Codes & Regulations During Programming

Question 1

Is the IBC prescriptive or performative? Why?

Answer 1

Mostly prescriptive. It describes specific materials and methods of design and construction for building components and systems, rather than describing how the components and systems are supposed to function.

Question 2

What is NFPA 1?

Answer 2

Fire Code

Question 3

What is NFPA 101?

Answer 3

National Life Safety Code

Question 4

What is NFPA 70?

Answer 4

National Electrical Code

Question 5

IRC

Answer 5

International Residential Code

Question 6

IFC

Answer 6

International Fire Code

Question 7

IMC

Answer 7

International Mechanical Code

Question 8

IPC

Answer 8

International Plumbing Code

Question 9

IZC

Answer 9

International Zoning Code

Question 10

NEC

Who is it published by?

Answer 10

National Electrical Code, published by NFPA

Question 11

ASHRAE

Answer 11

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

Question 12

What is one of the best known NRTLs?

Answer 12

NRTL = Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory

UL (Underwriters Laboratories)

Question 13

What does UL do?

Answer 13

Develops standards and tests products for safety, primarily doors and opening protections.

Question 14

What does a UL label signify? What are the two types of UL labels?

Answer 14

That it passed the UL test.

1. a listed label signifies the product has passed the safety test and is manufactured under the UL follow-up services program.
2. a classified label means samples of the product were tested for certain types of uses only.

Question 15

What are the 3 classes of finish material flammability tests?

Answer 15

Class A (I) 	FSI 0-25 (most fire resistant)
Class B (II)	FSI 26-75
Class C (III)	FSI 76-100 (least fire resistant)

Question 16

What is FSI (flame spread index)? SDI (smoke-developed index)?

Answer 16

FSI (flame spread index) = rates the surface burning characteristics of interior finishes and other building materials

SDI (smoke-developed index) = how much smoke is emitted by a material as it burns

Question 17

For which 2 broad classifications of fire-resistance does the code specify requirements?

Answer 17

1. Resistance of construction materials and assemblies

2. Surface burning characteristics of finish materials

Question 18

What is the “fire-resistance rating” of a construction material or assembly?

Answer 18

The length of time the item can withstand a standardized fire test.

Question 19

What are 6 types of easements?

Answer 19

1. utility easement
2. access easement
3. support easement
4. joint use easement
5. scenic easement
6. conservation easement

Question 20

What is a utility easement?

Answer 20

allows a utility company to enter the property to install and maintain utility lines above or below the ground within the boundaries of the easement

Question 21

What is an access easement?

Answer 21

If a parcel of land is not served y a public road, an access easement gives the landowner and the public the right to cross to the an adjacent property (creates a private or public right-of-way

Question 22

What is a support easement?

Answer 22

An easement for the construction of common party walls between properties.

Question 23

What is a joint use easement?

Answer 23

An easement that allows two or more property owners to share common features such as a driveway.

Question 24

What is a scenic easement?

Answer 24

An easement that protects views and development in scenic areas.

Question 25

What is a conservation easement?

Answer 25

An easement that limits land use in large areas.

Question 26

Which two types of easements are used by public agencies to control land use without the need to purchase large tracts of property?

Answer 26

Scenic and conservation easements

Question 27

What are 3 types of deed restrictions? What do they do?

Answer 27

1. Restrictive Covenant = provisions in a deed to the property that restricts the use of the property by the buyer. 2. Affirmative Covenant = requires the buyer to perform a specific duty in the future (ex. Construct and maintain a fence) 3. Conditional Covenant = permits the title of the property to revert to the original owner if the restrictions prescribed in the deed are not followed

Question 28

Which deed restriction is often used in residential subdivisions to maintain a desired uniformity of appearance, site development, and quality of construction?

Answer 28

Restrictive covenant

Question 29

What do most states use for an energy code? Which code does IBC reference?

Answer 29

Commercial buildings = Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings (ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1) Residential Buildings = International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) IBC references the IECC

Question 30

When is a project subject to the federal Fair Housing Act and any state fair housing laws?

Answer 30

If a project involves a multifamily house or 4+ single-family dwelling units in a building.

Question 31

What are the 7 groups of Fair Housing Act accessibility design requirements?

Answer 31

1. Accessible building entrance on an accessible route 2. Accessible and usable public and common spaces 3. Usable doors 4. Accessible route into and through the covered dwelling unit 5. Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in accessible locations 6. Reinforced walls for grab bars 7. Usable kitchens and bathrooms

Question 32

Which standards do all state accessibility codes follow?

Answer 32

ICC/ANSI A117.1

Question 33

How do you decide if you should use the IBC or IRC?

Answer 33

IRC applies to one- and two- family dwellings and to buildings consisting of 3 or less townhouse units with separate means of egress. All buildings are limited to three stories above grade plane.

Question 34

What are the 6 primary steps during programming? What are the next 2 steps during SD?

Answer 34

Programming 1. determine the occupancy 2. determine construction type and allowable area 3. determine the allowable height of the building (both in feet and # of stories) 4. compare the area of the building and allowable height with other zoning requirements/factors to determine a final allowable building configuration 5. determine other aspects of the building that may be important to establish during programming so major design decisions can be proposed and rough budget estimates can be started 6. establish what energy code will be used in addition to IBC requirements to use IECC SD: 7. calculate the occupant load and egress of the building 8. complete the code review to determine requirements for other portions of the building as needed for the design to proceed.

Question 35

What 3 requirements does the building occupancy help to determine?

Answer 35

1. Maximum allowable area of the building 2. Maximum allowable height of the building (in feet and # of stories) 3. How the building will need to be separated from other structures

Question 36

What are the 5 major types of construction?

Answer 36

Types I & II = noncombustible materials Type III = exterior walls noncombustible, interior elements are of any materials complying with the code Type IV = heavy-timber construction Type V = exterior and interior elements are of any materials complying with the code

Question 37

What is B occupancy?

Answer 37

business

Question 38

What is E occupancy?

Answer 38

educational

Question 39

What is F occupancy?

Answer 39

factory and industrial

Question 40

What is H occupancy?

Answer 40

high hazard

Question 41

What is I occupancy?

Answer 41

institutional

Question 42

What is M occupancy?

Answer 42

mercantile

Question 43

What is R occupancy?

Answer 43

residential

Question 44

What is S occupancy?

Answer 44

storage

Question 45

What is U occupancy?

Answer 45

utility and miscellaneous

Question 46

What are 2 approaches to determine construction type?

Answer 46

Option 1: 1. Assume what an acceptable construction type may be 2. perform the calculations based on that type using the allowable area factor in order to determine the allowable floor area 3. compare this area with the programmatic needs of the building 4. If calculated allowable area is must greater than the programm calls for, a less fire-resistant construction type can be selected and calculations reworked Option 2: 1. Use the known occupancy classification and the allowable area factors (see table 16.10) and apply the area increases the IBC allows. 2. Find the column with the needed area and read up to find construction type). 3. Use the calculations and formulas to verify the allowable area.

Question 47

What are 2 approaches to determine construction type?

Answer 47

Option 1: 1. Assume what an acceptable construction type may be 2. Perform the calculations based on that type using the allowable area factor in order to determine the allowable floor area 3. compare this area with the programmatic needs of the building 4. If calculated allowable area is must greater than the programm calls for, a less fire-resistant construction type can be selected and calculations reworked Option 2: 1. Use the known occupancy classification and the allowable area factors (see table 16.10) and apply the area increases the IBC allows. 2. Find the column with the needed area and read up to find construction type). 3. Use the calculations and formulas to verify the allowable area.