fire code

Fire Penetration Rating Terms

by Bill Foster August 25, 2017

F Rating, T Rating? What? Fire rated assemblies are complicated enough but it is equally important to make sure that any penetrations of those assemblies are also put together well. First some definitions: F RATING. The time period that the through-penetration firestop system limits the spread of […]

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The Easiest Place to Find Fire Rated Assemblies is the Gypsum Association Manual

by Sean O'Hara June 10, 2016

After several projects of fighting with the UL Manual (Underwriters Laboratories) and the International Building Code I discovered that there is a much easier visual way to find fire rated assemblies. I use the Gypsum Association Fire Resistance Design Manual. Everything is visual and it […]

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Restrained versus Unrestrained Members

by Calvin Curtis January 22, 2016
Thumbnail image for Restrained versus Unrestrained Members

In the last several months, I’ve had many questions about what constitutes a “restrained” concrete member, and what constitutes an “unrestrained” concrete member.  The volume has been such that I’ve decided to take a break from my usual post-tensioned discussions and lay this out. This […]

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Latch Required in Fire Doors – Opening Protectives

by Sean O'Hara September 8, 2015

Under the International Building Code, fire doors and swinging pairs of fire doors must be provided with an active bolt that can secure the door when locked. One spot where this could be easily overlooked is restrooms shared between spaces where the restrooms do not […]

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2009 International Residential Code Fire Sprinkler Requirements

by Sean O'Hara July 26, 2009

The 2009 International Residential Fire Code requires fire sprinklers for all townhouses built in the 2009 code. What is going to be more interesting is that it will require fire sprinklers in all single family homes and duplexes effective January 1, 2011. Yes, you read […]

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Construction Types V-A and V-B in the International Building Code

by Sean O'Hara July 20, 2009

Section 6 of the International Building Code defines types of construction for buildings. The type of construction that you select is important because it tells you how big and how tall a building you can construct for your occupancy. For small commercial projects, the most […]

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