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  1. Sifu

    NFPA 13R system

    I have read several editions of NFPA 13R, and several opinions about this, but don't see any consistent or definitive answers for this issue. IBC 903.2.1.2 indicates if the A occupancy is not on the level of exit discharge, the 13R system can't be used. Can you point me to the interpretation...
  2. Sifu

    Do accessory occupancies apply in a nonseparated analysis?

    The red highlight follows a separation that is a fire barrier in some places, a fire partition in other places, and not identified at all in one location. My question originates in the belief that the some or all of the area should be separated by a fire barrier since the exceed the 10% for...
  3. Sifu

    Do accessory occupancies apply in a nonseparated analysis?

    Struggling to articulate this. To expand on this, if multiple different accessory occupancies are present on the end of a building, must they be separated from each other? So using the previous example, there is a lobby (A) office (B), storage (S1) and mechanical room (U) at one end. Assume...
  4. Sifu

    Do accessory occupancies apply in a nonseparated analysis?

    If an individual space is under the 10% limitation for the floor, but the aggregate of all spaces on the floor exceeds 10% then does the individual space need to separated? For example, there is an A3 space on one end of a building that is less than 10%, and several other accessory spaces on...
  5. Sifu

    NFPA 13R system

    Their code analysis is the most comprehensive I have seen, and the most wrong in many areas (mostly a lot of copy and past.....maybe AI generated?) Their little blurb on this makes me wonder if they think they get to ignore t506.2 because of 903.3.1.2. When I see a licensed professional...
  6. Sifu

    NFPA 13R system

    2018 IBC. I have a proposed R2, 3 stories, VB. Proposing a 13R. The floor plate is 21,864sf². The allowable area per t506.2 is 7,000sf² when a 13R is used. The DP is claiming they can use the 13R system allowable area because 903.3.1.2 says a 13R system can be installed. They do take a...
  7. Sifu

    Two Exit Stairs, One Exit Discharge

    WHAAAAAAT? QA before it goes out?
  8. Sifu

    Swinging door at top of landing with one extra step?

    That's too bad. I would much rather deliver unwelcome news BEFORE treasure is spent. See if you can get an email and try your question. If the department will do a plan review, start with them (even if they don't do review, it is a good place to start....plans examiners may have more time to...
  9. Sifu

    how to calculate occupancy of a courtyard?

    What is your role in the project? The owner or DP needs to propose a use. What will the access to and from the space be (I see what looks like a single stair in the first picture)? Based on the size, not sure how the lower space worked for movies or graduations unless there are more ways out...
  10. Sifu

    how to calculate occupancy of a courtyard?

    Is something changing in the existing building project that changes the use/classification, OL, or exiting? Generally 2018 IBC 1004.7 requires the OL to be based on the anticipated use. If assembly is anticipated, then go with that. If it isn't find out what the intended use is. I have had...
  11. Sifu

    Swinging door at top of landing with one extra step?

    Don't know which code you are subject to, but not sure it matters. Not sure exactly which way you wish to swing the door, but this illustration is from the '21 IRC. Even though it is a single step, it is still a stair.
  12. Sifu

    2024 IECC

    Received this notice yesterday. The International Code Council Board of Directors Makes Final Decision on 2024 IECC Appeals and Addresses Preemption Challenges On March 18, 2024, the International Code Council Board of Directors voted to affirm in part and reject in part nine...
  13. Sifu

    converging occupant load

    Once they reach ninja level, nobody will be able to see them leave anyway.:)
  14. Sifu

    How to pass building inspection?

    Sad that we have to do this.
  15. Sifu

    Combustible Knee Wall Framing in Type IIA Construction?

    Because you quoted me in your response?
  16. Sifu

    Combustible Knee Wall Framing in Type IIA Construction?

    Why so argumentative? Nothing difficult about it. Nowhere did I say the knee wall was excluded, I said "could be seen as not applicable". Just providing my thoughts since you asked. I thought you were genuinely interested in them. FWIW, the same fire you provide as an example could happen...
  17. Sifu

    Combustible Knee Wall Framing in Type IIA Construction?

    I once had a dispute with a fire marshal on a project that was done without a permit. Photos were provided to us and I commented that the partitions were not permitted to be of combustible construction. He argues and said that they could be because they weren't bearing. I won the argument...
  18. Sifu

    How to pass building inspection?

    When I was in the field, no plans on site resulted in another trip. That doesn't necessarily mean I wouldn't walk the job and point out any obvious issues, but it would not result in a passed inspection. My list started with "provide approved plans on site for inspection". When I started my...
  19. Sifu

    Combustible Knee Wall Framing in Type IIA Construction?

    MY OPINION is that these walls aren't really what the code had in mind for the "building elements" in t601, however I refrain from reading more or less into the code as much as possible. In this case I think with very little work a way could be found to leave it and still meet the code. I...
  20. Sifu

    An Educational Insight into a Notable Building Code Enforcement Lawsuit

    On one right now. 5 comments on 1st review generated 6 comments because they couldn't read the code, even though I note the exact code used as the basis for the comment. The last one I missed altogether on the 1st review and caught it because of my closer examination of the shower controls...
  21. Sifu

    School Time-Out Room

    Update: I contacted our resident door hardware guru @ idighardware and was educated about the specific lockset in question. Though I read the following I didn't realize that the function of the lock is such that the outside button must be physically held by the user for the inside to remain...
  22. Sifu

    The Failure of Bluebeam

    I have never attempted any integration, only use it stand-alone. I only used studio at one AHJ, where I implemented it because of the insistance of doing "concurrent reviews", and I think it worked great, but it was still not integrated into the permit software. I am not even sure how or what...
  23. Sifu

    School Time-Out Room

    Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then, but like I said, it took two readings of the specs. It is what I call a double dip. I didn't make the comment on the first round, and I don't like coming up with new comments on round two that should have been caught. But I do if I need...
  24. Sifu

    Existing Building Bathroom Accessibility

    This particular topic confounds me every time. By definition, as RLGA points out, the IEBC considers the change of use to be a change of occupancy. However, chapter 10, TITLED CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY then says this: 1001.2.1 Change of use. Any work undertaken in connection with a change in use...
  25. Sifu

    School Time-Out Room

    Interesting article. I did some digging and found this, which will be very helpful to me. I went through the entire hardware spec and identified each lock then went looking for the function. I had to try several wholesale websites before I found one that identified the F codes. Even the MFR...
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