How to determine Construction Type of existing building

[buckie06]

Hello all,
I am working on a small renovation of an existing school built in 2011. Single story, not sprinklered, steel construction. No existing drawings available. I think it is Type II-B but not certain. I'm not very familiar with the classifications. Can anyone confirm that?

thank you very much.

 

[steveray]

Sounds like IIB

 

[Paul Sweet]

If it has wood stud partitions that would make it V-B II-B requires metal studs for partitions.

The building permit, if there was one, should state the construction type.

 

[buckie06]

Hi Paul, it is metal stud partitions. Thanks for clarifying on wood vs metal, it thought that only mattered for the buidling structure, not partitions. good to know.

It is under a rural understaffed building department, we cannot get the existing building permit.

thank you

 

[jj1289]

Does it have sprayed fireproofing on the structural steel and/or decking? What is the size of the building? In this situation you almost need to go backwards in determining the construction classification based on the height, area and the number of stories.

 

[Sifu]

How it is constructed does not necessarily tell you how it was designed. I have seen a lot of buildings constructed like a IIB, but classified as a VB. What is the size? If code was followed by the DP, and the building department, the fact that is is not sprinkled makes me think it may be a small school. If it is small enough, it may have been designed as a VB, even if they used all non-com construction.

You say you can't get the existing permit. Is that because they don't have it, or won't share it? An open records request should compel them to provide any information. Also, most states provide oversight and licensing, so they should have something...somewhere. Your profile lists Colorado. I know the State of CO has state licensing and oversight, and administer their own school construction program. Local and/or state fire marshals should also be able to provide information.

What is your role in this? Seems pretty hard to believe a school, built in 2011 had no oversight and no records can be made available.

 

[Yikes]

I agree with what Sifu said. Typically, public school buildings are processed through the state, not the local building department. The state should have all the records on it (unless it was bootlegged by some well-meaning but misinformed PTA members).
See:
https://www.cde.state.co.us/capitalconstruction/ccabconstructionguidelines1ccr303
4.4.4.4.8 – Permitting
4.4.4.4.8.1 Application for public school construction projects permits can be made at the DFPC website.
https://dfpc.colorado.gov/sections/fire-and-life-safety/building-codes-branch/school-construction

4.4.4.4.8.2 If a local building department has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DFPC, that local building department is considered a Prequalified Building Department (PBD). A School District may, at its discretion, choose to apply for permit through DFPC or the PBD that has jurisdiction of construction projects for the location of the school construction project. The list of PBD’s is available on the DFPC website, School Construction.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

How it is constructed does not necessarily tell you how it was designed. I have seen a lot of buildings constructed like a IIB, but classified as a VB. What is the size? If code was followed by the DP, and the building department, the fact that is is not sprinkled makes me think it may be a small school. If it is small enough, it may have been designed as a VB, even if they used all non-com construction.

Designers and owners occasionally choose to classify a building in a "lower" classification for future flexibility. We recently had such a case. Small pre-engineered metal building shell, so it should have been a slam dunk for type II-B. The owner applied for type V-B. I asked why. He said he intended to finish out a portion as offices, and his contractor absolutely claimed it would cost twice as much to do the offices in lighy-gage steel framing as it would cost in wood, so they wanted to be able to use wood.

You say you can't get the existing permit. Is that because they don't have it, or won't share it? An open records request should compel them to provide any information. Also, most states provide oversight and licensing, so they should have something...somewhere. Your profile lists Colorado. I know the State of CO has state licensing and oversight, and administer their own school construction program. Local and/or state fire marshals should also be able to provide information.

If the building was completed and occupied in 2011 there is no existing permit. There should be a certificate of occupancy, and that should state the construction type classification. And that should also be a public record.