Code

Separation of Top of Foundation Wall and Adjacent Exterior Grade

by evstudio November 14, 2013

One of the most commonly asked questions to the structural department involved the required distance between the top of a foundation wall and the adjacent exterior grade. The 2009 International Residential Code requires a minimum of 6 inches of separation where brick veneer is not […]

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Type ‘A’ vs. Type ‘B’ in Residential Design

by Anthony Ries October 25, 2013

Type A dwelling units are those that are required by and defined in the International Building Code. These units are referenced in Chapter 11 of the IBC and have to comprise at least 2% of the units in R-2 occupancies so long as there is […]

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Varying Design Wind Speeds for Arvada, Colorado

by evstudio October 25, 2013

Contractors, Owners and Designers should be aware that the City of Arvada has five different wind zones of varying intensity. This could mean a difference of up to 20-25 pounds per square foot of wind pressure on the components and cladding of roofs. For a […]

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Windows Close to the Floor

by Sean O'Hara October 18, 2013

There are a number of codes related to windows. As windows have been growing in size, and therefore getting closer to the floor, there is a new one that we’re starting to run into. The International Residential Code section R613.2 Window Sills states: In dwelling […]

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Slope on Stair Treads and Landings

by Sean O'Hara October 2, 2013

I received an email today from an individual who’s contractor had built an exterior concrete stair for them. Each tread sloped 3/4″ down from back to front. I quickly emailed them back to let them know that isn’t up to code and in fact is […]

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Where the Building Code Requires More Than Two Exits

by Sean O'Hara October 1, 2013

In most building types the occupant count is low enough that the building is only required to have  one or two exits. The International Building Code calls out where you must have more. In each story where you have 501-1,000 occupants you are required to […]

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The ADA, ICC/ANSI A117.1 and Kitchen Sinks in Break Rooms

by Anthony Ries September 16, 2013

Building codes and guidelines are always full of exceptions and variations on a theme and the Americans with Disabilities Act is no different. The ADA was first created in 1990. It is designed to protect against discrimination based on disability. The act has five titles […]

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How Much Does a Hydraulic 2-Stop Elevator Cost?

by Dean Dalvit August 11, 2013

A very common question we get when designing multi-level commercial projects is: Will I need an elevator and how much will that cost? It can often be a deciding factor in going with multi-story design. Elevators come in all shapes and sizes, so I’ve decided […]

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Rating of Floors and Ceilings of Exit Enclosures

by Bill Foster April 24, 2013

(Disclaimer: Code Analysis especially for egress and fire ratings is very building specific and a solution that works for one building may not work for another.) In a recent project I set about to solve a question that occurs quite frequently in multi-story buildings. Can […]

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The Escalating Cost of Escalators

by Dean Dalvit April 24, 2013

Often in larger scale commercial developments, vertical circulation is handled by escalators in addition to elevators in order to move large volumes of people from one space to another. Escalators are complex truss structures with a remarkable mechanism of chained treads that move in sync […]

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Attic Access in Houses

by Sean O'Hara April 24, 2013

We had a discussion about attic access today and I thought I’d share the basic rules. First, the International Residential Code 2006 says that you need to have attic access into any areas of your attic that are more than 30 square feet and also […]

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LEED VOC MSDS SCAQMD

by Anthony Ries February 4, 2013

Part of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is to provide better environments for building occupants. Something we do every day but don’t think about much is breathing. Our lungs are very sensitive to contaminants and dust. If you have ever walked into […]

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