BUILDING CODE REDUX
A journey through your favorite book
WHAT IS THE MAIN OCCUPANCY OF YOUR BUILDING?
• THE OCCUPANCY OF THE BUILDING IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECES
OF INFORMATION THAT DICTATES CODE
• BUILDINGS CAN CONTAIN MULTIPLE USES
• ACCESSORY USES VS NON-ACCESSORY USES –
CHAPTER 5, SECTION 508
• ASSEMBLY (A)
• BUSINESS (B)
• EDUCATIONAL (E)
• FACTORY AND INDUSTRIAL (F)
USE AND • HIGH HAZARD (H)
OCCUPANCY •
•
INSTITUTIONAL (I)
MERCANTILE (M) WELL GOLLY
• RESIDENTIAL (R) THAT’S A LOT
• STORAGE (S) OF USES
• UTILITY AND MISCELLANEOUS (U)
CHAPTER 3 • EACH OF THESE USES CAN HAVE SUB SECTIONS
• WHY DO YOU THINK WE CLASSIFY BUILDINGS
WITH THESE DESIGNATIONS?
NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT OUR OCCUPANCY IS WE NEED
TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT THE SIZE OF OUR
BUILDING
• WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF
SIZE ACCORDING TO THE CODE?
• HEIGHT
• STORIES ABOVE GRADE PLANE
• AREA
BUILDING • WHY DO WE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THESE?
HEIGHT AND • HEIGHT
AREA • EXTINGUISHING FIRES
• STORIES
• THIS IS BOTH RELATED TO HOW FAR PEOPLE ARE
FROM GETTING OUT OF THE BUILDING AND
CHAPTER 5 OCCUPANY LOAD
• AREA
• SIMILAR TO STORIES RELATED TO OCCUPANT
LOAD AND HOW FAR PEOPLE MIGHT BE FROM
GETTING OUT OF THE BUILDING
TO THE CODE
BATMAN!
NOW THAT WE KNOW THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, WE CAN
FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUILD THE BUILDING
• WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
WHEN THINKING OF HOW THE BUILDING WILL BE
STRUCTURED AND BUILT
• PROGRAM
• COST
• SKILLSET OF LOCAL CONTRACTORS
BUILDING
HEIGHT AND
AREA
CHAPTER 5
WHAT ARE THE TWO MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF TYPES OF
CONSTRUCTION?
COMBUSTIBLE
TYPES OF
CONSTRUCTIO
N
NON-COMBUSTIBLE
CHAPTER 6
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
MOST PROTECTED LEAST PROTECTED
TYPES OF I II III IV V
CONSTRUCTIO
N HEAVY TIMBER
MOST MATERIALS EXTERIOR WALLS
WILD
USED IN THE NON-COMBUSTIBLE
WEST
BUILDING ARE NON- INTERIOR
CHAPTER 6
COMBUSTIBLE COMBUSTIBLE
TO THE CODE
BATMAN!
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
• RESTRICT SPREAD OF FIRE
FIRE WALLS • SEPARATES BUILDINGS
• WITHSTANDS COLLAPSE
FIRE-RESISTIVE
CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 7
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
FIRE WALLS
• SEPARATE STAIRS FROM
FIRE BARRIERS BUILDING
• SEPARATE DIFFERENT
OCCUPANCIES
FIRE-RESISTIVE
CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 7
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
FIRE WALLS
FIRE BARRIERS
FIRE-RESISTIVE • TYPICALLY, 1- HOUR
FIRE PARTITIONS • SEPARATE LISTED BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS
CHAPTER 7
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
FIRE WALLS
FIRE BARRIERS
FIRE-RESISTIVE
FIRE PARTITIONS
CONSTRUCTION
• REQUIRED TO BE 1- HOUR
SMOKE BARRIERS • RESTRICT SMOKE MOVEMENT
CHAPTER 7 • MIGHT BE USED TO RESTRICT
SMOKE AN AREA OF REFUGE
OR ELEVATOR LOBBY WHEN
REQUIRED
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
FIRE WALLS
FIRE BARRIERS
FIRE-RESISTIVE
FIRE PARTITIONS
CONSTRUCTION
SMOKE BARRIERS
CHAPTER 7
UNPROTECTED
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
FIRE WALLS
FIRE BARRIERS
FIRE-RESISTIVE
FIRE PARTITIONS
CONSTRUCTION
SMOKE BARRIERS
CHAPTER 7
UNPROTECTED
NOT ALL FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION WAS CREATED
EQUALLY
MORE
PROTECTED
FIRE WALLS
FIRE BARRIERS
FIRE-RESISTIVE
FIRE PARTITIONS
CONSTRUCTION
SMOKE BARRIERS
CHAPTER 7
UNPROTECTED
LESS
PROTECTED
I GET IT ROBIN WE’RE
GOING TO THE CODE!
HOW DO WE DESIGN FIRE RATED ASSEMBLIES? HOW DO WE
KNOW THEY WILL WORK?
CHAPTER 7
SECTION 721 AND 722
DESIGNING
FIRE RATED
ASSEMBLIES
TESTING AGENCIES
CONFUSED YET?
