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  1. J

    Makeup Air Temperature

    You could likely reduce your make up air by installing a UL 710 compliant hood. The Mechanical Code defines the rating of the equipment and the International Energy Conservation Code, Table C403.7.5, (2018) gives maximum maximum exhaust flow rates. Most of the hoods I look at use way too much...
  2. J

    2-hour seperation to save a 155 year old tin ceiling

    I would hire a Fire Protection Engineer. More than likely, this will be a performance design that substitutes an alternative, but equivalent, means of protection. For example, install combination, or mix of, a sidewall fire sprinkler system below, smoke detection above and below the ceiling...
  3. J

    Residential handrail terminations

    We have been getting good handrail return compliance. The occasional home owner project might need a reminder. I would look into the width of the rail as it looks a little on the wide side. (2015 IRC Sec. R311.7.8.3.)
  4. J

    Are you sinking ??

    Our city had a builder that liked to bury stumps between the houses. What could go wrong? 50 years latter, now that the stumps are rotting, we are finding that the area of influence is in fact a 45 degree angle. Lots of foundations with portions that have no soil under the footing.
  5. J

    Structural requirements for accessory buildings

    You mentioned that your building will be a "lightweight steel framed structure." This type of building construction would need an engineered design. Are you working with a local engineer to help with the structural design? The Nye County Buildings dept's web page lists the design requirements...
  6. J

    KY Post and Beam Foundations

    Does a prescriptive post and beam foundation design exist or is that an engineered design? In my world, we would require engineering making the concrete foundation more affordable. I built a house with a plywood foundation 30 years ago. Saved a little money and it still looks good. That was back...
  7. J

    Fail of the day

    At least it's a labeled can (Star-Kist label).
  8. J

    Roof Sheathing Thickness

    The plywood should have a stamp that tells you the span. 24/0 means 24" oc on roof (may need clips) and 24/16 means 24" oc for roof and 16" oc for floor. If you like springy roofs and floors, these minimums are for you.
  9. J

    Roof Sheathing Thickness

    Thanks, I made a couple of edits and hope I cleared that up.
  10. J

    Roof Sheathing Thickness

    The American Plywood Association has pamphlet titled, APA Engineered Wood Construction Guide. Like the codes, you need to look at the footnotes. The answer is... it depends. Table 33 on page 79 gives the full story. 3/8 plywood at 24", yes, clips are required. 7/16 plywood at 24", No clips...
  11. J

    Girder construction

    Functionally, a cantilevered member is much stronger than a simple span member. Think about what it would take for the center of cantilevered member to sag, the end of the cantilevered portion would need to move. If the cantilevered end is anchored, it provides additional capacity to the main...
  12. J

    An average day

    Is that strap on the beam there to help support the mid span splice?
  13. J

    ADA Signage Requirements

    If the jurisdiction has adopted IBC Appendix E, (2015), they can enforce Section E107.2 which states, Destinations. Interior and exterior signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces shall be visual characters, raised characters and braille complying with ICC A117.1. It gives a couple of...
  14. J

    Emergency Responder Radio Coverage

    One item to think about is having the ERRC test for police frequencies as well.
  15. J

    Emergency Responder Radio Coverage

    Our ERRC test is to ensure the emergency personal on-site can communicate with dispatch and other units.
  16. J

    Emergency Responder Radio Coverage

    Our thresholds for ERRC is 20,000 sq ft for metal buildings and 50,000 sq ft for wood. We want to see that the building is stocked. However, as stock changes frequently, I'm not sure you can properly take stock into consideration. Plus, once the building is stocked, they want to put it to use...
  17. J

    Fire-rated GWB

    Do you know the building's type of construction and what the occupancy is on the floor above your work area?
  18. J

    Red Guard for Showers

    I see this often with paint on water resistive barriers on the exterior. It looks good until you get close.
  19. J

    Birds Mouth

    A ridge beam or collar ties will resist lateral thrust. In fact, I usually see lateral trust occurring when the ridge beam sags. Here is some good info from across the pond: http://gcrobertson.co.uk/uncategorised/roof-spread-and-how-to-resist-it/
  20. J

    Emergency Lighting, What do you look for?

    I verify that the e-lighting is on the same circuit as the lighting. Sometimes they like to put the e-lighting on thier own circuit. If the lighting circuits tripped, the e-lights would not energize.
  21. J

    Purely Decorative Residential Railing

    The 2015 IRC states that guards shall be located along open-sided walking surfaces, including stairs, ramps and landings that are 30 inches above grade. If this is a sunroom with a roof comprised of glass panels (no walking surfaces), I would not apply the guard height requirements.
  22. J

    An average day

    As for anchor bolt hole sizing, the National Design Standard for wood construction gives you 1/32" to 1/16" per side for the hole size. The Simpson hardware book at one time made a reference to the NDS standard. I max I have seen is a 2" hole for 1/2" anchor bolts. I should have taken his drill...
  23. J

    An average day

    Hopefully the caulking at the reglet/wall flashing will not leak until you have completed your inspection. The metal expands and contracts at a different rate than the stone so the caulking is just going to pull away soon.
  24. J

    Why don't they make clothes dryers with OSA intake options?

    A heat pump clothes dryer may be an option to consider. https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/heat-pump-clothes-dryers#:~:text=A heat-pump clothes dryer is,discharged into a drain pipe.
  25. J

    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    One commenter noted: Regarding advice, assure your risk is protected since your involved in signing a C of O and hope there is enough design on that system to account for tenant’s operation and racking height. A “well-known computer and cell phone company” would be logically be expected to have...
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