Building Code

Question 1

Code

Answer 1

An organized body of law designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Question 2

Prescriptive Code

Answer 2

a code that specifies specific techniques, materials, and methods allowed for use. Simple to administer, but the specific code allows for no innovation.

Question 3

Performance Code

Answer 3

describes functional requirements that meet a certain standard allowing the architect to find ways to meet those standards. The open nature of the codes promotes innovation. You may have to demonstrate you’re meeting the intent of the code by requiring a test paid for by owner.

Question 4

Type of construction

Answer 4

classified according to degree of Fire Resistance, determined by fire zone it is located in and intended use, influences the height , floor area and materials.

Question 5

Floor Area

Answer 5

Maximum allowable floor area based on use, type and fire zone. Area can be increased with better fire resistive design or sprinklers. Can also divide floor into fire resistive areas with fire rated separations and fire dampers.

Question 6

Height

Answer 6

maximum allowable height based on use and type. Can increase the height with better fire resistive design or sprinklers. Penthouses, fan rooms and skylights are sometimes allowed to exceed height restrictions.

Question 7

Fire partition

Answer 7

wall assembly with a one hour fire resistance rating that in most cases, provides a continuous barrier from the floor to the underside of the floor or ceiling above, or to the ceiling of a fire resistance rated floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly. Example: wall between hotel rooms ; corridor walls.

Question 8

Fire barrier

Answer 8

a wall assembly with more protection than a fire partition. It is a vertical and horizontal assembly that is fire-resistance rated and is designed to restrict the spread of fire, confine it to limited areas, and/or afford safe passage for protected egress. Ex: exit stair towers.

Question 9

Fire wall

Answer 9

a fire-resistant rated wall that is used to separate a single structure into separate construction types or to provide for allowable area increases by creating what amounts to separate buildings even though they are attached.They need to have a fire resistance of 2 to 4 hours and must extend continuously from the foundation through the roof. Ex: wall separating row house units.

Question 10

Smoke barrier

Answer 10

continuous vertical or horizontal shield with a minimum fire resistant rating of 1 hour that is designed and constructed to restrict movement of smoke. It is a passive form of smoke control.

Question 11

Steps to Comply with the BC

Answer 11

1. Occupancy Group and Load
2. Fire Areas and Separation Requirements
3. Type of Construction
4. Means of Egress
5. System Requirements

Question 12

OCCUPANCY GROUP

Answer 12

A , B , E , F , H , I , M , R , S , U
A - Assembly ( A-1: Theaters / A-2: Restaurants / A-3: Libraries / A-4: Arenas / A-5: Stadiums )
B - Business ( Office, education above 12th grade etc )
E - Educational ( High school )
F - Factory and Industrial ( F-1: factory moderate hazard / F-2: factory low hazard )
H - Hazardous
I - Institutional ( I-1: group home / I-2: hospitals / I-3: jails / I-4: daycare infants )
M - Mercantile ( mall , retail, etc )
R - Residential ( R-1: hotels / R-2: apartments / R-3: bed and breakfast / R-4: small assisted living
S- Storage
U - Utilities

Question 13

Accessory Use Areas

Answer 13

an area can’t exceed 10 percent of the total floor area allowed by the height / area table. It does NOT need to be separated from the main area by a fire separation. Ex: a small office inside a factory

Question 14

Incidental Accessory Areas

Answer 14

Can’t exceed 10 percent of the total floor area allowed by the height / area table, but it DOES need to be separated from the main area by a fire separation of one hour fire barrier that have self closing doors with no air transfer openings and/or have a fire suppression system. Ex: a linen closet on the same floor as the hotel rooms.

Question 15

Mixed occupancy

Answer 15

if occupancies are too large to be considered accessory/incidental

Question 16

Fire Zone

Answer 16

special areas within the building deemed high, moderate or low hazardous for fire. The type of zone affects the types of materials and uses permitted in the zone.

Question 17

Fire Resistance

Answer 17

the value for how long a wall separation can resist the passage of fire ( in terms of hours - R1 = one hour ) This can be increased with the use of sprinklers or fire proofing.

Question 18

Flame Spread Rating / Smoke Developed Rating

Answer 18

measures the amount of flame and smoke a material generates when burned. Certain ratings are required for certain materials and uses.

Question 19

Area of Refuge

Answer 19

a location designed to protect occupants during a fire or emergency when evacuation is not safe or possible. Typically located near the fire exits and designed to fit a wheelchair user, the area is required to have: steady supply of outside fresh air, passive fire protection, emergency lighting and a two-way communication or call box to a manned or outside phone line.

Question 20

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION

Answer 20

Type I - FIRE RESISTIVE : concrete or protected steel ( typically found in high rise building )
Type II - NON-COMBUSTIBLE : reinforced masonry with metal framing at roof ( ex. in mid-rise office bldgs )
Type III - COMBUSTIBLE : also called “ Ordinary “ using brick, block or light gauge steel framing walls with wood framing at roof ( low-rise schools, hotels, offices )
Type IV - HEAVY TIMBER : “ Mill” construction , wood must be nominally 8 inches or larger ( warehouses )
Type V - WOOD FRAME : used on apartment buildings and single family homes

A : protected by fire rated covering by at least 1 hour rating ( drywall, spray-on coating )
B or N : unprotected with no additional fire rating other than their natural fire resistance

Question 21

Exit Access

Answer 21

75 ft before a second distinct path is required. Overall distance from any space within an office to an exit is 250 ft.

Question 22

Exit

Answer 22

1 hr for up to 3 stories, 2 hrs for 4 or more stories. Half of the exits are allowed to discharge people into a ground floor lobby space if it is sprinklered. >50 occupants must have at least 2 exits.

Question 23

Public way

Answer 23

any street, alley or land that is unobstructed from the ground to the open sky that is permanently set for public use with a clear width of at least 10 ft. Exits must discharge to a public way.

Question 24

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Answer 24

• Structural
• Mechanical
• Plumbing
• Materials