Transcript Building Codes For Interiors

ART 3620, Professional Design Development Studio
Ohio University
Interior Architecture
Matthew Ziff, M. Arch, Associate Professor
Building Codes:
Impact On Interiors
Spring Semester 2016
What are Building Codes?
• A building code is a collection of laws, regulations,
ordinances or other statutory requirements adopted by a
government legislative authority involved with the
physical structure and healthful conditions for occupants
of buildings.
• Building codes are the government's official statement
on building safety.
• Building Codes establish predictable and consistent
minimum standards, of size and of performance, which
are applied to the quality and durability of construction
materials.
• "Minimum requirements" means that construction meets
the criteria of being both "practical and adequate for
protecting life, safety and welfare of the public".
• So who needs building codes?
• We all need protection from tragedy due to fire, structural
collapse and general deterioration in our homes, offices,
schools, manufacturing facilities, stores or places of
entertainment.
• Building codes protect home buyers, building occupants,
and all others who could be affected by unsafe
construction or installation in the built environment.
• Building codes embrace all aspects of building
construction - fire and structural items as well as the
plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems.
• They provide safeguards and ensure uniformity in the
construction industry
• Inspection during construction is the only way to
independently verify that compliance has been achieved.
• Inspections are conducted in homes, offices and
factories to verify conformity to minimum standards, prior
to the issuance of an occupancy certificate.
• Building codes are adopted by a state or local
government's legislative body, then enacted to regulate
building construction within a particular jurisdiction.
• The primary purpose of a building code is to regulate
new or proposed construction.
• Building codes only apply to an existing building if the
building undergoes reconstruction, rehabilitation or
alteration, or if the occupancy of the existing building
changes to a new occupancy level as defined by the
building code.
Building Codes are Laws
• A building code is a set of legal requirements that specify the
minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as
buildings and non-building structures (like gazebos, amphtheaters,
etc.)
• The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health,
safety and general welfare as they relate to and are affected by the
construction and occupancy of buildings and structures.
• A building code becomes law within a particular jurisdiction (such as
the City of Athens, or the State of Ohio) when formally enacted by
the appropriate authority.
The practice of developing, approving, and enforcing building codes
may vary widely from country to country.
In some countries building codes are developed by government
agencies or quasi-governmental standards organizations and then
enforced across the country by the central government.
Such codes are known as national building codes (in a sense they
enjoy a mandatory nation-wide application).
In other countries, where the power of regulating construction and fire
safety is held by local authorities, a system of model building codes is
used.
• Model building codes, such as the International Building
Code (IBC) or the Building Officials and Code
Administrators (BOCA) code have no legal status unless
adopted or adapted by an authority having jurisdiction.
• Codes such as the IBC, or BOCA, are model codes:
written to be used as the basis for local, sometimes more
distinct, code needs.
• California, for example, has extra, specific, seismic
protection requirements in their state code because of
the earth quake potential in California.
• There are instances when some local jurisdictions
choose to develop their own building codes.
• For example, at some point in time all major cities in the
United States had their own building codes as part of
their municipal codes.
• Since having its own building code can be very
expensive for a municipality, many have decided to
adopt model codes instead.
• Only the cities of New York and Chicago continue to use
the building codes they developed on their own; yet
these codes also include multiple references to model
codes, such as the National Electrical Code.
• Additionally, New York City is currently working to modify
and apply the International Building Code for the city in a
massive Model Code Program.
Building codes generally address:
• Structural safety: buildings should be strong enough to
resist internally and externally applied forces without
collapsing;
• Fire safety: includes requirements to prevent the fire
spread to/from neighbors, provide warning of occupants,
and safe exiting of building, limitation on fire spread, and
provisions for fire suppression/fire fighting;
• Health requirements: adequate washrooms, adequate
air circulation, and plumbing materials.
Some building codes sometimes include
requirements for:
• Noise mitigation to protect building occupants from noise pollution
(see Noise regulation)
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Accessibility: requirements to ensure that a building is accessible
for persons in wheelchairs or having other disabilities.
Building codes generally do not address:
• Aesthetics: Any regulation of the aesthetics of buildings are usually
included in zoning by-laws;
Building codes generally do not address:
• Traffic convenience: Limitations on traffic flow are usually either in
zoning or other municipal by-laws
• Building Use: the safe use of a building is generally in the Fire Code
• Required upgrades for existing building: unless the building is being
renovated the building code usually does not apply.
Legal Requirements
Building codes & accessibility codes
• Pages 395 - 436 in "Interior Construction & Detailing" by D.K. Ballast
• Building Codes 101: Part 1
• Building Codes 101: Part II
(a 32 minute video)
(a 34 minute video)
44 states and the Department of Defense use the International Building Code
32 states use the International Residential Code
32 states use the International Fire Code
Ancient History of Building Codes
• Building regulations date back to the beginning of
recorded history.
• The Code of Hammurabi (2200 B.C.) Included a simple
but effective building code provision; if an architect built
a house so negligently that it fell down and killed the
owner's son, then the architect's son was put to death.
History of Building Codes in the United States
• In early America, George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson encouraged the development of building
regulations to provide for minimum standards related to
public health and safety.
• At the turn of the century, 19th – 20th century, the
insurance industry developed what many consider to be
modern building codes in response to major urban fires
in the United States.
• The National Board of Fire Underwriters published its
National Building Code in 1905 as a model code; that is,
one that could be adopted by a locality.
• During the early 1900's, model building codes were
written by code enforcement officials of various
communities with assistance from all segments of the
building industry
BOCA Code
• In 1915, code enforcement officials met to discuss
common problems and concerns.
• Out of these meetings came the formation of three
organizations of code enforcement officials.
• The first of these organizations, known as Building
Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International,
Inc., was created in 1915 and represented code officials
from eastern and Midwestern portions of the United
States.
Independent Testing agencies
• Provide valuable information used in developing code
requirements.
• The standards developed by the various organizations
become a base for building codes in order to determine
the quality of the material and the workmanship.
Independent Testing Agencies
• Research and Testing Organizations
ASTM -The American Society for Testing and Materials
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association
UL - Underwriting Laboratories
FM - Factory Mutual Engineering Corp.
ANSI - The American National Standards Institute
Professional Associations
ASHRAE - The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
and Air Conditioning Engineers
ASCE - The American Society of Civil Engineers
ASME - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
CSI – Construction Specifier’s Institute
Trade Associations
APA - The American Plywood Association
SMACNA - Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors'
National Association
ACI - American Concrete Institute
Building codes categorize and define occupied
spaces.
• As an interior designer, every project you work on can be
categorized by three fundamental characteristics.
– Construction Type of the building
– what is the building made of? brick, stone, wood, etc?
– Occupancy Type of the proposed project
– what kind(s) of activity will take place in the building spaces?
– Occupant Load of the proposed project
– how many people will be in the building spaces?
Occupancy Types
(What goes on in the space?)
• Occupancy type: described as:
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A:
B:
E:
F:
H:
I:
M:
R:
U:
assembly
business
educational
factory and industrial
hazardous
institutional
mercantile
residential storage
utility
Construction Types
based on the fire resistance of building components
• The building’s structural frame, interior and exterior
bearing walls, floor and roof construction are classified
as:
• Type I: the most fire resistive
• Type II:
• Type III:
• Type IV: heavy timber framing
• Type V: the least fire resistive
Building Types
As Defined In Building Codes
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TYPE I-A--Fire Resistive Non-combustible (Commonly found in high-rise buildings
and Group I occupancies). 3 Hr. Exterior Walls*
3 Hr. Structural Frame 2 Hr. Floor/Ceiling Assembly 1 1⁄2 Hr. Roof Protection
TYPE I-B--Fire Resistive Non-Combustible (Commonly found in mid-rise office &
Group R buildings). 2 Hr. Exterior Walls*
2 Hr. Structural Frame 2 Hr. Ceiling/Floor Separation 1 Hr. Ceiling/Roof Assembly
TYPE II-A--Protected Non-Combustible (Commonly found in newer school buildings).
1 Hr. Exterior Walls
1 Hr. Structural Frame 1 Hr. Floor/Ceiling/Roof Protection
TYPE II-B--Unprotected Non-Combustible (Most common type of non-combustible
construction used in commercial buildings).
Building constructed of non-combustible materials but these materials have no fire
resistance.
Building Types
As Defined In Building Codes
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TYPE III-A--Protected Combustible (Also known as "ordinary" construction
with brick or block walls and a wooden roof or floor assembly which is 1
hour fire protected).
2 Hr. Exterior Walls* 1 Hr. Structural Frame 1 Hr. Floor/Ceiling/Roof
Protection
TYPE III-B--Unprotected Combustible (Also known as "ordinary"
construction; has brick or block walls with a wooden roof or floor assembly
which is not protected against fire. These buildings are frequently found in
"warehouse" districts of older cities.)
2 Hr. Exterior Walls* No fire resistance for structural frame, floors, ceilings,
or roofs.
Building Types
As Defined In Building Codes
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TYPE IV--Heavy Timber (also known as "mill" construction; to qualify all wooden
members must have a minimum nominal dimension of 8 inches.)
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2 Hr. Exterior Walls* 1 Hr. Structural Frame or Heavy Timber
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Heavy Timber Floor/Ceiling/Roof Assemblies
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TYPE V-A--Protected Wood Frame (Commonly used in the construction of newer
apartment buildings; there is no exposed wood visible.)
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1 Hr. Exterior Walls 1 Hr. Structural Frame 1 Hr. Floor/Ceiling/Roof
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TYPE V-B--Unprotected Wood Frame (Examples of Type V-N construction are single
family homes and garages. They often have exposed wood so there is no fire
resistance.)
Building codes address nearly all aspects of the
physical environment
• building codes address the performance of the physical
environment, and include:
• general construction
• egress paths and systems
• structure
• finish materials
• mechanical systems
• plumbing
• electrical
When there are ‘mixed occupancies’ within a
building floor
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All occupancies (except Group H occupancies) are permitted to be in nonseparated
occupancy buildings. Nonseparated occupancies are literally those in which there is
no fire barrier between the various occupancies.
When using the nonseparated occupancy provisions, the more restrictive occupancy
based on the provisions of Table 503 controls including height, number of stories and
area.
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Additionally, the more restrictive provisions of Section 403 and Chapter 9 apply to the
entire building.
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In applying the fire area provisions of Chapter 9, the area of all non- separated
occupancies is used to determine fire sprinkler requirements.
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The individual occupancies must also comply with any specific occupancy
requirements related to their use.
When there are ‘mixed occupancies’ within a
building floor
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Separated occupancies are those that are provided with the appropriate fire barrier in
accordance with Table 508.3.3.
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Each separate occupancy is classified in accordance to its particular use and each
fire area must comply with the code based on each portion of the building.
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When using the separated occupancy provisions, each occupancy must be separated
with fire barriers or horizontal assemblies in accordance with Table 508.3.3.
When there are ‘mixed occupancies’ within a
building floor
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There are different options to allow a separated mixed occupancy building to comply
as follows:
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Modify the configuration of the different occupancies
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Increase the construction type (to make it more fire resistant)
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Provide a fire sprinkler system for the building
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Provide a “Fire Wall” to reduce the Building’s total area into multiple
buildings: ‘compartmentalization’.
Fire: urban disasters led to the development and
adoption of building codes
• To read a history of the Chicago Fire Department, go to:
• http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/firedept.html
• To see a history timeline of the Boston Fire Department,
go to:
• http://www.ci.boston.ma.us/bfd/history/bfd_history.htm
The Great Chicago Fire
1871
After the Chicago Fire
Chicago in ruins: 1871
Chicago in ruins: 1871
The Great Chicago Fire
1871
• A web site dedicated to the Chicago fire of 1871:
• http://www.chicagohs.org/fire/intro/gcf-index.html
Boston Fire of 1872
building fires can be intense, difficult to extinguish, and
very, very frightening
A ‘small’ house fire
Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA)
• The ADA is a federal code, with jurisdiction over the
entire country.
• ADA code online
Americans With Disabilities Act
(ADA)
A U.S. Federal Code
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The Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal code (law) was put into effect in 1990 to
prevent discrimination toward those with physical disabilities.
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This includes not only building accessibility but also equal opportunity to find jobs,
use transportation, and use government services.
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After that, existing buildings were modified to include features such as wheelchairaccessible ramps, lifts or elevators. All new buildings since 1990 have been designed
to meet ADA requirements.
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The regulations for the ADA were last updated in 2010.
How the ADA Affects Interior Design
• How ADA design guidelines affect design professionals
depends on the type of design they do.
• Interior designers who design and decorate homes don’t
have to follow the guidelines because the buildings are
private.
• Those who design commercial or government buildings
work more consistently with ADA guidelines.
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The movement to make buildings accessible has evolved into the concept
of universal design.
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This is the idea that spaces should be designed to fit everyone, young or
old, able or disabled.
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Some recommended features include non-slip floors, rocker light switches,
and no-step entry.
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In interior design projects, students have to apply their knowledge of
building codes and technology as well as design concepts.
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Besides understanding ADA guidelines, interior design professionals adhere
to fire codes established by th National Fire Protection Association and
international building codes such as the IBC.
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Essentially, designers must keep building codes in mind for every aspect of
their work.
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This includes the types of the materials used, the placement of fixtures and
other features.
Door Openings and ADA Requirements
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ADA 404.2.3 Clear Width
Door openings shall provide a clear width of 32 inches (815 mm) minimum
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Clear openings of doorways with swinging doors shall be measured between the face
of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees
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Openings more than 24 inches (610 mm) deep shall provide a clear opening of 36
inches (915 mm) minimum
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There shall be no projections into the required clear opening width lower than 34
inches (865 mm) above the finish floor or ground
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Projections into the clear opening width between 34 inches (865 mm) and 80 inches
(2030 mm) above the finish floor or ground shall not exceed 4 inches (100 mm)
Thresholds at Doorways
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ADA 404.2.5 Thresholds
Thresholds, if provided at doorways, shall be 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) high
maximum
Door Hardware
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ICC A117.1 - 404.2.6 Door Hardware
Handles, pulls, latches, locks, and other operable parts on accessible doors
shall have a shape that is easy to grasp with one hand and does not require
tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate
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Operable parts of such hardware shall be 34 inches (865 mm) minimum and
48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the floor
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Where sliding doors are in the fully open position, operating hardware shall
be exposed and usable from both sides
Door and Gate Opening Force
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ADA 404.2.9 Door and Gate Opening Force
Fire doors shall have a minimum opening force allowable by the appropriate
administrative authority
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The force for pushing or pulling open a door or gate other than fire doors
shall be as follows:
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Interior hinged doors and gates: 5 pounds (22 2 N) maximum
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Sliding or folding doors: 5 pounds (22 2 N) maximum
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These forces do not apply to the force required to retract latch bolts or
disengage other devices that hold the door or gate in a closed position
Egress Requirements
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The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 caused a public outrage when
146 workers perished as a result of locked exit doors and blocked fire
escapes
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Building codes with specific egress provisions came into existence by 1913,
and the requirement for safe egress from buildings remains a fundamental
concept of today’s codes
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IBC 1008.1.9.11 Stairway Doors
Interior stairway means of egress doors shall be openable from both sides
without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort
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Where panic or fire exit hardware is installed, it shall comply with the
following:
Panic hardware shall be listed in accordance with UL 305; fire exit hardware
shall be listed in accordance with UL 10C and UL 305; the actuating portion
of the releasing device shall extend at least one-half of the door leaf width;
and the maximum unlatching force shall not exceed 15 pounds (67 N)
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An example of an ADA compliant ramp:
the incline can be no steeper than 1:12
This public restroom is ADA compliant because:
the hot water pipes are shielded, the size of the room is sufficient for a wheelchair
bound person to turn around, the faucet handles are automatic; no hand operations are
needed to turn on and off the water, the counter height is within specified range.
NCIDQ Exam
(National Council for Interior Design Qualification)
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The NCIDQ Exam consists of two multiple-choice sections and a drawing practicum, and all three
sections focus entirely on public health, safety and welfare.
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While interior designers must have knowledge in many other areas like accounting, human
resources and aesthetics, the exam only tests your knowledge of health, safety and welfare.
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