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  1. S

    PIV

    If this is a military facility check UFC 3-600-01 (25 March 2018 version): "9-3.4.5 When provided, PIV’s must be supervised using a lock or tamper seal, at a minimum. " This maybe conflicts with other criteria, but it might provide a talking point.
  2. S

    NEC 517.14 Health Care Facilities

    Out of my depth there, so no opinion. But, would a chiropractic office even have an essential electrical system? And I'm suspicious that "patient care vicinity" wouldn't include a common corridor.
  3. S

    Elevator required or not

    From 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (28 CFR part 36, subpart D, Title III for public accommodations) § 36.404 Alterations: Elevator exemption. (a) This section does not require the installation of an elevator in an altered facility that is less than three stories or has less than...
  4. S

    folding attic stairways

    It is odd though. Why does the code have a paragraph in the means of egress section that says ships ladders can't be part of a means of egress and then a list of specific requirements for ships ladders? I guess the "shall be permitted..." language is more of a requirement for the AHJ than...
  5. S

    Data/IT Closet Ceiling

    I'm not aware of any code requirement to have a ceiling in Data/IT closets but we do have some clients that insist on ceilings any way. The issues for Data/IT closets typically are to provide a path for the large number of cables entering the closet, usually a higher level of security than...
  6. S

    Existing Rental Cabins

    DoD uses the 2015 version of ABA Standards (which oddly says it was adopted in 2008), available here: https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1029/ABAstandards.pdf One change is that it does include provisions for outdoor developed areas which may be relevant. The way to trace this is...
  7. S

    Handrailing

    The US military does have to comply with codes as adopted by the DoD. Typically, it is a combination of IBC and NFPA 101. The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) predates ADA and applies to federal facilities. Some agencies have chosen the ABA Standards as their means of complying with ABA. The...
  8. S

    Handrailing

    The current ABA (applicable to DoD, USPS, and GSA only I believe) is 2015. ABA para. F202.3 Alterations says that "where existing elements or spaces are altered, each altered element or space shall comply...." I suppose if the handrail itself is not being altered then you could argue a...
  9. S

    Dead bolt on single fire rated door

    If the door is required to be rated then it has to be latching and self- or automatic-closing per 716.5.9. I would think that a dead bolt is not "latching".
  10. S

    How do you measure bottom clearance on a fire door?

    Reading in NFPA 80 (2012, the latest one I have at the moment), para. 4.8.2 is about sills if there is a combustible floor or floor covering and it pretty clearly wants the sill to cover a minimum distance, including the full thickness of the door. That, plus the word "maximum" suggest to me...
  11. S

    Duplex Garage Separation

    Then you could look at IRC R302.2 (in the 2015 edition) for common walls separating townhouse walls and/or IBC 706.1.1 (2015 edition) for party walls.
  12. S

    Exit path

    Does IBC (2015) Section 1021 Egress Balconies help? I'm not sure you could describe a rooftop path as a "balcony", but I'm not sure you couldn't either.
  13. S

    Duplex Garage Separation

    If it is just a duplex, without a property line between, then I don't see why you would have to consider the two garage spaces as separate buildings. You could easily have a two car garage with Tenant A assigned to one side and Tenant B assigned to the other with no wall at all between them...
  14. S

    Fence on retaining wall that secures public sidewalk and road

    You might try notifying the county attorney, or whichever jurisdiction owns the sidewalk, that they have a potential liability problem if someone trips and falls over the ledge because of the deteriorated fence. Include your research that the fence is on their property and thus their...
  15. S

    Pull down bike ramp on egress stair?

    I'm an architect not an AHJ but I would be skeptical and worried about the spring loaded return failing or being defeated. One thing I have seen, but outdoors, is a narrow (a few inches) smooth runway adjacent to a stair so that a bike rider could walk the bike up or down without the...
  16. S

    Attic Sprinkler System Debacle

    Agree with jeffc, get the document or a reference to the document from the Fire Marshal. If it is something that is recorded with the title to the land then it is something the owner should have had.
  17. S

    Does an outdoor shower need an enclosure and bench to meet ADA?

    This strikes me as fundamentally incorrect. Facilities are not required to provide a pay phone (remember those) but if one is provided it needs to be accessible. Similarly, urinals are not actually required in toilet rooms, but if you have more than one accessibility is required. Just...
  18. S

    Does an outdoor shower need an enclosure and bench to meet ADA?

    That interpretation from adapacific.org strikes me as entirely reasonable and correct. You might want to be sure to label the outdoor shower as a rinsing shower or rinse-off shower on your drawings just to avoid future confusion.
  19. S

    Air conditioning for elevator machine room

    Yeah, it is just madness. Interestingly, 2012 IBC 3006.2 says "Elevator machine rooms that contain solid-state equipment for elevator operation shall be provided with an independent ventilation or air-conditioning system....." but that was changed in the 2015 IBC 3005.2 to say "Elevator machine...
  20. S

    Attic Access above stair

    I've seen that in an old building and I suspect it once was common. I think that if the stair is required to be enclosed then the prohibition against using the enclosure for purposes other than necessary for the purpose of the shaft or enclosure would apply (IBC 2015 713.7.1 and 1023.4).
  21. S

    Deck Details Design Sheet

    As Keystone says above, definitely check out DCA6, it is Design for Code Acceptance (DCA) 6 - Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide, and there are versions for both the 2012 and 2015 residential code. It is available at www.awc.org
  22. S

    May a lavatory in a commercial restroom empty into a floor drain?

    I don't know much about plumbing system requirements. But there is a distinction between "direct" connections and "indirect" connections. It looks like the relevant passage in IPC says "directly connected" which might prohibit the indirect scheme you have in mind. For the trap primer tail...
  23. S

    “” Certified “”” door frame

    CDA, Not that particular label, but new fire rated door frames should have a label similar to that, usually referencing UL or Warnock Hersey. I believe that for metal frames they don't necessarily have to list a specific hourly rating (the doors do,however), but you'll have to check NFPA 80 to...
  24. S

    “” Certified “”” door frame

    Fire rated door frames are required to be labeled, see IBC 716.5.7.4. I believe this was not always the case so lots of older buildings have un-labeled frames associated with labeled doors.
  25. S

    Anchoring To Brick Veneer

    I'm with GM and would never do that either. Masonry veneer (both adhered veneer and anchored veneer) are governed by IBC chapter 14 as a wall covering, not as a structural item. No way.
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