Common Building Code Misinterpretations

Transcription

1 Common Building Code Misinterpretations Presented by: Ron Melucci, P.E. Technical Manager, FP Division Engineering Planning and Management, Inc. inc.com inc.com

2 Engineering Planning and Management, Inc. is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-aia members available on request. This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation. 2

3 Copyright Materials This presentation is protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written permission of the speaker is prohibited. Engineering Planning and Management (EPM)

4 Who is EPM? Engineering consulting and strategic technology firm specializing in fire protection Incorporated 1980 HQ Framingham MA 24 FP engineering staff

5 Presentation Content Primarily 8 th MSBC (based on IBC 2009) Code Sections that are: Misinterpreted Confusing Overlooked 5

6 Fire service access Two (2) fire service access elevators are now required in high rise buildings greater than 120 ft. in height ( ) elevators Intended for rescue, staging, etc. 6

7 Fire Service Access Elevator MSBC requirements in compliance with IBC 3007 Direct access from stair Elevator lobby minimum 150 s.f. s/e power and 1 hour FRR for all el. & lobby circuits 7

8 Mixed Occupancy Buildings Code compliance approaches: Accessory Occupancy Incidental Accessory Occupancy (next slide) Non Separated Mixed Occupancy Separated Mixed Occupancy Special Provisions (MSBC 509) Separate Buildings Upgrade Construction Type 8

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10 Incidental Accessory Example Multifamily building (R 2), 4 stories, Type (2B) construction with laundry room (F 1) in Basement Allowable height for R 2 is 5 stories, F 1 is only 3 stories Options to comply with building height requirements: Call accessory area if < 10%, still need smoke partitions and sprinklers per Table (2012 edition clarifies this) If > 10%, also need rated slab separation (separated mixed occupancy) to address height limitation R 2 R 2 R 2 R 2 F 1

11 Exterior wall opening protection Section states that openings can be unprotected in the wall above the roof of a lower adjacent building if the lower roof is rated 1 hr. What is misleading about this? 11

12 Exterior wall opening protection Only considers fire spread from lower roof, not from exterior wall. Table requirements still apply. 12

13 Fire Wall Penetrations IBC Interpretation No Edition Structural stability Penetrations are required to be designed for compliance with the provisions of Section for structural stability. I.e. must be designed and installed so as to not damage wall if either side collapses. Some NFPA Standards (NFPA 91) prohibit through penetrations of fire walls 13

14 Supporting Construction Fire barriers must be supported by construction with equivalent FRR. Caution fire barriers on upper floors in non rated buildings: Shafts Atrium or sprinkler zone separation Incidental accessory rooms Other rooms requiring FRR 14

15 Supporting Construction IBC Interpretation No Edition Issued: Only the building elements within the load path of that portion of the building construction where the shaft enclosure is located are subject to the provisions of Section with regard to supporting construction. 15

16 Sprinkler Systems Pop quiz, hot shot: If you are creating a 400 sf addition to your 7,200 sf building, are you required to retrofit sprinklers? 16

17 Sprinkler Systems MGL 26G required in all new buildings > 7,500 sq. ft. with sufficient water flow and pressure. [903.2 Note] also see building code Addition greater than 7,500 sq.ft. MGL 26G same requirement regardless of fire walls Retrofit triggered by major alterations (nature, extent, cost) more guidelines on 10/04/09 memorandum by MA ASAB 17

18 NFPA 13 vs 13R systems In adddition to height restriction, NFPA 13R systems limited to < 12,000 ft 2 in MA Many tradeoffs for fully sprinklered buildings apply to NFPA 13 systems but not NFPA 13R systems. Key code verbage in accordance with (or ). 18

19 Sprinkler trade offs ( ) Atrium use Underground Buildings Control area FRR Building area increase Protected Openings Table Elevator lobbies Shaft enclosure exceptions FRR of dwelling/sleeping unit sep Draftstopping 717.3, Delayed Egress Common POT Dead ends

20 Smoke Control Systems Third Party Review is required for all smoke control system designs. Smoke Control Special Inspections are required to be performed by a registered FPE 20

21 Smoke Control Systems MSBC The following boundaries must coincide: Atrium separation/ smoke zone Fire alarm zones Sprinkler system zones 21

22 Fire Pump Room Fire pump rooms require 2 hour fire resistant separation [913] Need FD direct access to exterior or through a fire rated passageway. 22

23 Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Emergency responder radio coverage now required in all buildings [915.1] unless otherwise approved by FD. Issue: difficult to predict radio performance before building construction is complete. 23

24 Egress Dimensions 8 th MSBC: egress width factors for new sprinklered buildings: emergency voice/alarm system provided 0.2 / occupant for stairs 0.15 / occupant for doors emergency voice/alarm system not provided 0.3 / occupant for stairs 0.2 / occupant for doors 24

25 Occupant Load Factors Pop quiz, hot shot True or False: The occupant load factor of a university classroom OL<49 (Group B) is 100 sf/occ The occupant load factor of an office tenant meeting room OL<49 (Group B) is 100 sf/occ The occupant load factor of a usable office building roof terrace is 15 sf/occ 25

26 Occupant Load Factor Table Based on Floor Area and Function of the Space Not based on Occupancy Classification How is the owner or tenant truly intending to use the space? 26

27 Group B Occupant Load Factors 27

28 Outdoor Areas MSBC OL is assigned by the building official in accordance with the anticipated use. What is the occupant load? What is the intended use? Outdoor area for service of building 1 means of egress (roof). 28

29 Number of Means of Egress Doors Based on occupancy, occupant load and common path of travel Two doors required where one of 3 conditions exist 29

30 Number of Means of Egress Is single egress from office tenant C acceptable? If OL < 49? If red line distance is less than 100 ft? 30

31 Exit discharge capacity Pop quiz, hot shot True or false: The exit discharge should always be sized to accommodate largest occupant load of any single floor served by the stair. 31

32 Exit discharge capacity False: largest occupant load of any single floor OR from converging floors above and below, whichever is greater. 32

33 Travel distance Minimum distance to reach any ONE exit Therefore must find the most remote point of occupiable floor space between the exits 33

34 Horizontal Exits Not the same as exit passageways! Horizontal exit subdivides a space into two(2) areas of refuge. Often used to solve compliance challenges related to exit and exit. An exit passageway is a horizontal extension of the stair shaft enclosure. Often used to solve compliance challenges related to exit and exit. 34

35 Use Group R # exits Two exits for R 2 unit OL of 21 in fully sprinklered buildings. Multifamily units 200 s.f/occ < 4,000 sf. one exit. Caution: Dormitory OLF still 50 s.f/occ therefore need 2 nd exit above 1,000 s.f. 35

36 Delayed Egress MSBC Requires many control functions for unlocking May only be used for one door in means of egress May not be used in Use Groups A, E or H 36

37 Delayed Egress 37

38 Access Controlled Egress Doors MSBC Also requires many control functions for unlocking Intended only for building or tenant entrance doors in means of egress. Auto unlocking features always required from tenant (building) side. 38

39 Stair enclosures IBC Pop quiz, hot shot What kind of door openings are allowed in a stair shaft or exit passageway enclosure? Offices Storage rooms Bathrooms Mechanical interstitial space Elevators Elevator lobbies 39

40 Stair opening exceptions in NFPA

41 Stair penetrations Pop quiz, hot shot Are the following penetrations acceptable in a stair shaft or exit passageway enclosure? Sprinkler piping Fire alarm conduit Electric heater Structural steel Ductwork 41

42 Stair enclosures IBC Penetrations. Penetrations into and openings through an exit enclosure are prohibited except for required exit doors equipment and ductwork necessary for independent ventilation or pressurization sprinkler piping standpipes electrical raceway for fire department communication systems electrical raceway serving the exit enclosure and terminating at a steel box not exceeding 16 square inches (0.010 m2) 42

43 Stair Penetrations NFPA

44 Laboratory Requirements Hazardous exhaust systems, IMC vs. NFPA 45 no fire dampers Exhaust ducts may be manifolded in common shaft if hoods are in same fire area and not considered IMC hazardous exhaust system

45 IMC Hazardous Exhaust IMC SECTION Edition IMC Interpretation Issued There is no justification to permit manifolding from separate fire areas even when within a rated shaft. Ducts form different fire areas could act as a direct link between such areas allowing contaminants and/or fire to spread, especially considering that such ducts cannot have fire or smoke dampers.

46 Laboratories Fire Dampers NFPA 45 fire dampers not allowed in lab hood exhaust Options in lieu of fire dampers: NFPA 45 sub duct exception (shaft only) continuous exhaust NFPA 91 approach (variance) enclose duct in 2 hour construction (wrap) on either side of barrier Route differently to avoid penetrating fire barrier 46

47 Laboratories Ventilation Codes do not clearly address shutdown of laboratory make up air upon detection of smoke. Could result in negative pressures and excessive door opening forces. Evaluate caseby case. Variance makeup air is extension of exhaust system.

48 Other Laboratory requirements Lab equipment accessibility employee vs. student (public?) New MAAB requirements for employees Occupant load (egress and plumbing fixtures)

49 Questions? inc.com Ron Melucci, P.E., Technical Manager, FP Division inc.com 49