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  1. K

    Removal of a NFPA 13 system

    State of Missouri. No state wide building codes. Strictly local jurisdiction. It took me 10 years to institute a "professional" building & fire code of board of appeals in order to stop the Board of Aldermen from issuing so called variances to the building & fire codes. There is large school...
  2. K

    Removal of a NFPA 13 system

    Building previously was an A-2 occupancy (nightclub) hence the NFPA 13 system. Occupancy has now changed to business occupancy, no sprinkler required per current or previous codes. The business owner wants to eliminate the monitoring fees and the yearly inspection fees. I'm building not fire and...
  3. K

    New Breaker Panel & AFCI Protection.

    2017 NEC. A homeowner wants to upgrade their existing electrical system by installing a new external meter-base/disconnect and a new internal panel box (probably 200A ). Many of the original branch circuits are 2 wire circuits without an equipment ground. Do you require AFCI protection for all...
  4. K

    Removal of a NFPA 13 system

    2018 IFC, etc. Is there any circumstance such as a change of occupancy that would allow someone to remove a NFPA 13 sprinkler system from service? If so, then would the system have to completely removed or could you simply remove heads (plug of course) so there is no expectation of a...
  5. K

    Platfrom Lifts per ASME A18.1 2008

    Using the 2012 IBC. A business occupancy in an existing building is proposing a platfrom lift from the 1st story to the 2nd story. Per Section 3411.8.3 platform lifts are allowed as a part of an accessible route as long as they comply with ASME A18.1 but are not considered as an accessible means...
  6. K

    Continuously Sheathed Portal Frame

    2012 IRC Section R602.10.6.4 & Figure R602.10.6.4. The length of the header is simple per Fig. R602.10.6.4 for a continuously sheathed portal frame panel if using a single garage door but how do you translate this into a two garage door set up in the same wall. Do you have one (1) long header...
  7. K

    Conduit Fill

    Sorry, 2011 NEC.
  8. K

    Conduit Fill

    OK, I'm going to ask a real beginners question but it's a topic in which I've never read or heard a good explanation. How does the proximity of multiple current carrying conductors, Table 310.(B)(3)(a), apply when looking at the conduit fill tables of Chapter 9?
  9. K

    Change of Occupancy

    2012 International Codes. We have a building containing 4,696 sq. ft. and was converted from a Mercantile occupancy to an A2 occupancy (night club) back in 2010. The structure was required to install an NFPA 13 sprinkler system. Since then the night club failed and now the structure is being...
  10. K

    Building Code Board of Appeals

    Reply Absolutely. you are correct. Appeals are extremely rare, especially knowing my winning personality and powers of persuasion (LOL). There is however a history in my jurisdiction of the local school system requesting "variances" to the codes. The local school is powerful and has a budget...
  11. K

    Building Code Board of Appeals

    How many of your jurisdictions have a formal building code board of appeals? For a very long time I've been trying to convince my Board of Aldermen that as a legislative body they should not be hearing judicial appeals to building and fire code enforcement. They are politicians and their...
  12. K

    New CBO exams

    It would have been nice to have been treated to a movie and dinner before I got screwed too! I'm hoping that enough of us can complain to ICC to change this stupid rule. I've all ready contacted the certification team to lodge a protest!
  13. K

    New CBO exams

    How many of you have decided that the best path to a CBO certification has been to become an ICC Combination Inspector or a Combination Plans Examiner before you take the Legal/Management Module? Guess what? All your hard work will not count towards your CBO certification (see the new exam...
  14. K

    Change of Occupancy from F2 to ?

    2012 IEBC & IBC. OK, here's the hypothetical situation. You have an old factory (F2 occupancy), 116,000 sq ft of open factory floor and 10,000 sq ft of office area, that has set empty for a few years. There is a potential buyer that wants to convert the building into a once a week car auction...
  15. K

    AFCI Requirements

    2012 IRC (E3902.12) & 2011 NEC. [Art. 210.12(A)] AFCI devices are now required to protect 15 - 20 A branch circuits in just about all areas of a dwelling. The clear exceptions seem to be bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages and kitchens. What about unfinished basement areas? Does an unfinished...
  16. K

    Utilities in fire walls

    Since you're in the "Residential" section I assume that you're discussing townhouses. What code edition? The answer is the famous "it depends". Is the design using two (2) one hour rated wall assemblies? In that case the plumbing could be placed in the wall cavities (no interconnection between...
  17. K

    Tire Repair Shop

    2006 IEBC is primary code. An existing tire repair shop (it was built pre-code for this area, 5B construction) is planning on adding a single story addtion of 2000 sq. ft. (2B construction) for three additional garage bays (no storage). Exisitng structure is 2 stories with a total fire area of...
  18. K

    Prefabricated in-ground storm shelters

    There is an ICC/National Storm Shelter Association standard for the design and construction of storm shelters. It's "ICC?NSSA 500-2008". It was developed in conjunction with FEMA. This can be adopted just like all other codes. My juridiction has not yet adopted this code but we are considering...
  19. K

    Portable Commercial Kitchens

    2006 IMC, Sec. 507. Every spring our small town has a festival were vendors pull in "snack shack" trailers to serve food. Most of these "portable" kitchens will be producing grease laden vapors (french fries, burgers, funnel cakes, etc). Would these "portable" commercial kitchens be required to...
  20. K

    Floor joist toenailed to girder/beam.

    2006 IRC, Table R602.3(1). Having an arguement with a local contractor. He contends that it is acceptable to toenail 2x10 floor joist into a beam/girder. The floor joist do not set upon the beam but are connected to the face of the beam. I site TR602.3(1) fastener schedule. This type of...
  21. K

    Fire Apparatus Access Road

    2006 IFC, Section 503.2.3 How is a road with "all weather driving capabilites" defined? Is a hard surface, i.e. concrete or asphalt, required? If a gravel road can be proved to be able to support the imposed loads of the largest fire appartus can this be considered appropriate? Thanks for you...
  22. K

    Commercial Green Kitchens

    Have your jurisdictions come across commercial kitchen appliance vendors claiming that their "green" products do not require Type 1 or 2 hoods? There is a winery/restaurant being built with the owner claiming that a hood system of any type will not be necessary with the type of apliances that...
  23. K

    Greenhouse motor relay wiring.

    Class 1 conductors The greenhouse is not a hazardous class location. Actually I would specifiy it as per Article 547 Agricultural Buildings. The conductors will be Class 1. Are any Class 1 conductors rated for wet locations by the insulation itself or should they be placed in a wet rated...
  24. K

    Greenhouse motor relay wiring.

    2005 NEC. Commercial Greenhouse 'U' occupancy. The ventilation fans have relays that require 24 volt wiring. All 120/240 volt conductors must be rated for wet location by insulation or approved type of conduit. I can not find a listing for class 1 conductors indicating whether the 24 volt...
  25. K

    Two occupancies, one HVAC appliance

    2006 IMC and/or IFGC. This a remodel in an existing structure. Two Business occupancies want to divide a larger tenant space into two smaller spaces and share one HVAC appliance. No rated walls, etc. so no problems with duct penetrations. One of the tenants will have no control over the...
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