JBI said:
Sure beats 'attic stairs'! (@ Mr. S, inside joke about another thread that took on a life of it's own) I skipped over pages 5 through the end, so forgive me for going back to the OP... WORK AREA. That portion or portions of a building consisting of all reconfigured spaces (that would be where the actual spaces are reconfigured) as indicated on the construction documents (this is the one I think everyone is missing. This should be noted by the DP on the plans). Work area excludes other portions of the building where incidental work entailed by the intended work must be performed and portions of the building where work not initially intended by the owner is specifically required by this code.
The window replacements, etc are not 'reconfigured spaces', IMHO.
The DPR is required to indicate the work area on the construction documents. (401.2 Work area. The work area, as defined in Chapter 2, shall be identified on the construction documents.)
I also believe you've got the commentary a bit off. It was saying that level two work must meet the requirements of both chapters, not that it should make the whole project the work area.
Despite his gruff manner, brudgers makes a valid point (or two). That the Code doesn't specifically provide for nor prohibit 'combining' all work into the scope of level two is awkward, but your local or state law may contain some language that could prove useful. Lacking that, have the DP do HIS job and indicate the work area on the documents. Then the Code Official can do HIS job and review it for compliance.
By the way Mr. S... Welcome to the board!
This is a good summary of what I was trying to get across in 7 pages...where were you last week?
After looking at the definition of Work Area, I began to think of the project as having two parallel lines...two lines that never have to criss-cross.
One line is the
levels of alteration. In this line you can have level 1 throughout and a level 2 happening in one space. Yes, the level 2 has to comply with chapter 6&7, but I don't believe the level 1 necessarily has to become a level 2. Nowhere does it say this, except for that one commentary.
And the second line is that of the
work area that is marked on the drawings. This line has no need to identify the level of the alteration...only the area. Now, of course these spaces will be a level 2 just because by definition a level 2 is the reconfig of space. But, this doesn't really matter. This line has to do with area of reconfig. space and area alone. Not the level of the alteration.
Now I never have one little level 2 tripping a predominately level 1 alteration into a level 3 or into sprinklers. Not that I'm trying to skirt anything...I'm just trying to avoid exploding project scopes that make the client not do anything, therefore making the building even less safe.
This seems reasonable to me and it's the way I deal with my CDs now. I'll just note that there are level 1 alterations throughout...then I'll note level 2 alterations
(reconfig. spaces) marked on Work Area Plan. This makes it clear that there is work happening throughout the building, but it also makes clear that space reconfiguration is only happening where I note it. If my marked work area hits 50%...then it's off to level 3...but only for the reconfig. spaces as the level 3 scope says.
Now if the reviewer questions what I've marked as the limits of the reconfiguration of space, then we can have that discussion. But the alteration level can be left out of it.
I'll be submitting these drawings soon...I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm glad this discussion happened. Every time this would come up in a project questions would come up exactly like Mr. Softy's origianl post. I feel much more comfortable dealing with it in this way. It seems less muddy. Whether it's right or wrong, I guess we'll find out.
And I'm now also more aware of Chapter 3 which mt pointed out. But even then, it seems that the work area option shouldn't be that mysterious.
