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    Sink (top to bottom) depth for accessibility.

    Thank you everyone!
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    Sink (top to bottom) depth for accessibility.

    Thank you. You're right. I was thinking undermount. Which is why I said countertop. I remember we had to lower an existing vanity in a restroom because the original buildout had a drop in sink that was a half inch above 34".
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    Sink (top to bottom) depth for accessibility.

    I've been trying to find clear/direct wording on this. But for some reason I'm not coming up with it on my searches. Is the assumption correct that if one provides a side approach on a commercial project, the sink is not limited to the 7"(top mount) 5 1/2" undermount requirements and could...
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    Light Fixtures On Fire Rated Ceilings

    That's what I'm thinking. Even though the fixture itself is not penetrating the ceiling. The penetration for the fixture connection would have to be sealed and protected like any typical fire rated enclosure. But I'm assuming the fixture itself, since it's not recessed, would not have to be a...
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    Light Fixtures On Fire Rated Ceilings

    I'm assisting a colleague with their project. I will look into the listing info from their specs and post the info.
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    Light Fixtures On Fire Rated Ceilings

    Just wanted to confirm my understanding that if one is using surface mounted light fixtures on a fire rated ceiling assembly. These fixtures do not need to be fire rated. They can just be "standard" surface mounted/pendants. Now if the fixtures were to be recessed (i.e. cans, linears, etc.) then...
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    Rooftop Deck Door Swing Direction

    Prety straight forward. Wasn't sure if it being outdoor space would add any complications. Thank you!
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    Rooftop Deck Door Swing Direction

    Hello, I have a door swing question. Working on a Dallas high-rise, commercial office interior buildout, with an exterior component. Two of the floors my client will occupy, have existing unoccupied rooftop terraces with existing doors. These doors currently swing out to the exterior. Until now...
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    Create Mezzanine Level In Existing Lobby

    Thank you! This was incredibly helpful. Chicago 2019 (IBC 2018 based).
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    Create Mezzanine Level In Existing Lobby

    Thank you everyone for the responses. To add more context. It's the 2019 Chicago Building Code. Which is based on IBC 2018 (with some Chicago-isms left over from the previous code). I just got the plans. Will post Sq footage, etc. for reference.
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    Create Mezzanine Level In Existing Lobby

    We have an upcoming client presentation in which they want us to propose design options for their lobby refresh. They basically want us to be as creative as possible, without a budget (for now). The existing lobby has 2 ceiling heights. One idea is to open up the stone walls in the images below...
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    ADA Signage Requirements

    Got it. Thank you so much for the quick reply!
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    ADA Signage Requirements

    Hello, I can't seem to find an exact requirement for which rooms signs require (or don't require braille). When I do my searches. I mostly find commercial sites posting their interpretations. But not a cut and dry requirement from ADA. I'm pasting one such example, because I'm not sure if it's...
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    Updated Chicago Code - Accessory Use

    Thank you. That's how I'm reading it. Good to know I'm not the only one. The 25% seemed generous (given IBC is 10%). What throws me off is that typically in the projects we do are in high rises. We'll have the info for the floor we're working on but don't usually get info for other floors and...
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    Updated Chicago Code - Accessory Use

    Hi, is anyone here familiar with The Chicago Building Code? Specifically the new 2019 one adopting many of the IBC provisions (see screen cap above). If I have a floor where my tenant is building a new office space and they want a large break room/lounge. This would be a single floor tenant (B...
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    "White Box" Plumbing Requirements

    Are restrooms required for an unoccupied "white box" buildout? The client wants to demo part of their current mercantile occupant's space and add a demising wall for future retail space. I can't find a specific requirement for this. This space will remain unoccupied until they get a retail...
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    Not sure why. But I'm having a hard time interpreting Intermediate Handrails

    2018 Building Codes Illustrated: "1014.9 Intermediate handrails. Where the occupant load served by a stairway becomes significant, additional handrails may be necessary to assist stair users. The requirement is based on the required capacity of the stair established by Section 1005.3.1, not the...
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    Door operator button question

    Ah, found it. Thank you everyone for your help!
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    Door operator button question

    OK, I see now how their existing is a little different than usual because they have to go into their suite to access stairs (image below). As mentioned before this is an existing condition. Looking online I see they make 'blank' buttons. But I still can't find anything specific about the button...
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    Door operator button question

    That's what it looks like to me. What's confusing is the "push for emergency" verbiage that's throwing me off.
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    Door operator button question

    OK, so I'm not the only one confused. I'll have to clarify with her. Because the way I see it, there shouldn't be an egress issue going in. But why would you push for emergency going against egress. I re read it and something doesn't make sense. I'll clarify once I know more. Thank you all for...
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    Door operator button question

    That's my interpretation. Pasting her question below: "We are considering updating the face plates on these push to exit buttons. They allow people to enter our suites without swiping their access card. The plan is to install a blank face plate and reword the nearby signage to say push for...
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    Door operator button question

    A Milwaukee client currently has these buttons on their elevator lobby going into their suite. They are asking us if they could replace this button a blank button (not engraved) and reword the nearby signage to say 'push for emergency', instead of 'push to exit'. I can't find on the requirements...
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    Connecting (Unenclosed) Stair Below Existing Skylight

    It's from the 1980s. We have not done a formal survey yet as we're still in the initial proposal phase. Breakage was just the concern raised by the client's rep.
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    Connecting (Unenclosed) Stair Below Existing Skylight

    We are proposing a new connecting stair at an existing sprinklered office high rise here in Chicago. The new open stair would connect the 39th and 40th floors (existing skylights above are outlined in red below). In Chicago we can do an 'open stair' between floors without the 2 hr. enclosure as...
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