Building Code Assessment

1
(Building) Code Assessment

• Drawing on the Experience of Others
• Barry D. Yatt, FAIA, CSI
• Arch 402/503
• School of Architecture and Planning
• The Catholic University of America

2
Why?

• In poorly designed buildings, people can get
  hurt.
• People want assurance that the buildings they
  live in meet a minimum standard of quality.
• Architects sometimes need a little help designing
  safe buildings. (Nobody is born with the
  knowledge and schools dont provide enough
  exposure.)

3
Approach

• Codes let designers decide what functionality and
  overall form they want.
• Designers let codes set minimum performance
  levels to increase the chances that the design
  will be safe.

4
How?

• It's all about if/then relationships.
• If you decide x
• then the code will require y.
• If you dont like y
• then you can change decision x.

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What?

• Configuration (bldg size, compartmentation)
• Fire-resistance (how long it lasts)
• Egress (occupant count, path to safety)
• Habitability (size, comfort, hygiene)
• Accessibility (movement through bldg)
• Structural Capacity (load handling)
• Quality of Materials and Workmanship

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What?

• Lets look at these issues, one at a time

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Configuration
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Configuration You Decide

• Use Use Groups (IBC Chapter 3). Yes, you
  decidethe code just tells you what to call it.
• Size Area, height, number of stories

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Configuration You Decide

• And to a lesser degree
• Budget To the degree that it permits use of more
  fire-resistant assemblies
• Degree of Enclosure Openness

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Configuration Code Sets

• Construction Classification (IBC Table 503),
  which establishes your options.

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Configuration Options

• AFS Automatic Fire Suppression. Doubles area,
  adds height.
• Street Frontage For Fire Dept access. Default is
  25
• Compartmentation Smaller compartments justify
  lower-rated assemblies

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Fire-resistance
13
Fire-resistance You Decide

• Construction Classification as just noted, as a
  function of intended configuration, using IBC
  Table 503

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Fire-resistance Code Sets

• Minimum Fire-Resistance Ratings, measured in
  hours

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Fire-resistance Code Sets

• And indirectly Construction Assembly Options

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Fire-resistance Options

• Wrap required assemblies in preferable coverings.
  For example, enclose Type V (heavy timber) in
  drywall.
• Provide minimum clearances. For example, keep
  ceilings 20 above floors)
• Change Construction Classification, backing up a
  step to rethink your earlier decision

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Egress
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Egress You decide

• Use, Arrangement and Sizes of Rooms. So, until
  theres a design, one cant proceed.
• Occupancy count, as a function of room use and
  size.

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Egress You decide

• Egress strategy. What method do you want to use
  to get occupants out?
• 1 Direct Exits
• 2 Horizontal Exits
• 3 Vertical Exits
• 4 Escapes

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Egress Code Sets

• Basics
• Minimum number of exits
• Minimum provided Areas of Refuge

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Egress Code Sets

• Distances
• Minimum distance between exits

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Egress Code Sets

• Distances
• Maximum distance to closest exit

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Egress Code Sets

• Distances
• Maximum distance to an exit choice (common path)

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Egress Code Sets

• Distances
• Maximum distance travelled past exit (dead end)

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Egress Code Sets

• Capacities
• Minimum width of exit path

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Egress Code Sets

• Capacities
• Maximum encroachment on path
• Door swings
• Knobs
• Handrails
• Drinking Fountains

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Egress Code Sets

• When within the stair
• When transferring between stairs
• When discharging from the exit

Enclosure of vertical exits
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Egress Options

• Design the exit path cleverly use horizontal
  exits, exit passages, etc.
• Use AFS (sprinklers)
• Try using timed exiting (if the design is
  amenable to it and if you have access to
  sophisticated fire-modeling software).

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Habitability
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Habitability You decide

• Which program spaces fall into which habitability
  category. Is it
• Habitable
• Occupiable
• Subsidiary
• Uninhabitable

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Habitability Code Sets

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Habitability Options

• Not much. These standards really are minimums. Be
  honest in applying them.
• Dont design a space with less than 5 of
  headroom, then let it be counted as useable SF in
  the sales brochures.
• Dont design a bedroom in a space that has less
  than 4 of operable window.
• This does have implications for affordable
  housing. Its intended to.

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Accessibility
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Accessibility You decide

• How program spaces are to be arranged, both
  vertically and horizontally
• Where operable devices (doors, vending machines,
  paper towel dispensers, etc.) are to be located

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Accessibility Code Sets

• Maximum difficulty of getting to program spaces
  (can deny access but not participation)
• Minimum widths for doors (32/36) and halls
  (42/60)
• Maximum slopes (112) and distances between
  landings (30 rise) at ramps
• Vertical placement of operable devices (buttons,
  pulls, etc.) for reach

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Accessibility Code Sets

• Maximum difficulty of use
• Grasping railings (1½ diameter, 1½ from wall)
• Turning knobs and levers, grip-ability
• Pushing doors open or closed
• Minimum levels of dignity
• No acceptable marginalization
• Views past others

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Accessibility Options

• Still very much a designers call. ADAAG and ANSI
  117.1 provide some guidance.
• Errors caught mostly by frustrated users rather
  than permit review process.
• Enforced by lawsuit demanding compliance with
  ADA.

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Structural Capacity
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Structural Capacity You decide

• Program, which determines anticipated usage loads
  (libraries, warehouses, factories, etc).
• Location, with its associated wind, rain, and
  seismic loads
• Massing, which determines where
• snow buildup might occur
• seismic loads might concentrate.

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Structural Capacity Code Sets

• Minimum structural capacities (resistance to live
  load) based on intended use and (if relevant)
  massing
• IBC Chapter 16

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Structural Capacity Options

• Options are often less needed since
• Codes mostly set minimum loads, not the way they
  are handled.
• Requirements can usually be met without adversely
  affecting architecture.
• The risk of failure is sufficient to discourage
  code avoidance.

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Quality
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Quality You decide

• The materials from which to build, based both on
  design considerations and such code mandates as
  fire-resistance.

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Quality Code Sets

• Minimum standards for the manufacture and
  installation of those materials.
• They usually do this by mandating standards
  written by other groups
• Publishers such as ANSI, ASTM
• Trade associations that represent manufacturers
  such as BIA, AWI
• Trade unions that represent installers

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Quality Options

• Code mandates are minimums. Its unlikely that
  avoiding them would carry substantive advantages.
  
• Standards may not be available for some
  recently-developed materials. Without them, the
  materials may not be allowed. This can be
  frustrating, but there is usually no alternative.

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In Conclusion
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The Bottom Line

• Code officials want to protect the public. They
  understand that codes are only one way to
  increase predictability.
• If you can demonstrate the safety of a
  non-compliant design (through testing, modeling,
  etc.), its quite possible that it will be
  approved.

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Communicating Compliance

• Indicate applied codes (full name IBC, IPC, NFPA
  101, ANSI 117.1, year).
• Show occupancy count Floor plans that show
  populations in each room, plus location,
  configuration and width of egress paths
• Summarize Issue - Required - Provided

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Getting Started

• Use the Table of Contents to focus your research

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Now Its Your Turn

• Questions and Discussion