Crawl Space Height Minimum

[Kendra]

I am doing a new entrance vestibule for a commercial office. They are considering putting some ductwork in this crawl space to heat and cool. Besides that, they will not need to access anything in there. Is there a code minimum for the height of this crawl space?

 

[TheCommish]

big enough to service the equipment

 

[Kendra]

big enough to service the equipment

But not dictated by code?

 

[ADAguy]

18" min. clr bottom of beams to soil if wood.

 

[SCBO1]

18-inches. and an access door large enough to get the equipment in an out.

 

[e hilton]

Treated lumber can be closer to the ground ... right?

 

[rktect 1]

8 feet

 

[Kendra]

8 feet

Where are you getting this from?

 

[ICE]

California Mechanical Code:

603.2 Under Floor or Crawl Space. Air ducts installed under a floor in a crawl space shall be installed in accordance with the following:
(1) Shall not prevent access to an area of the crawl space.
(2) Where it is required to move under ducts for access to areas of the crawl space, a vertical clearance of not less than 18 inches shall be provided.

603.3
Metal ducts shall be installed with not less than 4 inches separation from earth.

 

[Paul Sweet]

It might be easier to just do a slab and underground ductwork (metal ducts encased in insulating concrete).

IBC 1208.1 requires a minimum 18" x 24" access to a crawl space, so the crawl space would have to be at least 18" deep.

 

[rktect 1]

Where are you getting this from?

Saves people time and money when they decide to turn their 42" deep crawl space into a full basement.

 

[ADAguy]

Treated lumber can be closer to the ground ... right?

18" min. needed to allow for access to pipes and ducting, if any

 

[fatboy]

18" min. needed to allow for access to pipes and ducting, if any

Where are you finding that?

Assuming treat wood for clearance, all I find is this:

2018 IMC - 603.14 Location. Ducts shall not be installed in or within 4
inches (102 mm) of the earth, except where such ducts comply
with Section 603.8.

 

[ADAguy]

Where are you finding that?

Assuming treat wood for clearance, all I find is this:

2018 IMC - 603.14 Location. Ducts shall not be installed in or within 4
inches (102 mm) of the earth, except where such ducts comply
with Section 603.8.

See Paul Sweet above, IMC is ok for ducts but you still need 18" clear of wood framing to crawl it.