ACH 122 Lecture 01 (Bldg Codes)

Building Codes and Regulatory Requirements Building Codes & Life Safety Code Development Zoning Ordinances Legal Constraints

The Beginning of a Building • an idea in someone’s mind • a desire for something new and accommodating • an element for society and history

The Beginning of a Building Get the money Find a lending institution Match with a financial representative Secure a loan Credit check is performed Investors may be needed Collateral may be required Monies are released in payment to owner; not one lump sum

Hire the professionals Architect/Engineer Construction Manager Design-Build Firm General Contractor Consultants The Beginning of a Building

Architect develops design Takes owner’s needs & wants Combines with architect’s ideas Conforms to building codes & zoning ordinances Works out details for necessary building components Structural system Mechanical/Electrical system Enclosure system The Beginning of a Building

Code Compliance Drawings and Specifications are submitted to permit office in local jurisdiction Qualified Building Inspectors examine documents for code compliance Once inspector and architect agree on the questionable code items, permit is issued. Building Inspector will make frequent visits to site during construction for code conformance. (also called “signing off”) The Beginning of a Building

Bidding, Negotiation & Award Putting the word out that the building needs to be built Invitation to Bid Instructions to Bidders Bid Form Bid Security AWARD to General Contractor!!! They hire subcontractors They get materials/labor from vendors & suppliers The Beginning of a Building

But..........Wait a minute...... It's a lot more complicated than that!!

Selection Considerations for Building Materials Suitability Availability Cost Appearance Preference Building Constraints

Building System Choices Required functional performance? Desired aesthetics / appearance? Legally possible (building regulations)? Most economical? (1 st cost, life cycle) What is best for environment?

Performance Vs. Construction Design & Performance Issues Evaluated on Every Building Visual, functional, technical, sustainability, physical limitations, & legal considerations May Involve Trade-offs - Time, Cost, Quality Construction Issues Deal with Actual Construction Relate to Means and Methods

Who Has Primary Responsibility for Building Material Selection? DEPENDS on Contractual Arrangements, often Designer/Architect, with input from the Owner for Appearance and/or Performance & the Contractor for Cost, Availability, & Constructability

Who is Primarily Responsible for Construction Methods? AIA 201; The contractor shall be solely responsible for and have control over means, methods, techniques, sequences and procedures and for coordinating all portions of the Work under the contract ( unless instructed otherwise )

Building Constraints Material Limitations Availability Costs Site Limitations Type of Soil Topography/Grading Structural Feasibilities How well a specific material will perform in a given environment

Building Constraints Labor Constraints Skilled construction workers Availability Construction Budget (MONEY!!) How much is there to spend Who will lend it to you or invest

Additional Building Constraints  Building Codes  Zoning Ordinances  Legal Constraints

Building Codes To protect public health and safety by setting a minimum standard of quality Codes are to be followed & maintained, but are to be used as basic foundations for quality Codes do place limitations on design and aesthetics “… establish minimum construction standards for the protection of life, health, and welfare of the public.”

Building Codes model building codes Codes are Nationally and Internationally Developed These are the basis in which all codes are standardized in the United States Prepared by a National Group of Code Administrators that organize locally Adopted by local jurisdictions Townships, Counties, States, Etc… Local amendments may be issued to make certain restrictions either more strict or lax They are regulations based on construction type

Types of building codes IBC 2000 & IBC 2003 - International Building Code Developed by the International Code Council (ICC) Used by most jurisdictions throughout the United States. First unified code in history. Site, Construction, Mechanical, Electrical, Etc… IBC has both standard and residential code restrictions. Addresses construction standards and life safety IRC 2003 – International Residential Code Focuses primarily on residential dwellings One, two-story dwellings, townhouses, condos/apartments Building Codes

Types of building codes Life Safety 2003 – More specific towards safety of occupants (NFPA 101) Developed by National Fire Protection Agency Also adopted by most jurisdictions Addresses design decisions that are essential to the life safety of building occupants, general public, and first responders. Minimum criteria for the egress of facilities. Addresses minimum construction performance in the event of an emergency. Building Codes

What happens when both codes have different minimum requirements? Select the most restrictive of the two OR Consult with local code official for their interpretation Building Codes

Older Codes Are… Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA - 1996) Uniform Building Code (UBC) Standard Building Code (SBC) Council of American Building Officials (CABO) BOCA, UBC and SBC codes are not as commonly used today as they were in the past. CABO One- and Two-Dwelling Code of 1995 was replaced by IRC Building Codes

Life Safety & Building Code Issues Means of Egress Methods of exiting the building in the event of an emergency Exit Access (doors, windows) Exit (halls, stairs) Exit Discharge (outside) Points of Refuge (safe places for people to go) Occupancy Loads More people may require more exits and fire protection. Hourly Ratings The minimum amount of time an object or construction assembly must last until the fire burns through.

Three Major Factors Determines the Development of a Building: Construction Type Building Use Zoning Regulations CODE RELATIONSHIP

The Code Relationship USE Intended purpose of building Some building are mixed use These are broken down into “ USE GROUPS ” Type of Occupancy Building Use

The Code Relationship CONSTRUCTION TYPE What the building is made of How the materials relate to each other These are broken down into “TYPES” Type of Occupancy Building Use Fire-Resistance Rating of Construction Construction Type

The Code Relationship ZONING ORDINANCES Drawn up by local jurisdictions to manage: density & pattern types of development Regulations based on land use Allowable Height & Area Zoning Ordinances Fire-Resistance Rating of Construction Construction Type

The Code Relationship Type of Occupancy Building Use Allowable Height & Area Zoning Ordinances Fire-Resistance Rating of Construction Construction Type

Type of Occupancy Use Groups Assembly Business Educational Industry (Factory) High-Hazard Industry Institutional Mercantile Residential Storage Utility Possible to have multiple uses. We refer to this as “ MIXED USE ” Designation A B E F H I M R S U

Building classifications have existed since the Uniform Building Code – Established in 1929 Broken into 5 basic types based on fire resistance and combustibility 5 basic types of construction ranging from the most fire-resistant – least fire resistant. Type IA is the most fire resistant Type 5B is the least fire resistant Construction types are paired against occupancy groups to determine the maximum size of the building allowed. Construction Types

Materials are broken down into two categories: Combustible Materials that will ignite and burn when subjected to fire. Fire treatment / protection may increase the resistance of some materials. Noncombustible Material of which no part will ignite and burn when subjected to fire. Construction Types

Construction types are further broken down into sub-categories designating their fire protection: #A = Protected #B = Unprotected The more fire protection, the larger you can build Even buildings constructed in steel have both classifications because steel will melt and deflect under extreme heat. Construction Types

The principal elements of type I & II construction are made of noncombustible materials. Principal elements generally refers to the structure Type I & II generally relies on steel, concrete of masonry for its structure. Construction Types Section 402.0 TYPE 1 CONSTRUCTION 402.1 General: Buildings and structures of Type 1 construction are those in which the walls, partitions, structural elements, floors, ceilings, roofs and the exits are constructed of approved non-combustible materials and protected to afford the fire resistance rating specified in Table 401. Buildings are Type 1 construction shall be further classified as Type 1A or 1B. Same description as Type II

Type III buildings area mix of both combustible and noncombustible materials. Noncombustible exterior walls Combustible interior structure Designed to prevent fires from spreading from one structure to another Ex.: a Wood Frame Building with a brick veneer on all sides. Construction Types Section 404.0 TYPE 3 CONSTRUCTION 404.1 General: Buildings and structures of Type 3 construction are those in which the exterior, fire walls, and party walls are constructed of masonry or other approved non-combustible materials of the required fire resistance rating and structural properties; the floors, roofs and interior framing are wholly or partly constructed of wood, metal, or other approved construction; ……..

Type IV buildings addresses heavy timber construction. Heavy timber members begin to flame and char at about 400 degrees. As charring continues, it begins to act as a fire protection by insulating the interior of the wood members. Construction Types Section 405.0 TYPE 4 CONSTRUCTION 405.1 General: Buildings and structures of Type 4 construction are those in which the exterior walls are constructed of non-combustible materials having a fire resistance rating not less than that specified in Table 401 and the interior structural members are of solid or laminated wood without concealed spaces.

Type V construction is the most restrictive in terms of what you can build BUT least restrictive in what you can use to build it. Allows the use of any material permitted by code Type V is the conventional light-wood frame construction in residential homes. V-A protects all major building elements (stairs, bearing walls, columns) with a 1 hour rating V-B is generally unprotected construction Construction Types Section 406.0 TYPE 5 CONSTRUCTION 406.1 General: Buildings and structures of Type 5 construction are those in which the exterior walls, bearing walls, partitions, floors and roofs are constructed of any materials permitted by this code and in which the structural elements have the required fire resistance rating specified in Table 401. Buildings of Type 5 construction shall be further classified as Type 5A or 5B.

Occupancy Groups IBC Groups A-1 through A5 Assembly occupancies (theaters, lecture halls, churches, night clubs, restaurants, libraries, museums, sports arenas, etc.) Group B – Business Occupancy Group E – Educational Groups H-1 through H-5 High Hazard Occupancy Groups I-1 through I-4 Institutional Health car, geriatrics, prisons Group M – Mercantile Stores (retail) Groups R-1 through R-4 Residential Occupancies Homes, apartments, dorms, etc. Group S-1 and S-1 Hazardous storage Group U – Utility Buildings

Building Type & Fire Resistance Ratings

Other Codes Affecting Buildings Plumbing Code Electrical Code Mechanical & Energy Code Elevator Code Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) Focuses its regulations on the building inhabitants

Fire Resistance Ratings MANY CODE REQUIREMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH “FIRE RATING” REQUIREMENTS Measured in Hours (or fraction thereof) Typically, increased Fire Resistance results in increased construction cost INCREASED RATING - GENERALLY INCREASED SAFETY, BUT ALSO INCREASED COST THEREFORE OFTEN BUILD TO LOWEST ACCEPTABLE RATING. WHY??? OWNERS WANT TO BE UNSAFE??? NO, OWNERS WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE

Establishing Fire Ratings Full Scale Laboratory Tests - Often UL MOCKUP, ACTUAL COMPONENTS TEST TO DESTRUCTION Published Ratings (by various industry groups) Tables/Standards are published Component(s) - Material Specifications Construction “details” / Requirements

Fire Ratings Issued by: Who typically pays for tests to rate materials and assemblies? Building Material Manufacturer’s WHY? So that their product is specified Construction Trade Organizations TYPICALLY - MANUFACTURERS ORGANIZATIONS APA, ACI, CRSI (Conc. Reinforcement Steel Institute)

Fire Ratings Issued by: Rating Services Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) MOST COMMON PUBLISHES BOOK WITH ASSEMBLIES AND RATINGS UL LABEL ON A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS Factory Mutual (FM) MORE FOR INSURANCE RATINGS TYP. REVIEW AND APPROVE SPRINKLER DWGS. LOOK AT HEAD SPACING, FLOW RATES , EQUIPMENT

Underwriter’s Laboratory Note the level of ‘detail’

Zoning Ordinances Regulations based on land use What types of activities may take place on specified land How much building can cover land Total floor area that can be covered Height restrictions on building How far building needs to be set back from property/land boundary Locally developed

Legal Constraints American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Civil rights law enacted in 1990 Makes it legally binding that all buildings provide accessibility means to the physically handicapped Access standards regulate design for Entrances Stairs Doorways Elevators Toilet facilities Provides guidelines in construction to accommodate the physically handicap

Legal Constraints Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Governed by the Department of Labor Controls the design of workplaces to minimize the possible health and safety risks to workers Most prominent in industrial buildings Watchdog group for construction safety

Additional Building Standards Info Testing & Certification Standards Underwriters Laboratories (UL) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Professional Trade Associations and Organizations Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Independent and specific trade organizations for individual trades and materials These organizations publish supplemental information for quality recommendations

Testing & Certification Standards American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Establishes “standard” specifications for commonly used materials Designated by a number (i.e., ASTM C150) Specifies a “quality” that a certain material should meet Additional Building Standards Info

Testing & Certification Standards American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Develops standards for industrial products Mechanical components (HVAC) Energy Efficiency components (windows, glass) Additional Building Standards Info

The RESPONSIBILITY ……… It is the responsibility of the architect to conform with the building code requirements and design a building with material that exceeds those minimal requirements. The testing standards and research information are published for the architect to make a “better design”. This is necessary to ensure the well being and safety of the building’s inhabitants.

NEXT LECTURE Sustainability and the LEED Rating System

ACH 122 Lecture 01 (Bldg Codes)

More Related Content

Viewers also liked (16)

Similar to ACH 122 Lecture 01 (Bldg Codes) (20)

More from Anne Arundel Community College (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

ACH 122 Lecture 01 (Bldg Codes)

Editor's Notes