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  1. S

    Cold Weather Shelter

    I don't see the I-4 as appropriate because this situation doesn't seem to meet the definition of "custodial care". R-1, Boarding House (Transient) with more than 10 occupants, seems right to me. The quantity and distribution of toilet facilities might be a problem per Chapter 29 which, for...
  2. S

    emergency escape and garage

    Sol, I for one thank you for posting your thoughts here. Your opinion is certainly well reasoned and defensible. At the end of the day, however, I disagree, keeping in mind that I am an architect and not a code official so my perspective differs. The statement by the ICC that "the code...
  3. S

    emergency escape and garage

    How irritating is that? Changing the question so it is really easy to answer, but basically useless.
  4. S

    Access controlled egress door

    Yeah, I don't think that is very clear. The main requirement of 1008.1.9.8 applies to "entrance doors ...in buildings" and "entrance doors to tenant spaces". Item #6 applies to "entrance doors in buildings". So it seems there is a distinction between building entrances and tenant suite...
  5. S

    emergency escape and garage

    This section was changed for the 2015 version. 2015 IRC section 310.1 requires EEROs in "basements, habitable attics and every sleeping room." Since the code says that each sleeping room shall have (not have access to, but "have") an EERO, the EERO has to be located in the actual sleeping...
  6. S

    emergency escape and garage

    This is a fascinating discussion and this is why this is such a great forum. I think this is asserting that a garage is not part of the basement. I don't see any reason that should be the case. It meets the definition of floor space and you wouldn't not-count it for purposes of allowable...
  7. S

    emergency escape and garage

    cda, we're obviously talking past each other a bit, I'm guessing if beer were involved we would ultimately agree. It seems clear that there has to be both a fully compliant means of egress from the basement and also an EERO. Both IRC sections 310 and 311 must be met. I suspect the crux of...
  8. S

    emergency escape and garage

    I am totally with T-bird here. The Requirement for EERO in a basement without any sleeping rooms is that there is one EERO opening directly to a yard or public way. There are no requirements saying you can't walk through other spaces to get to the EERO. You could pass through furnace rooms...
  9. S

    emergency escape and garage

    I think that's the point. The means of egress is up the stairs and out the front door (assuming that exists) and that route would not be permitted to be through a garage. The Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening requirement is completely separate and does not constitute a Means of Egress. Just...
  10. S

    emergency escape and garage

    I think T-Bird has a point. The basement needs a means of egress per IRC 311.1, that could be up the stairs and out the front door. The basement also needs a single emergency escape and rescue opening per IRC 310.1 (assuming that there are no sleeping rooms). I don't see any prohibition on...
  11. S

    Boiler Room Fire Rated Door?

    That would be the maximum size of glazing tested as part of the product's fire rating listing. It would vary by manufacturer and specific product. You'd have to see the actual listing for the specific door to determine the maximum allowable glazing area.
  12. S

    Boiler Room Fire Rated Door?

    If the governing code is IBC section 509 and the 1-hour separation is used without sprinklers then the door would have to be rated in accordance with Table 716.5, which I believe says 3/4 hour for "other fire barriers". However, the requirement for separation is from the "remainder of the...
  13. S

    Farmstay

    I don't see R-1 for this at all. R-1 seems like it is more for situations with 10 or more occupants. This seems more like a small cottage with only a few occupants. I would consider R-3 which includes "congregate living facilities (transient) with 10 or fewer occupants" and "lodging houses...
  14. S

    NFPA 101 Occ. Load Calcs.

    You have to be a bit careful with NFPA 101. It has different requirements in the different occupancy chapters. For example, storage occupancies are covered in NFPA 101 (2015) in Chapter 42, and 42.1.7 says that the occupant load is to be determined on the basis of the maximum probable...
  15. S

    High rise fire?????

    And, apparently only one exit from the upper floors. https://www.yahoo.com/news/london-tower-block-fire-residents-group-says-warnings-safety-fell-deaf-ears-072559395.html
  16. S

    3rd Floor, Attic, Habitable Attic, Etc

    larryjones2078, I agree with Northstar above and think you should get some more specific written analysis from your architect citing specific code language and paragraph numbers. One trouble with code analysis is that the IRC is amended by each state and municipality differently, so any...
  17. S

    Outdoor Stair Maximum Riser Height

    That's my understanding, if it is a component of a means of egress, such as the exit discharge leading from the exit door to the public way. Otherwise no requirements other than the designer's judgment and tolerance for liability.
  18. S

    Headroom

    No, lights and sprinkler heads can not go below 80" in a circulation path. They can go below the minimum ceiling height of 7'-6". The only things that can go below 80" are door closers and stops and they can only go to 78" (2015 IBC 1003.3.1).
  19. S

    Headroom

    That 50% business is limiting application of the 80-inch exception. Protruding objects hanging down to 80" above the floor can cover no more than 50% of the area, the rest of area has to comply with the higher ceiling height limit.
  20. S

    Do in-swinging toilet partition doors need 12" push clearance?

    Yikes, I would agree with you, but it is a bit of an argument that the latch is not a latch from the push side.
  21. S

    Carbon Monoxide Alarms

    Yes, Fireplace is defined in IRC (2015) Chapter 24, but more to the point, so is "appliance", different than the definition of "appliance" in Chapter 3: IRC (2015) Chapter 3, R202: "Appliance. A device or apparatus that is manufactured and designed to utilize energy and for which this code...
  22. S

    Medical Office sink requirement?

    Your state Department of Health probably has that requirement, or a reference to the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) which publishes a document called Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities. Also possibly NFPA 99.
  23. S

    Preferential treatment to ICC?

    It seems to me that Charles Abbott Associates is only giving advice to their clients on the most expeditious path to approval. And it may be good advice if, in fact, "ICC ES reports have historically been approved without an alternate material application."
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