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  1. Examiner

    Length of grab bars

    I can tell you that the vertical measurement is to the top of the bar.
  2. Examiner

    Length of grab bars

    That is a good question because the handrail extensions on ramps and stairs is measured to the inside before the returns to the wall, ground or newel post. [ref: ADA Figures 505.10.1, 505.10.2 & 505.10.3] The ICC's A117.1-09 has the same graphics but the stair handrail's bottom extension is...
  3. Examiner

    Fire-rated floor-ceiling separation

    If the building's size and construction type for the most restrictive occupancy use group complies with non-separated occupancy section of the code then, I do not see why any type of rated construction is needed. But you stated that there is only one occupancy use group being, Business. Are...
  4. Examiner

    commercial kitchen freezer

    That project I am thinking about may have had a error in the requirement for accessibility to the walk-in freezer. It might have been the problem with the different floor heights if the freezer/cooler was not recessed into the floor to avoid a ramp.
  5. Examiner

    commercial kitchen freezer

    Thanks but what about ADA. I did a word search of the ADA Standards and only found references to freezer under appliances. Other related words did not get any hits.
  6. Examiner

    BYOB Use Group?

    The description presented is a meeting place to learn about painting, painting is a means of recreation and then the space is for socializing and parties. Those are assembly functions. If it is a studio and gallery you would still have assembly. The occasional use for parties trumps the...
  7. Examiner

    commercial kitchen freezer

    Seem to remember a project that required the commercial kitchen freezer had to be accessible. Does the freezer have to be accessible?
  8. Examiner

    A-2 Restaurant Occupant Load

    As for the occupant load you have to include the assembly, kitchen and office areas. Occupant load determines the exit requirements and plumbing fixture count. You cannot just say the assembly area's occupant load covers the kitchen and office area needs for egress and plumbing fixtures. The...
  9. Examiner

    BYOB Use Group?

    Well maybe an A-3 since they do not sell the drink. However, some parties may have a cash bar.
  10. Examiner

    BYOB Use Group?

    Any place used for recreation, assembly etc that is 750-sf or greater would be assembly. 750-sf divided by 15-sf/person = 50-people. And that is just using table and chairs for assembly. Since the use of the space is "intended for food and/or drink consumption..." it would be an A-2.
  11. Examiner

    Furred Wood Floor Joists Over Concrete Slab?

    I do not know how you can obtain a horizontal firewall on an existing building. The entire floor or roof structure has to be designed as such not just the existing roof deck. The existing roof deck/slab could be lightweight concrete with an insulation value which is not concrete or some other...
  12. Examiner

    Two toilet paper roll dispenser - Horizontal

    If the dimension to setting the toilet paper holder is to the second one, would that be a problem with the first one being too close to the water closet? The second TPH being the farther one from the edge of the WC bowl. We also use the double type TPH on our projects. However, sometimes the...
  13. Examiner

    Blocking vs location in walls

    Yes, I know that the IBC overrules the NFPA 13 on electrical panel rooms, but I have a City's Fire Marshall that thinks the electrical room must comply with NFPA 13 and he also thinks that the enclosure is only 2-hr fire rated walls. I have told my bosses the pros and cons regarding this. An...
  14. Examiner

    Blocking vs location in walls

    That is the problem with NFPA 13 and the Building Code. The Building Code overrules referenced standards when there are conflicts; covered in Chapter 1. Example; the Designer states that the local Fire Marshall wants the electrical panel room to be enclosed with 2-hr rated walls per NFPA 13...
  15. Examiner

    Handrail clearances IBC vs NFPA

    I seem to remember a study about the greater the distances of handrails from walls and / or guardrails was an issue. If someone using a handrail had a fall and their arm went between the handrail and the item it was attached to, then the chance of the person breaking their arm was greater the...
  16. Examiner

    Blocking vs location in walls

    Given Construction Type II-B with automatic fire suppression system Code 2012 IBC I have been reviewing a project. I was asked to review the partition types and check them. I came across one that had all wall surfacing materials on one face of the stud. Composition goes like this...
  17. Examiner

    Handrail clearances IBC vs NFPA

    Thanks that is what I was referring to that I already know. The question is; does the State Fire Marshall overrule the Town's adopted Building Code when the State does not have an adopted Fire or Building Code? I am assuming that the State has not adopted the NFPA 101 as a fire code and it...
  18. Examiner

    Key in lever locks allowed on public restrooms?

    I guess I am not understanding what side of the door the key is. You have to egress a room without the use of a key, tool or special knowledge.
  19. Examiner

    Companion Seating

    Do not know about the CBC but under the IBC a room used for meeting purposes under 750-sf is a Business Occupancy not an Assembly Occupancy Group.
  20. Examiner

    Handrail clearances IBC vs NFPA

    Around here we never use NFPA 101 but it has come to my attention that NFPA 101 requires a 2 1/4" min clearance from the wall to the handrail. Is this a type-o with NFPA? We have project in another state where the State Fire Marshall uses NFPA 101 and the local town uses IBC. I know about the...
  21. Examiner

    IBC 2012 vs NFPA 13-10

    Because the following sentence, shown in italics, is in IBC/IFC Code Section 903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations prior to the allowed listing of, 1 through 6 Exemptions, negates the omission of a sprinkler head in an electrical room even if the room's construction complies with Item 4. "Sprinklers...
  22. Examiner

    IBC 2012 vs NFPA 13-10

    CDA; my Mech Eng send me a copy of NFPA which allows fire rated wall inlieu of sprinkler. I am having a disagreement with the project Architect on fire rating vs sprinkler. What does your NFPA 13 2010 say? See the referenced sections I have mentioned. I am trying to find out the truth...
  23. Examiner

    IBC 2012 vs NFPA 13-10

    I think I found it. 2012 IBC Sub-Section 102.4.1 & 102.4.2. So if this is correct, then sprinkler heads would be required in the electrical room since the last sentence in 903.3.1.1.1, before items 1 through 6, requires the electrical equipment room, fire rated or not, to have a sprinklers...
  24. Examiner

    IBC 2012 vs NFPA 13-10

    That is interesting. So the NFPA per my Mech Engineer has not changed the wording since 1999. The standard allows a 2-hr fire rated enclosure as one of the 4 requirements in the Exception. Section 5.13.11 Exception has 4 requirements that have to be complied to as well. The standard without...
  25. Examiner

    IBC 2012 vs NFPA 13-10

    I assume that the IBC's reference to NFPA 13-10 is the 2010 edition of the NFPA 13. So, the question is the sprinklering or not sprinklering of electrical rooms. The last sentence of IBC/IFC 903.3.1.1.1. paragraph before the six numbered exceptions disallows omission of a sprinkler system into...
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