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    Exterior Wall Ratings and Separation Distance

    IBC 2009 Basis H-2 Occupancy Type IIA Construction We have an industrial project where we are adding an H-2 building in between other client-owned buildings located on the site. We are using a type IIA construction to allow for an increase in the area. The new facility will be located such that...
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    California Existing Building Code. Which one?

    First off, while I'm fairly well versed in the IBC, when it comes to the Cali codes, it'll be a bit of a re-education. We have a small addition that will fall under the Existing Building Code. I'm trying to figure out which book or chapter we are to follow. We have found the 2016 CEBC Part 10...
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    Fire Rating of Electrical Room

    We start with the 903.3.1.1.1 Exemptions 1, 2 & 3 1. Any room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire hazard. (The electrical room will have high voltage panels, motor control centers and a couple transformers) 2. Any room or space where sprinklers...
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    Fire Rating of Electrical Room

    Thanks Steve. Can you clarify what you would not allow? The 2nd floor unsprinklered electrical room?
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    Fire Rating of Electrical Room

    Wasn't sure where to post this so my apologies if it's in the wrong forum area ... IBC 2012 Unlimited area Fully sprinklered Type IIB F-1 Use We will be adding a 1500 SF electrical room on the 2nd floor of an expansion, and per NFPA 13, to avoid having to sprinkler the electrical space we'll...
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    Blast Resistant Building

    IBC 2015 H-2 Occupancy 500 SF We have a project at a chemical plant where the client wants to put a small building out in the exterior processing area to allow for periodic testing of samples. I'm trying to find some code citations that spell out when blast resistant (from the exterior)...
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    Door Closer Speed - (AKA: Door Slices Achilles Tendon)

    As others have said, I'd be careful about providing an opinion that may be pulled into any legal documents. Heck, I'm very careful discussing possible code issues if friends ask.
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    Equipment Pit Access

    1012.6 from the Ohio Building Code (IBC 2009 basis w/ amendments) 1009.1 would have been perfect, but it's not in the IBC 2009 nor the Ohio amendments. I think I'll add in the 1103.2.9 verbiage to reinforce the maintenance only aspect and the extensions as more of an accessibility aspect...
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    Equipment Pit Access

    IBC 2009 Basis F-1 Use We have a 30" deep pit that houses a large piece of testing equipment that is accessed by an OSHA compliant stair ... rails on both sides at handrail height, no guards, no extensions. Access is for maintenance, only. The AHJ is stating a requirement for handrail...
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    Smoke Seals at Fire Doors

    IBC 2015 2-Story B, with some F-1 on first floor Are they required? Looking through the code, I'm thinking no, but wanted to confirm. We have several 36" fire doors in both vertical enclosures and fire barriers due to use groups. 403.5.4 and 405.7.2 do not apply.
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    ADA Requirements for Industrial Facility

    IBC 2009 Basis Texas Accessibility Standards The facility is 45,000 SF of F-1/S-1 production/storage with a 2,200 SF associated area containing restrooms/lockers, a break area, conference room and mechanical/IT rooms. Three shifts with 6 - 7 employees per shift. Administrative offices and...
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    A ComCheck Question

    IECC 2015 Adding on a 2700 SF addition to an existing 50,000 SF manufacturing facility. Approximately 2/3rds of the addition will have new, exterior walls with the remaining 1/3rd using a shared wall with the existing plant. Conditioning of the two spaces will be similar. How would that shared...
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    Two Exits and Travel Distances to Each

    IBC 2015 First off, the 150' building length should be 300'. Oops. Hypothetical 300'x150' F-1 open building, non-sprinklered with only two exits required. The dot represents a remote part of the building. Are the travel distances represented correct or will I get dinged for excess TD if one...
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    60-minute door glass type

    IBC 2009 60-minute rated door with a 100 square inch window. Wire, tempered or safety glass? Thanks
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    ADA Equivalent/Resonable Accomodations

    IBC 2015 We have a design for a small, 2-story office area (Use "B") attached to a manufacturing facility. The first floor has a couple offices, a small testing lab, locker rooms/toilet rooms and a break room. All elements have been designed to be accessible including the entry and access route...
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    Rating of Elevator Shaft

    IBC 2015 Fully sprinklered Two-story building Use "B" Type IIB 2,400 SF footprint No smoke control 404.5 exception No adjoining space fire barriers 404.6 exception 3 We have an elevator and mechanical shaft. Would these still need to be a 1-hour rated barrier considering that the masonry and...
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    Minimum Skylight Fenestration Area - Part Deux

    IECC 2015 Came in here to look for additional information regarding the definition of "Daylight Zone under skylight area" seeing how the 2012 definition was eliminated in 2015. I found my answer in the March post by George M. Yes it answered my question, but lead to another one and possible...
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    Full height wire mesh as guardrail

    Or block filler and two coats of paint.
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    Protection of conveyor opening in 1-hour wall

    Fire barrier as required by IFC 2306.3.2.1. The facility is fully sprinklered. Actually, the wall is in between an F-1 and S-1 High-pile storage area. The fire barrier is required to meet aggregate storage area requirements set forth in IFC 2306. The conveyor will be passing materials from one...
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    Protection of conveyor opening in 1-hour wall

    IBC 2009, F-1, IIB My process engineers just informed me that they will require an opening through a 1-hour masonry wall for their conveyors. The opening size (for now) is ~7'H x 16'W. I can't do a split conveyor/fire shutter option due to the equipment layout. If memory serves, isn't there a...
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    Fire Riser Location within New Room

    Existing risers to remain as is and are on the East exterior wall. New addition going on South wall 120' away. Will verify, though. Thanks for the insight.
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    Fire Riser Location within New Room

    Figured while I'm waiting to hear back from the AHJ, I'd post the question here, too. IBC 2009 basis. As part of an industrial addition/alteration project the client has asked for a new 3,200 SF S-1 storage room to be added. The location of the room would end up enclosing three existing fire...
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    Industrial storage silos. Classification and egress

    Thanks for the replies. Pretty much in line with what I've used before, successfully. Having to permit them (aka, pay the fees) stings a bit. Every jurisdiction is different, for sure. Going further on the stairs, from the ICC commentary: "Additionally, some spaces are neither habitable nor...
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    Industrial storage silos. Classification and egress

    IBC 2009 I'm running into a situation with some storage silos at an industrial facility. They are on average 12' in diameter and will be holding a lime and ash slurry. There are several stand-alone tanks and a grouping of three that we were going to access with an OSHA compliant exterior, open...
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    2nd Floor Tenant Space - ADA Accessibility

    Thanks for the quick response (that's why I love this site :D ). Is there a code citation or ADA section # for this? EDIT: Just found the ADA Title III Section 36.401 New Construction (d) Elevator exemption info.
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