Codes and Regulations Flashcards
Spray-on fireproofing containing asbestos was banned from use in building construction in
A. 1968
B. 1973
C. 1980
D. 1989
The answer is B.
Solution
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the spray application of asbestos-containing fireproofing mate rials in 1973.
In the renovation of a historic structure, the treatment approach that attempts to retain the most historic materials and spaces while allowing replacement of damaged exterior materials is
A. preservation
B. rehabilitation
c. restoration
D. reconstruction
The answer is B.
Solution
Rehabilitation emphasizes the retention and repair of his toric materials but gives some latitude for replacement of damaged materials. This is one of the four basic types of treatments that can be applied to historic structures.
Study Nate: Know the differences among the terms preservation (the most historically accurate), rehabilita tion, restoration, and reconstruction (the least historically accurate).
A client wants to obtain federal tax credits for rehabili tation of an old building that has been designated as a state historic landmark. The architect should inform the client that
A. new additions or exterior alterations cannot vary from the historic character
B. a thorough historic survey is required to verify conformity to federal standards
C. the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation must be met
D. the cost might exceed the client’s budget because state standards must be used
The answer is C.
Solution
The Standards for Rehabilitation (often called the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation) developed by the Heritage Preservation Services branch of the National Park Service must be met if federal investment tax credits are to be used. These standards take precedence over any state or local requirements.
Option A is incorrect because the standards do allow for new additions and alterations to be differentiated from the old while still being compatible in massing, size, scale, and architectural features. Option B is incorrect because a sur vey and study of the subject property in itself does not guar antee conformance with the federal standards. Option D is incorrect because a cost higher than the budget is not related to the ability to receive a federal tax credit.
According to the United States Survey system, a sec tion of land is a square shape. The dimension along the sides of the square is most nearly
A. 0.5 mi
B. 1 mi
C. 6mi
D. 24mi
The answer is B.
Solution
A section is a 1 mi square parcel of land containing 640 ac. A check is an area 24 mi on a side bounded by parallels and meridians. A township is 6 mi on a side. A quarter section is 0.5 mi on a side.
Study Note: The United States Survey system, begun in 1784, divided U.S. land that was not already surveyed into a square grid system of meridians 24 mi apart. These squares are called checks. Each check is divided into 16 townships, each 6 mi on a side. Each township is further divided into 36 1 mi wide sections of land. The sections are further divided into quarter sections, and each quarter section is then quartered.
Be aware that an acre ofland is equal to 43,560 ft2. (One hectare of land is equal to 10000 m2 .)
Terms to Know
baseline: a parallel used as a primary starting point for the east-west layout of the U.S. survey system guide meridian: a meridian between the principal meridians meridian: north-south lines that follow the longitudes of the earth and that are used as the basis for the U.S. sur vey system metes-and-bounds property description: a verbal descrip tion of land that begins at a known point and describes the bearing and length of each side of the property, in tum, until the point of beginning is reached parallels: east-west lines that follow the latitudes of the earth principal meridian: a meridian that serves as the basis for the north-south grid layout of the U.S. survey system range: the row of townships running north and south from a principal meridian, given a number to describe where it is located north and south of a baseline standard parallels: parallels between the baselines in the U.S. survey system township: the row of townships running east and west from a baseline, given a number to describe where it is located east or west of a principal meridian
An architect is asked to calculate the rentable area of the following office space according to the BOMA Office Stan dard (ANSIIBOMA Z65.1). The columns are 1ft by 1ft (305 by 305). The exterior walls are 1 ft (305) thick and the inside face of the glass is 6 in (152) from the inside face of the inte rior wall. The corridor walls and demising walls are 4 in (102) thick. Which of the following statements is NOT correct?
The answer is B.
Solution
Calculations of the rentable area of an office follow different rules from calculations of the architectural area of a space. To calculate the rentable area of a space, use the following guidelines.
- When measuring from an exterior wall in which more than 50% of the wall is glass, measure from the inside face of the glass.
- Measure to the inside face of walls between the office and the corridor.
- Measure to the centerline of demising walls, or walls between tenants.
- The rentable area would also include a share of common restrooms and corridors
The distance from the most remote point in a building to the nearest exit is called the
A. common path of egress travel
B. length of exit discharge travel
C. exit separation distance
D. exit access travel distance
The answer is D.
Solution
The exit access travel distance is the distance a building occupied portion of the exit access to the entrance of the nearest exit access that the occupants are required to traverse before two separate and distinct paths of egress travel to two exits are available. Option B is incorrect because there is no such thing as length of exit discharge travel. Option C is incor rect because exit separation distance refers to the minimum distance by which two exits must be separated when two exits are required.
Study Note: Review the International Building Code for exiting nomenclature and definitions related to egress.
The owner of the lot shown wants to develop a building with a maximum allowable gross swuare footage. If the floor area ratio (FAR) is 2.0 and the owner builds only full stories to the setback lines, how high will the building be?
A. two stories
B. three stories
C. four stories
D. five stories
The answer is B.
Solution
The area of the lot is 60,000 ft2 (60,000 m2). Ifthe floor area ratio is 2, the maximum amount of floor area that can be built is 120,000 ft2 (120,000 m2). The available ground area that can be covered within the setbacks is 270 ft times 130 ft, or 35,100 ft2 (270m times 130m, or 35,100 m2). Dividing this figure into 120,000 gives 3.42 stories, which indicates that three full stories can be built.
In planning a new building, an architect would have to look at regulations other than the zoning ordinance to find a requirement for which of the following? (Choose the four that apply.)
A. the width of loading berths
B. the required size of utility easements
C. minimum lot size
D. parking area size
E. permissible roof coverings
F. allowable color schemes
The answer is B, C, E, and F
Solution
The required size of utility easements would be found on the site survey. If a site survey had not been performed, the information would come from the utility company. Mini mum lot size is usually a part of a subdivision regulation. Roof coverings would be prescribed either in restrictive covenants for the property or as part of a building code. Covenants would dictate the type and appearance of the material for aesthetic reasons, such as prescribing allowable color schemes, whereas the building code would specify types of roofing based primarily on fire-resistance needs.
Which of these can zoning ordinances do? (Choose the four that apply.)
A. influence building form
B. determine the allowable flooring loading based on occupancy
C. stabilize property values
D. determine required amounts of parking
E. allow city governments to predict infrastructure needs
F. establish the required number of toilet facilities at a municipal stadium
The answer is A, C, D, and E.
Solution
Zoning ordinances are enacted in municipalities to control what types of structures are built in certain locations. Zon ing requirements such as setbacks, floor area ratios, and height limitations influence the form of the building that can be constructed on a site and consequently influence the appearance of a neighborhood. Zoning regulations prohibit construction of incongruent building types within a specific area; for example, zoning ordinances would likely separate residential neighborhoods from heavy industrial uses, help ing to stabilize property values. Zoning also helps govern ments plan for the future by restricting the capacity
of the land and helping predict the types and capacities of utility systems necessary in a specific area.
Which of the following are required components of an incentive zoning plan?
I. base floor area ratio
II. floor area ratio cap
Ill. bonus ratio
IV bonus cap
A. I and II
B. I and Ill
c. II and Ill
D. I, II, Ill, and IV
The answer is B.
Solution
Incentive zoning is a way to encourage private developers to provide amenities for public use in exchange for the oppor tunity to build a larger or taller structure on a site. An exam ple of incentive zoning is the bonus floor area given to developers of New York City skyscrapers who include a public plaza on the ground floor level.
Incentive zoning plans must include a base floor area ratio (the standard against which to compare) and a bonus ratio the floor area ratio (FAR) that is provided if the public space is a part of the design. The plans may include caps on the FAR and the bonus FAR-for example, a bonus may be given for providing public parking in an underground
garage to increase from the base FAR of 1.5, but the bonus FAR may not exceed 2. For incentive zoning to truly be an incentive, the value of the additional (leasable) floor area must exceed the cost of providing the public amenity.
According to ADAAG, what is the minimum width of an accessible parking space?
A. 96 in (2440)
B. 102 in (2590)
C. 108 in (2745)
D. 120 in (3050)
The answer is A.
Solution
Accessible parking spaces must be a minimum of 96 in, or 8ft (2440), wide. An access alley at least 60 in (1525) wide for cars and at least 96 in (2440) wide for vans must be pro vided adjacent to the space.
A three-story speculative office building has a foot print of 6724 ft2 (625m2). The floors are equal in size. The building is sited on a 1.5 ac (0.61 ha) parcel. The floor area ratio is approximately
A. 0.1:1
B. 0.3:1
c. 0.6:1
D. 1:1
The answer is B.
Solution
The floor area ratio expresses the relationship between the square footage of the building and the area of the site on which it is constructed. Zoning ordinances often set limits on the maximum floor area ratio allowed within a region as a means of controlling development density.
Which of the following would NOT be included in a zoning ordinance?
A. maximum building heights
B. minimum parking requirements
C. maximum numbers of occupants
D. minimum setbacks from property lines
The answer is C.
Solution
A zoning ordinance is a set of rules enacted by a local gov erning body or by a board that the governing body has des ignated, such as a zoning or planning commission. This set of rules regulates the types of building and development that are permitted in certain areas of a jurisdiction.
Zoning ordinances specify what uses are permitted in cer tain areas and may separate the land within the jurisdiction into commercial, industrial, and residential zones. In addi tion, zoning ordinances typically dictate how a site may be developed, by establishing floor area ratios, minimum lot sizes and dimensions, maximum lot coverage requirements, maximum building heights, minimum setbacks from prop erty lines, and parking requirements.
Sometimes a zoning ordinance gives different requirements from the building code in effect in the same region. This often happens, for example, with requirements for maxi mum height and area. Building codes determine these max imums on the basis of occupancy groups and types of construction, modified by factors such as whether the building will be sprinklered and whether access for fire fighting equipment will be provided. If the local zoning ordinance and the building code give different maximum heights or areas, the lower of the two takes precedence.
A zoning ordinance would not set a maximum number of occupants permitted in a structure. This requirement is established by the building code in the jurisdiction, in accordance with the occupancy group and type of con struction of the building.
Each area listed below is included in the plans for the construction of a new high school. Which areas do NOT have to comply with ADA Accessibility Guidelines? (Choose the four that apply.)
A. copy room designated “faculty only”
B. lifeguard tower within the indoor pool area
C. catwalks for auditorium lighting
D. contractor’s on-site construction trailer
E. temporary passageway during construction for pedestrian access to the football field
F. referee stand at a volleyball game
The answer is B, C, D, and F
Solution
The ADA Accessibility Guidelines state that all newly designed or newly constructed areas must meet accessibil ity requirements. This includes all employee work areas and all temporary construction that is open to the public (such as a protected walkway, temporary seating for a special event, and so forth).
The following areas are not required to be accessible.
- temporary facilities associated with the process of construction Qob site trailer, scaffolding)
- raised areas used primarily for security or life safety (lifeguard tower, security guard tower)
- non-occupiable service areas accessed infrequently for maintenance or monitoring (catwalks, pent houses, pump rooms)
- single occupant structures accessed from above or below grade (such as a tollbooth accessed through an underground tunnel)
- raised structures for officiating sporting events
- water slides
- nonpublic animal containment areas
- raised boxing and wrestling rings
Which of the following areas may exits pass through? (Choose the three that apply.)
A. office reception areas
B. building lobbies
c. unoccupied storage areas
D. apartment entries
E. kitchens
F. stairwells
The answer is A, B, D, and F
Solution
The International Building Code specifically states that exits cannot pass through kitchens; through storerooms, closets, or other spaces used for similar purposes; or through rooms that can be locked to prevent egress. Lobbies, reception areas, entries, and stairwells may all be parts of the path of egress. However, to be part of an exit, a space is not per mitted to be locked from the inside under any circum stances.
An architect is planning a 30 ft by 35 ft addition to a community library. The entire addition will be a single large meeting room. This room will be used for “story hour” and other library programs, and will also be made available to community organizations for meetings and presentations. The space will be open with no fixed seating. Using the information in the table shown, what is the maximum occu pancy of this space?
The answer is D.
Solution
A library or community hall is classified as an A-3 (Assem bly) occupancy according to the International Building Code. If fixed seating is provided, the number of occupants equals the number of seats. Where no fixed seating is pro vided, the designer must refer to IBC Table I004.l.I to cal culate the occupancy of a space.
The maximum occupancy of the space is the greatest possi ble number of occupants as calculated using the IBC table. If tables and chairs are provided, each occupant is allocated IS ft2 . If the room will be arranged with rows of seating each person occupies 7 ft2 . If occupants are standing, each is allocated 5 ft2 of standing space.
The usage that allocates the least space per occupant will give the greatest occupancy, so dividing the area of the room by 5 ft2 gives in the maximum occupancy of this space.
The abbreviated table shown includes requirements for occupancy loads. A restaurant on the ground floor contains 3500sqft of dining area, a 1000sqft kitchen and a 1200sqft bar area. What is the total occupant load?
The answer is B
Solution
From the table, assembly areas, including restaurants and bars, have an occupant load of IS. Commercial kitchens have an occupant load of 200. Therefore,
