• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

Search results

  1. RLGA

    Occupancy load factors for police training facility.

    I have recently completed two police training facilities, and for both, I used 20 nsf/occupant for the classroom areas and 50 gsf/occupant for the tactical training areas. Unless the rooms exceed 49 occupants (Group A-3), I would classify the areas as Group B occupancies.
  2. RLGA

    Minimum Stair Width 44"

    The IBC does not permit a reduction in the 44-inch stair width for the installation of a sprinkler system. You can only reduce the width to 36 inches when the stairs serve an occupant load of less than 50.
  3. RLGA

    Fire Separation between Group F2 and C

    The char rate for solid wood is about 1.5 inches per hour. Thus, if two 2x studs are provided around openings (which is typical), there should be sufficient protection for a 1-hour wall. If a two hour rating is required, three 2x studs around openings would be enough.
  4. RLGA

    Fire Separation between Group F2 and C

    I would have to review the specific wording within the NBCC, but fire-resistance-rated supporting construction under the IBC is just that: fire-resistance-rated construction. It is not a fire-resistance-rated assembly, which includes opening and penetration protection. The difference lies in the...
  5. RLGA

    Fire Separation between Group F2 and C

    This is a Canadian code question. XE2805, most of the people on this forum are U.S.-based and are more familiar with the IBC, so a response to your question may be slow in coming.
  6. RLGA

    Fire Separation Distance

    Centerline of easement/alley.
  7. RLGA

    LOOKING FOR BUILDING STANDARDS BOOKS

    They are probably referring to this: https://awc.org/publications/2018-wfcm/
  8. RLGA

    Plywood used in high-piled racking, Type II Building

    NFPA 13 clearly indicates wood, so it must be acceptable. The wood must be of sufficient thickness to avoid sagging under load, so the plywood sheet would likely be something more substantial than your standard 1/2-inch-thick plywood panel. (You also have to consider the items stored on the...
  9. RLGA

    Assembly main exit & number of exits

    See if Section 1006.2.1, subparagraph 1, helps you out.
  10. RLGA

    SCBC/IBC Allowances on 150' perimeter hose stretch on fully sprinklered 4 story building

    It appears that South Carolina has not codified a specific extension; thus, you have to get the approval of the fire code official for any extension beyond 150 feet per the exception. You might want to call the local jurisdiction's fire plans examiner to find out what extension they may allow.
  11. RLGA

    changing construction type for remodel

    Not true. I have requested building classification changes on a few occasions.
  12. RLGA

    Occupancy Classification

    The stage is part of the Group A-1 occupancy (assuming it's A-1), but the occupant load is based on use, which may be different than the occupancy classification. For fixed seating, the occupant load is based on the number of seats and the stage is based on net floor area of the stage, which...
  13. RLGA

    Detached Middle School Gymnasium

    Section 303.1.3 seems rather straightforward but is actually not, so you have to look at it closely. For one, it states "a room or space" and not a building; thus, it should be interpreted to mean an assembly "room or space" that is ancillary to the main Group E occupancy can be included as part...
  14. RLGA

    high hazard commodities in an existing warehouse space

    Hire a fire protection engineer. They can do one of two things: Determine the feasibility of adding to the existing system and provide you with design criteria to put in your construction documents for the contractor to provide delegated design services under the construction contract to modify...
  15. RLGA

    Minimum width between work spaces

    It is both a code and an accessibility issue. 36 inches is the minimum accessible route width, with an exception that can reduce it to 32 inches for lengths not greater than 24 inches (Chapter 4 ADA and ANSI). In employee work areas, only common circulation paths must comply with the...
  16. RLGA

    Minimum width between work spaces

    Section 1018 on aisles and aisle accessways.
  17. RLGA

    Single occupancy or mixed occupancy?

    It is a multi-occupancy building but is treated as a single occupancy for purposes of allowable area and height.
  18. RLGA

    Do I need Smoke Curtains for an Elevator?

    Is the elevator lobby required to be enclosed per IBC Section 3006? Are the stairs enclosed per IBC Section 1023.2 or Section 1019.3 as applicable? If you answered "yes" to both questions, the stairs can directly access an elevator lobby. If you answered "no" to the first question, enclosed or...
  19. RLGA

    Is stud size in T-721 minimum, or absolute?

    Not really--even Table 722.6.2(2) for the calculated method states in footnote 'b' that "All studs shall be nominal 2 x 4..." However, I would fall back on Section 721.1 which states in part, "Where materials that change the capacity for heat dissipation are incorporated into a...
  20. RLGA

    Exit stair, or exit discharge?

    I am sure the story these stairs serve is considered a "story above grade plane." However, is it the first story above the grade plane? Where is the grade plane, and what is the elevation of that story? Is the difference more than 6 feet? If the answer to that last question is yes, the...
  21. RLGA

    Is stud size in T-721 minimum, or absolute?

    I would treat it as a minimum, even if it doesn't state it. Logic dictates that the further the two surfaces are apart, the longer it takes for thermal transmission to reach the same level as an assembly with 2x4s, which is why both GA-600 and UL allow larger framing studs in their assemblies.
  22. RLGA

    Elevator Lobby For Single Occupancy Self Storage Building Classified as A Occupancy

    Short of walloping them up the side of the head with the code book, point out that Section 1004.5 does not say elevator lobbies are required to be considered assembly uses for the same reason corridors, stairs, and ramps are not considered assembly uses. Elevator lobbies are purely for...
  23. RLGA

    NFPA 13R system

    Section 903.3.1.2 states "Automatic sprinkler systems in Group R occupancies shall be permitted to be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13R..." It does not state throughout the Group R occupancy only, which is probably why the NFPA response stated that the building had to be...
  24. RLGA

    NFPA 13R system

    For occupancy groups without "S13R" values, they must use the "NS" values, since the "S1" and "SM" values require NFPA 13 per Section 903.3.1.1 as stated in the footnotes of each of those tables. Buildings will still be restricted in height and area as any other building, except that Group R...
  25. RLGA

    NFPA 13R system

    I asked this question of NFPA many years ago (nine to be exact) here is the response I received from a fire protection engineer at NFPA: The above response is based on the 2013 edition of NFPA 13R. After reviewing the language of Section 1.1 in the 2013 and 2022 editions I have found that they...
Top