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  1. 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...
  2. 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.
  3. 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...
  4. 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?
  5. 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...
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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...
  13. 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
  14. 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?
  15. Ryan Schultz

    Need NFPA 13?

    yeah, 1021.1 seems like a 'gotcha'. that would work for the 3rd floor, but not the 2nd floor, it seems, as i need an egress bath (magenta) through there. too late for flipping. :)
  16. Ryan Schultz

    Need NFPA 13?

    We're trying to use NFPA 13R sprinklers on this 3-story Type VB R-2, but since our dead end condition is greater than 20ft, as illustrated below, we need to go with NFPA 13 instead, so we can bump it up to 50ft. Would this be your interpretation, as well...
  17. Ryan Schultz

    Upgrade STC/IIC ratings for an R2 Alt 2

    Considering '903.4 Air-Borne Sound' is mentioned in Alt 3, makes me think it's not necessary for Alt 2. https://up.codes/viewer/district-of-columbia/iebc-2012/chapter/9/alterations-level-3#new_903.4
  18. Ryan Schultz

    Upgrade STC/IIC ratings for an R2 Alt 2

    We're doing an Alteration 2 of an R2. The existing floors between units have the required 1hr fire resistance, but they probably don't have the required STC/IIC rating. For an Alteration 2, I don't see anything in the IEBC that requires you to upgrade the 'sound transmission' requirements...
  19. Ryan Schultz

    Elevator needed: sprinklered ,~6000sf, 3 story, Type VB, R-2

    It's a multi-family apartment.
  20. Ryan Schultz

    Elevator needed: sprinklered ,~6000sf, 3 story, Type VB, R-2

    We have a sprinklered ,~6000sf, 3 story, Type VB, R-2 in Texas w/ the following footprint. We're trying to determine if this building needs an elevator or not. Our client has a done a similar ~6000sf 3 story Type VB, R-2 in the same area, and the AHJ did not require an elevator. Per our...
  21. Ryan Schultz

    Open exterior stairs for 3 story Type VB, R2

    Thanks @classicT, yes, upon further inspection, you're right. Section 1027.6 exception 2 would allow us to not rate the stair walls. And section 1020.1 exception 5 allows us to not rate the corridor as well. Thank you for your perspective.
  22. Ryan Schultz

    Open exterior stairs for 3 story Type VB, R2

    Could these stairs be considered 'Exit Access' stairs, instead of 'Exit' stairs, since the overall travel distance is less than 250ft from the 3rd floor to the ground, per 1017.2?
  23. Ryan Schultz

    Open exterior stairs for 3 story Type VB, R2

    Happy Monday. Just wanted to ping the group, to see if my assumptions are correct above.
  24. Ryan Schultz

    Open exterior stairs for 3 story Type VB, R2

    In Texas, we have a 3 story Type VB, R2. The proposed 6000sf footprint is illustrated below. Am I correct to assume that these (2) exterior stairs can be open (not enclosed) per 1019.3 exception 4? The longest Exit Access Travel Distance is under 250ft, per 1017.2. --- Also I assume the...
  25. Ryan Schultz

    Determine the rating of an existing floor

    From what I can gather, the original construction was probably a 2A. It's a 3 story building with exterior brick, and steel beams and steel joists--most of which are encased in plaster w/ metal lath. --- Unfortunately the Resource A Guidelines on Fire Ratings of Archaic Materials and...
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