OBJ 2.1

Question 1

True or false: The Federal Fair Housing Act and the AAG are building regulations that are federal law rather than codes.

Answer 1

True. Generally speaking, if a regulation is a law, it is not necessarily subject to building officials. The building owner can be sued by anyone who is inconvenienced by a lack of compliance and, in turn, the architect can be sued as well.

Question 2

Common Path of Travel

Answer 2

The distance measured from the most remote point in a room to the point where occupants have two separate and distinct accesses to exits.

Question 3

Accessory Use

Answer 3

Considered to be accessory to another occupancy, this area cannot exceed 10% of the occupancy’s total floor area or the allowed tabular values for height and area for the accessory occupancy, as determined by the height and area table.

Question 4

Exit Discharge

Answer 4

The path between the exit door and the public way.

Question 5

Exit Access

Answer 5

The path from within any occupied space in the building to an exit.

Question 6

Occupant Load

Answer 6

The number of persons for which the means of egress of a building or portion thereof is designed. Calculated based on the occupant load table in IBC, occupancy classification of building, and finished square footage of space.

Question 7

Horizontal Exit

Answer 7

An exit that allows occupants to egress from one side of a building to another side through a fire resistance-rated assembly, such as a firewall or fire barrier. The horizontal exit provides an additional level of fire-resistive protection between the fire source and the occupants to allow them to safely exit through a vertical exit enclosure or some other exit.

Question 8

Covered Mall Building

Answer 8

Defined in the IBC as a building with several tenants and occupancies under a common roof with entrances to and from a common pedestrian area.

Question 9

Model Building Code

Answer 9

A code developed by an independent organization for adoption by local and state governments. IBC, IRC, and IECC are model codes that are adopted and amended by local governments for use as their building codes.

Question 10

Essential Facility

Answer 10

Buildings that are designed to perform through disasters, including hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and 911 call centers.

Question 11

Public Works

Answer 11

The department within a municipality that oversees design and construction of public infrastructure, including streets and transportation planning.

Question 12

Infrastructure

Answer 12

Infrastructure means “between structures” and refers to all public structures, facilities, and services that serve a region. Includes roads, bridges, canals, water and sewer services, electric and other utility services, and telecommunications including broadband.

Question 13

IGCC

Answer 13

International Green Construction Code, a model code to address sustainability. Published by the International Code Council.

Question 14

Typology

Answer 14

Classification by type. For example, single-family detached is a building typology.

Question 15

Nursing Homes

Answer 15

Defined in the IBC as “facilities that provide care, including both intermediate and skilled nursing facilities, where any of the persons are incapable of self-preservation.”

Question 16

Group Home

Answer 16

Defined in the IBC as “a facility for social rehabilitation, substance abuse, or mental health problems that contains a group housing arrangement that provides custodial care but does not provide medical care.”

Question 17

Townhouse

Answer 17

Defined in the IBC as “a single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units in which each unit extends from the foundation to roof and with open space on at least two sides.”

Question 18

Storm Shelter

Answer 18

Defined in the IBC as “a building, structure, or portions thereof, constructed in accordance with ICC 500 and designated for use during a severe wind storm event, such as a hurricane or tornado.”

Question 19

Skilled Nursing Facility

Answer 19

Nursing homes are categorized by level of care. A skilled nursing facility is one where the residents require constant nursing care and are deficient in carrying out tasks of daily living such as bathing.

Question 20

Assisted Living Facility

Answer 20

Nursing homes are categorized by level of care. An assisted living facility is one where the residents are fairly independent in daily living, but can receive daily assistance.

Question 21

Independent Living Facility

Answer 21

Nursing homes are categorized by level of care. An independent living facility is one where the residents do not require constant nursing care and are independent in daily living while providing social opportunities and relinquishing daily chores.

Question 22

Long-term Care

Answer 22

Long-term care facilities, or nursing homes, are regulated by the state. Often more than one type of care is offered in the same building so that couples with different levels of care requirements can remain together. This is called continuing care.

Question 23

Memory Care Unit

Answer 23

A type of senior living community for people with Alzheimer’s disease (also called dementia).

Question 24

Dwelling Unit

Answer 24

Defined in the IBC as “a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.”

Question 25

Sleeping Unit

Answer 25

Defined in the IBC as “a room or space in which people sleep, which can also include provisions for living, eating, and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms or spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.”

Question 26

Dormitory

Answer 26

Defined in the IBC as “a space in a building where group sleeping accommodations are provided in one room, or in a series of closely associated rooms, for persons not members of the same family group under joint occupancy and single management, as in college dormitories or fraternity houses.”

Question 27

Type A Unit

Answer 27

In the Fair Housing Act, type A units are fully accessible.

Question 28

Type B Unit

Answer 28

In the Fair Housing Act, type B units are adaptaBle.

Question 29

Who enforces the Fair Housing Act?

Answer 29

HUD.

Question 30

What is the intent of the Fair Housing Act?

Answer 30

To provide useable housing for people with disabilities that is not different from other housing.

Question 31

Adaptable Unit

Answer 31

A dwelling unit that meets “certain features of accessible design,” meaning that it isn’t fully accessible but is designed in a way that allows it to be adapted to different people.

Question 32

Accessible Unit

Answer 32

A dwelling unit that is designed to meet the needs of the greatest number of users without modification.

Question 33

What units are covered by the Fair Housing Act?

Answer 33

Those that were first occupied after March 13, 1991, with four or more units. In elevator buildings, all units are covered; in non-elevator buildings, the ground floor is covered.

Question 34

Types of dwellings covered by the Fair Housing Act

Answer 34

Condominiums, apartments, senior living facilities, single-story townhomes, timeshares, dormitories, co-ops, hospice care facilities, group homes, and shelters.

Question 35

Housing types that are not covered by the Fair Housing Act

Answer 35

Detached single-family homes, except those funded by the government. Two-, three-, and four-story townhomes. Single units over garages, such as carriage houses.

Question 36

Board of Appeals

Answer 36

Appeals against the building official’s interpretation of the building or zoning code is referred to this body.

Question 37

Certificate of Occupancy

Answer 37

A document issued by a local government agency or building department certifying a building’s compliance with applicable building codes and other laws, and indicating it to be in a condition suitable for occupancy.

Question 38

64 AD Burning of Rome

Answer 38

Some historians believe it was Emperor Nero who had Rome burned. The city was then rebuilt, mainly with noncombustible materials and under stricter building regulations.

Question 39

Great Fire of London 1666

Answer 39

The British Parliament passed a law to rebuild London with several new and more stringent building regulations.

Question 40

Baltimore Fire of 1858

Answer 40

This led to the establishment of Baltimore’s first building code in 1859.

Question 41

Chicago Fire of 1871

Answer 41

This led to the establishment of Chicago’s first building code in 1875.

Question 42

First U.S. Model Building Code 1905

Answer 42

This code was published by an insurance group, the National Board of Fire Underwriters, which insured buildings against fire damage. The code was then renamed the National Building Code.

Question 43

Building Official

Answer 43

City officials charged with interpreting and administering building codes. Building officials will review construction drawings for code compliance, and have the authority to reject a permit application that does not comply.

Question 44

Building codes regulate:

Answer 44

• Life Safety - Fire Safety - Structural Safety - Health and Welfare - Property Protection

Question 45

Property Protection

Answer 45

Safeguarding a building against loss or damage is indirectly ensured through life safety and fire safety regulations.

Question 46

Enforcement of the Building Code

Answer 46

A legal document that is enforced through the police powers of the state.

Question 47

Two principle activities related to building codes:

Answer 47

1. Enforcement and interpretation of codes 2. Formulation and updating of codes

Question 48

Prescriptive Provision/Code

Answer 48

These codes give clear prescriptions for construction systems, types of materials, and devices to be used without permitting any alternatives. They are definitive in interpretation and are, therefore, easy to use and enforce.

Question 49

Performance Provision/Code

Answer 49

These codes include performance criteria for a component that is specified instead of the material or construction system. The criteria are based on the function of the component.

Question 50

Uniform Building Code

Answer 50

Commonly known as the UBC, this was published by the International Conference of Building Officials. The first edition was published in 1927 and the last in 1997. Most commonly used in the western United States, it contained up-to-date seismic design provisions.

Question 51

Standard Building Code

Answer 51

This code was published by the Southern Building Code Congress International, which was formed in 1940. The first edition was published in 1945 and the last in 1997. It contained up-to-date wind load information and was most commonly used in southern and southeastern United States.

Question 52

BOCA National Building Code

Answer 52

This code was published by the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, which was founded in 1915. The first edition was published in 1950 and the last in 1996. It was primarily used in the central and northeastern United States.

Question 53

Nine Parts of the Building Code

Answer 53

1. Code administration 2. Building planning 3. Fire protection 4. Occupant needs 5. Building envelope 6. Structural systems and materials 7. Nonstructural materials 8. Building services 9. Miscellaneous provisions

Question 54

Steps involved in the application of the building code to a proposed building

(Octopus Holding Glass, keyboard, shower head, board with text “Must be this tall/area”, Phone that asks, You sure?, computer mouse, wheelchair, wide flange)

Answer 54

1. Determine occupancy classification. 2. Determine the building’s type of construction. 3. Determine frontage and whether sprinklers are provided. 4. Determine maximum allowable area and height based on steps 1 to 3. 5. Review conformity of code with its occupancy requirements. 6. Review conformity of building with its construction type requirements. 7. Review conformity with egress and accessibility requirements. 8. Review conformity with engineering and other provisions of the code.

Question 55

Factors that determine the allowable area and height of a building

Remember that Octopus (Glass, keyboard, shower head)

Answer 55

Occupancy classification - Type of Construction - Frontage - Automatic Sprinklers

Question 56

Incidental Use Space

Answer 56

Minor occupancies that are more hazardous than the dominant occupancy. These are not related to accessory uses. They require fire separation from the main occupancy.

Question 57

Frequency of updates to the IBC

Answer 57

Every three years.

Question 58

What is the foundation of modern building codes?

Answer 58

Standards that contain technical information that addresses the properties of a building product or component and tests methods to determine the properties of materials and the method of installation or construction.

Question 59

In addition to building codes, name two other legal constraints:

Answer 59

1. Zoning ordinances 2. Accessibility standards - ADA

Question 60

Letter designations of ASTM standards for the following: ABCDEFGESP

Answer 60

A - Ferrous metals B - Nonferrous metals C - Cementitious, ceramic, concrete, and masonry materials D - Miscellaneous materials E - Miscellaneous subjects F - Materials of specific application G - Corrosion, deterioration, and degradation of materials ES - Emergency standards P - Proposals

Question 61

Board of Zoning Appeals

Answer 61

The board that enforces zoning ordinances that give rise to problems of application and interpretation. These boards are usually appointed by the mayor or city council.

Question 62

Title III and Title IV of ADA

Answer 62

These are the only two areas of the ADA that concern the design of buildings. Title III addresses the accessibility of buildings and Title IV covers accessible telecommunication facilities, such as phones for the hearing impaired, ATMs, etc.

Question 63

Difference between accessibility in the building code and ADA

Answer 63

These are two different legislative provisions. The building code is enforced by states, whereas the ADA is federal legislation.

Question 64

Components of Egress

Answer 64

• Exit - Exit Access - Exit Discharge

Question 65

Assembly Classification of Church

Answer 65

A-3: Assembly.

Question 66

Assembly Classification of Hospital, Nursing Home, or 24-Hour Day Care

Answer 66

I-2: Institutional.

Question 67

How are outpatient medical facilities and ambulatory care facilities classified in the building code?

Answer 67

B: Business.

Question 68

Outpatient Medical Facilities

Answer 68

Defined in the IBC as “buildings or portions thereof used to provide medical care on a less than 24-hour basis to individuals who are not rendered incapable of self-preservation.” Type B Occupancy - business

Question 69

Ambulatory Care Facilities

Answer 69

Defined in the IBC as “buildings or portions thereof used to provide medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing, or similar care on a less than 24-hour basis to individuals who are rendered incapable of self-preservation” (i.e., anaesthetized or heavily sedated). (B) Occupancy

Question 70

Change of Occupancy

Answer 70

Defined in the IBC as “a change in the purpose or level of activity within a building that involves a change in application of the requirements of this code.”

Question 71

Mixed occupancy and Occupancy Separation, accessory use occupancy, incidental use occupancy needs a _____ ______.

Answer 71

Fire Barrier

Question 72

How do you separate a building with two different construction types?

Answer 72

Use a Fire Wall