Amber Book - Codes

Question 1

What is the maximum CROSS SLOPE for an ADA ramp?

Answer 1

1:48 or 2%

Question 2

What is the maximum SLOPE of an ADA ramp?

Answer 2

1:12 or 8.3%

Question 3

What is the maximum RUN of a 1:12 ADA ramp before a landing is required?

Answer 3

30’ (5’ landing required)

Question 4

What is the maximum slope for an incline before it is considered a ramp?

Answer 4

1:20

These and anything less steep don’t need railings as they are not considered a ramp.

Question 5

What is the minimum width of a cub cut?

Answer 5

4’

Question 6

What are the maximum slopes relating to curb cuts?

Answer 6

1:12 for the ramp, 10% for the flares

Question 7

How long is the designed reach of a firetruck’s hoses

Answer 7

150’

Question 8

What are the critical dimensions of a firelane?

Answer 8

20’ Width
10’ Away from outermost building overhang
54’ outside turning radius
30’ inside turning radius

Question 9

How much weight must a firelane support?

Answer 9

35 tons

Question 10

What is the maximum dead-end corridor width?

Answer 10

20’ (unless really wide, then <2.5W)

Question 11

What is the maximum occupancy for a room with a single exit?

Answer 11

49 people

Once you hit 50 people, you will need another exit.

Question 12

How separated to the two exits of a room need to be?

Answer 12

1/2 of the longest diagonal dimension of the room

Question 13

In what conditions do exits need to be pressurized to keep smoke out?

Answer 13

If they are taller than 75’

Question 14

What is the minimum corridor width?

Answer 14

44”

*36 if fewer than 49 people

Question 15

What is the minimum corridor height?

Answer 15

7’

*less than 50% of an area can be 6’8”

Question 16

How far can a door project into a corridor?

Answer 16

Outward swinging door = less than half of the corridor width

Projection from inlet can’t be more than 7”

Question 17

What are the minimum dimensions for egress stairs?

Answer 17

44” Minimum

Occupants x .3” for an UNSPRINKLERED
Occupants x .2” for SPRINKLERED

Question 18

What are the critical guard rail dimensions?

Answer 18

42” high typical measured from tread

0-34” zone that can’t be penetrated by 4” sphere

Question 19

What are the critical handrail dimensions?

Answer 19

Must be between 34”-38”

Top must extend 12”

Bottom must extend one extra run

Question 20

What are the sizing dimensions of a handrail?

Answer 20

4. 5” max protrusion
5. 5” minimum between wall and rail
6. 25” to 2” railing diameter

Question 21

What are the basic steps when researching how codes will affect a project?

Answer 21

1. Figure out the occupancy classification
2. Figure out the construction type
3. Calculate the height & area limitations

Question 22

What are the different A-Type Occupancies?

Answer 22

A-1 - Assembly with a lot of crowded people and hazardous (theater, could be dark with pyro)

A-2 - Less assembly, but still somewhat hazardous (restaurant where cooking will be happening)

A-3 - Less assembly still, and less hazardous (library)

A-4 - Arenas, tennis courts, swimming pools

A-5 - Lots of people, but outside (football stadium)

Question 23

What are the characteristics of a B-Business type occupancy?

Answer 23

They are not shops or places people go infrequently

Not a lot of hazardous materials or equipment.

Think office buildings, banks, car washes, post office, TV stations, etc.

Question 24

What are the different hazardous occupancy types?

Answer 24

F1 - Moderate hazards (Bakeries, boat building, car factories)
F2 - Non-combustible (Beverage bottling, brick factories)
H - High Hazard (physical or health hazard)
H1 is detonation
H2 accelerated burning
H3 combustion or physical hazard
H4 health hazards
H5 hazardous production materials used

Question 25

What are the characteristics of type I-Institutional occupancy?

Answer 25

- A place where people are not able to evacuate themselves. I-1 - more than 16 people, supervised (rehab, assisted living, etc) I-2 - Hospitals, nursing homes I-3 - Jails, prisons I-4 - Daycare

Question 26

Give some examples of group M Occupancy

Answer 26

``` Department Stores Drug Stores Markets Retail Sales Rooms ``` Mercantile - for the display and sale of merchandise

Question 27

What are the different subsections of Type-R Residential Occupancy?

Answer 27

R1 - Temporary (hotels) R2 - Multiple Permanent (Apartments, dorms, frats) R3 - Permanent, don't hit the numbers for R1, R2, R4, or I (single-family homes too) R4 - Similar to I-1, but with 5-16 people (rehab, assisted living, etc.)

Question 28

What is the difference between S1 and S2 Occupancy?

Answer 28

S1 is Moderate hazard, whereas S2 is Low Hazard *Less than 100sf storage is included with whatever occupancy it is located in

Question 29

What is a group U Occupancy?

Answer 29

Utility/Misc - used as a misc use that doesn't fit any other occupancy Agriculture, barns, carports, greenhouses, retaining walls, private garages, sheds, tanks, towers.

Question 30

How hot does it typically have to be for a sprinkler head to go off?

Answer 30

160F

Question 31

What strategy can be used to prevent fire sprinkler systems from freezing?

Answer 31

Dry-piping! Fill the outdoor or colder area pipes with air so that they don't freeze, the water will rush through after the air escapes.

Question 32

What type of gyp board is used for fire rating?

Answer 32

Type X - 5/8" thick - Denser core with carbon fibers

Question 33

How many occupants does it take for a building to need a central fire alarm system, safe areas, a backup generator?

Answer 33

300

Question 34

When do you need a second stair and an elevator?

Answer 34

If there are two or more floors!

Question 35

What building types are major triggers?

Answer 35

Restaurant, gymnasiums, assembly, temporary residential.

Question 36

What code-related elements should cause you to think twice?

Answer 36

- Standpipes (these are complicated) - 16 or more units in a residential building - Change of use in an existing building (requires change in occupancy) These will require lots of reviews, even if the change is small.

Question 37

What are the different types of alterations?

Answer 37

Repairs - patching, replacing little damaged elements Level 1 Alt. - Removing or replacing something with a new material, equipment, or fixture Level 2 Alt. - Reconfiguring the space (any new windows/doors, new HVAC, installing new equipment) Level 3 Alt. - Work exceeds more than 50% of the building area (all of the seats in a theater)