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Modular Buildings

M

Mech

REGISTERED
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
1,056
Location
Eastern PA
2009 IBC, IMC, IPC, IECC

2009 A117.1

Project located in Pennsylvania

Two re-purposed modular buildings (trailers) have been set on blocking (w/o permits) and are being used as a control room at an industrial plant. Now that the plant has been caught, they need to get a CO.

Does this fall under the scope of the IBC?

My thought is yes, and since the trailers will be used for more than 180 days, they do not fall under the temporary structures category.

I assume the trailers:

1. Need piers or a foundation and then anchors as well - IBC

2. Need proper egress and lighting - IBC, A117.1

3. Need compliant restrooms - IBC, IPC, A117.1

4. Need to comply with the energy code - IECC

Am I correct in my thought process?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
EBC/Chapter 34? Change of Occupancy is significant. The DPR needs to address the Code issues in the plans/specifications.

Since it is also a relocated building, the new 'foundation' would need to be new code compliant as well.
 
Trailers have been relocated and Chapter 34 says that moved structures must comply with the provisions for new construction.
 
Does PA still allow applicant to choose between Chap 34 and the EBC?
Click to expand...
Sometimes. Work on existing, non-residential buildings can comply with the EBC or Chapter 34. Accessibility for existing buildings must comply with Chapter 34.
 
1.....Yep

2....Yes....Probably not exit and emergency, but egress lighting

3....Restrooms may be already on site and might be able to be shared.

4.....If they are to be heated or cooled
 
Please don't forget about this in PA and probably elsewhere:

Friends,Over the past month, we have received several inquiries regarding the use of manufactured homes for commercial occupancies. In an attempt to provide some clarity, I am providing the following:

The manufactured housing program was established to provide safe, durable and affordable housing (Title IV-Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974) SEC 602. This national program established performance based construction and safety standards for single family dwellings which allow the manufacturers flexibility in design to facilitate the affordable aspect of manufactured homes to encourage homeownership.

With that said, manufactured housing is intended solely for residential purposes. There is nothing in state or federal law that allows for manufactured housing to be used as a commercial building.

Mark Conte

PA Department of Community & Economic Development

Factory Housing & Building Standards

Commonwealth Keystone Building

400 North Street, 4th Floor | Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225

Phone: 717.720.7416

www.newPa.com/mh
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1. Need piers or a foundation and then anchors as well - IBC Yes

2. Need proper egress and lighting - IBC, A117.1 No only what is exterior of the modular will be applicable

3. Need compliant restrooms - IBC, IPC, A117.1 No

4. Need to comply with the energy code - IECC Definitely No C101.4.1 Existing buildings.Except as specified in this chapter, this code shall not be used to require the removal, alteration or abandonment of, nor prevent the continued use and maintenance of, an existing building or building system lawfully in existence at the time of adoption of this code.

IEBC

CHAPTER 13

RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS

SECTION 1301

GENERAL

1301.1 Scope.

This chapter provides requirements for relocated or moved structures.

1301.2 Conformance.

The building shall be safe for human occupancy as determined by the International Fire Code and the International Property Maintenance Code. Any repair, alteration, or change of occupancy undertaken within the moved structure shall comply with the requirements of this code applicable to the work being performed. Any field-fabricated elements shall comply with the requirements of the International Building Code or the International Residential Code as applicable.

SECTION 1302

REQUIREMENTS

1302.1 Location on the lot.

The building shall be located on the lot in accordance with the requirements of the International Building Code or the International Residential Code as applicable.

1302.2 Foundation.

The foundation system of relocated buildings shall comply with the International Building Code or the International Residential Code as applicable.

1302.2.1 Connection to the foundation.

The connection of the relocated building to the foundation shall comply with the International Building Code or the International Residential Code as applicable.

1302.3 Wind loads.

Buildings shall comply with International Building Code or International Residential Code wind provisions as applicable.

Exceptions:

1. Detached one- and two-family dwellings and Group U occupancies where wind loads at the new location are not higher than those at the previous location.

2. Structural elements whose stress is not increased by more than 10 percent.

1302.4 Seismic loads.

Buildings shall comply with International Building Code or International Residential Code seismic provisions at the new location as applicable.

Exceptions:

1. Structures in Seismic Design Categories A and B and detached one- and two-family dwellings in Seismic Design Categories A, B and C where the seismic loads at the new location are not higher than those at the previous location.

2. Structural elements whose stress is not increased by more than 10 percent.

1302.5 Snow loads.

Structures shall comply with International Building Code or International Residential Code snow loads as applicable where snow loads at the new location are higher than those at the previous location.

Exception: Structural elements whose stress is not increased by more than 5 percent.

1302.6 Flood hazard areas.

If relocated or moved into a flood hazard area, structures shall comply with Section 1612 of the International Building Code.

1302.7 Required inspection and repairs.

The code official shall be authorized to inspect, or to require approved professionals to inspect at the expense of the owner, the various structural parts of a relocated building to verify that structural components and connections have not sustained structural damage. Any repairs required by the code official as a result of such inspection shall be made prior to the final approval

It is a modular building and possibly built to a non-IBC Code. It should be under some state jurisdiction. If the Modular is not being used for what it was designed for then you may have jurisdiction over parts of it but in reality it will not nor should you ever think a modular building will be the same as an IBC building.



 
Modular and portable buildings are likely regulated differently than regular buildings. Part of this is driven by federal statutes and part of this is the fact that the legislatures have handled this differently.

Suggest that you sort out what jurisdiction you actually have in your state.
 
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