Back
Top