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  1. M

    Kraft paper required on fiberglass batts?

    In the past 50 years I have not seen a requirement for kraft paper on insulation in any national consensus code nor is it a good practice in my opinion. If there is a requirement for a vapor retarder on the warm side of the insulation its best to use 4 mil polyethylene but it doesn't appear to...
  2. M

    Is licensed architect required for a garage?

    The local building commissioner or zoning officer is usually responsible for interpreting and enforcing the zoning ordinance so start there.
  3. M

    Is asphalt noncombustible?

    Temporary/portable carports that are not attached to a building might be controlled by a local ordinance rather than the building code.
  4. M

    Low hanging light fixture

    The only requirement I am aware of is the min. height of a pendant light within a certain horizontal distance of a bathtub. This is to reduce the chance of shock rather than hitting your head.
  5. M

    Does new CA guardrail code have exception for *existing residential structures?

    You would need to upgrade the guards and handrails only if you were modifying or replacing them. I believe the California code at that time was the Uniform Building Code which required the height to be 42" and the openings not allowing a 6" sphere to pass at least through 1988. The only...
  6. M

    Permits for Window Replacements

    Such issues are often covered in a code for existing buildings.
  7. M

    Is asphalt noncombustible?

    The 2015 IRC section R309.1 says. "Garage floor surfaces shall be of approved noncombustible material." It is therefore the obligation of the applicant to provide evidence of that approval (normally in the form of an ICC Evaluation Services Report) for the proposed material. I searched for such...
  8. M

    8 foot wide dormer require engineering?

    For a shed dormer, if the main roof is steeply sloped and the front wall of the dormer aligns with the exterior wall below and the dormer rafters span from the top of that wall to a central ridge, you might be able to double the rafters under the side walls and use the rafter table in the code...
  9. M

    Local code for garage wall coverings? Mixed info

    Is there a habitable space above the garage?
  10. M

    Is asphalt noncombustible?

    Is this a residence? Why would the IBC apply?
  11. M

    Egress through a bedroom.

    The quoted rule is from the Massachusetts Amendments to the 2015 IRC.
  12. M

    Skylight framing- cutting one rafter

    If the 2x6 rafters slope 12 in 12 and are 16-0 long measured along the rafters, then the horizontal span is about 11-2 and the width of the house would be about 22-4.
  13. M

    Skylight framing- cutting one rafter

    "16' from floor to ridge board" is not the dimension of the rafter span. If this is a simple gable roof, what is the total width of the house?
  14. M

    Skylight framing- cutting one rafter

    If the rafter span (horizontal distance from exterior wall to the ridge board) is 16 ft, the roof is seriously under structured. Perhaps 16 ft is the width of the building and the span is 8 ft. If that's the case, the location in CO is important but to be safe I recommend doubling the rafters...
  15. M

    Installing Drip Edge & Self-Adhering Modified Bitumen

    From GCP Technologies (Grace): "GCP’s underlayments (Grace Ice & Water Shield® , Grace Ice & Water Shield® HT, Grace UltraTM, Grace SelectTM, GCP granular underlayment, Roof Detail MembraneTM,Tri-Flex® andTri-Flex® 15) are recommended for use ove rOSB substrates. However, in some instances the...
  16. M

    Beam End Connections

    Its the 30 ft width I didn't understand. Usually the "building width" of a house is measured perpendicular to the center girder. If the house is 20 ft wide and 30 ft long, the span of the new beams would be about 14 ft. stopping short of the foundation walls. If that's correct, three 7.25...
  17. M

    Beam End Connections

    Confusing description. Post a drawing of the existing and proposed conditions with dimensions and some photos. Otherwise hire an engineer.
  18. M

    Retrofit ceiling/ floor for ADU

    Try Kinetics IsoMax or equal "resilient sound isolation clips" and hat channels (RSIC-1). UL Design No. L583 (two layers 5/8" type X drywall for 1 hr.)
  19. M

    R302.5.1 Fire Door/Garage

    A door from a garage to a house is not required to be a fire rated assembly nor is it in a fire rated frame or a fire rated frame. However, if you want to build such a wall and opening protection, you can.
  20. M

    R302.5.1 Fire Door/Garage

    The 1970 BOCA code section 414.11 requires a door panel that with a 3/4 hour fire resistance rating or a 1 3/4" solid core wood door with no closer required. That might not be the applicable code but no other code would have been more restrictive and the 1972 CABO code would have been the same...
  21. M

    R302.5.1 Fire Door/Garage

    Be aware that none of the garage to house doors are fire rated even when the door panel is required to be rated since the frame and hardware is not required to be rated. It should be a simple thing to replace the door panel with one listed in the current code and add an automatic closer if...
  22. M

    R302.5.1 Fire Door/Garage

    In 1972, BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO created the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) which published CABO's One and Two Family Dwelling Code. I doubt your jurisdiction adopted it since few did. I have had some luck finding old city codes at the local library.
  23. M

    Existing fixed stair to renovated attic ... Can I use the existing 30" stair or do I need to increase width?

    The interpretation of the current vs proposed use and whether or not the stair is "existing non-conforming" (grandfathered) is up to the local building official. I've had good success showing building officials dimensioned plans. The 2015 IRC requires a new stair to have a minimum width of 36"...
  24. M

    Birds Mouth

    You are confusing a ridge beam with a ridge board. With a structural ridge beam there are only vertical forces on the rafter.
  25. M

    Door size from house to garage

    Are you suggesting that it's "ridiculous" to transfer the seismic and high wind forces from a roof to a foundation using ties and anchors? There are many life safety issues that have been unduly influenced by builder organizations but the Simpson Strong-Tie Co. was founded in 1956 and the...
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