jar546
Forum Coordinator
If a 5 unit townhouse is built in compliance with 302.2 does it have to comply with 320?
IRC applies.
IRC applies.
We code officials enforce the building codes not fair housing. The owner, builder needs to ensure they comply with other(s) rules same with accessibility rules.mtlogcabin said:Kilitact I agree with your application of the code and have argued with fair housing until I was blue but ultimately could not win that discussion with them. Our local zoning even requires a property line between units and they still would not concede.
Fair housing does not consider them separate buildings and therefore if you do not follow 320 the builder and possibly your department will wind up in a lawsuit.
http://www.montanafairhousing.org/newsletters_press/2003/nov03.pdf
Buildings Separated by Firewalls or Covered Walkways
Dwellings built within a single structure but separated by a firewall are treated under the Fair Housing Act as a single building. For example, a structure containing two units on each side of a firewall would not be regarded as four two-unit buildings (and thus not covered by the Guidelines) but as a single eight-unit building.
In other situations where the dwelling units are connected, such as by stairs or a walkway that is structurally tied to the main body of the building, for purposes of the Guidelines, they are considered a single building and ground floor units in such buildings without elevators are covered
The 2001 IRC with the 2001 supplement is considered a "Safe Harbor" document because of Section R320.1