Schematic Design Part 4

Question 1

Name 5 building accessibility provisions to consider during project design?

Answer 1

• Entrances and exits
• Doors
• Stairs - handrail on each side - tread depth is 11”
• Ramps - minimum width 48”, Maximum slope 1:12, minimum landing width 60”
• Corridors - Minimum width 44” for load greater than 10

Question 2

Name two public restroom design provisions to consider during project design.

Answer 2

Lavatory - maximum counter height 34” - min 30x48 clear floor space forward approach

Toilet facilities - 60” turning radius, 17-19 height

Question 3

What are design concerns to consider for sight and hearing impaired end users?

Answer 3

Sight impaired - audible fire alarms, tactile warning strips ad low hanging projections and changes in floor elevation, Brazil

Hearing impaired - Flashing strobe fire alarms, text telephone stations, and assisted listening devices

Question 4

Does the building and safety plan checker review for compliance with ADA?

Answer 4

No, They review CBC 11A or 11B!

Question 5

What are two types of systems or methods for providing fire-resistive protection?

Answer 5

Passive- Built into the building structure and provides a barrier between the structure and the fire. Chapter 7 of the CBC discusses these requirements.

Active- fire protection systems, such as fire sprinklers, responds to fire by activation of systems to suppress fire and smoke. Chapter 9 of the CBC discusses these requirements.

Question 6

What is the definition of a fire-resistance rating for a building material?

Answer 6

Fire-resistance rating - the period of time a building element, component or assembly maintains the ability to confine a fire, continues to preform a given structural function, or both.

Question 7

Define fire walls vs. fire barriers

Answer 7

Fire walls - a fire resistance rated wall having protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof.

Fire barrier - a fire-resistance rated wall assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in which continuity is maintained, such as separating different occupancies or divide a single occupancy into different fire areas.

Question 8

Define smoke barriers vs. smoke partitions

Answer 8

Smoke barriers - a continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly, that is designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.

Smoke partitions - extends from the top of the foundation or floor below to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck, or slab above or to the underside of the ceiling above to limit the transfer of smoke.

Question 9

What is the definition of means of egress?

Answer 9

Means of egress - a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way.

A means of egress that consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge.

Question 10

What are egress requirements for exit access travel distance?

Answer 10

Exit access travel distance - maximum length of exit access travel distance as measured from the most remote point to the entrance to an exit along a “natural and unobstructed path of egress travel”.

Question 11

What are egress requirements for an exit discharge?

Answer 11

Exit Discharge - exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building with exceptions that may not exceed 50% of the number and capacity of required exits per section 1027.1.

Egress Courts are open spaces that provide access to a public way from one or more exits. Minimum width shall not be less than 44” and shall have unobstructed height of 7’

Question 12

What are three responsibilities of the California Energy Commission?

Answer 12

• Forcast future energy needs and keep historical energy data.
• Promote energy efficiency by setting the state appliance and building efficiency standards and enforcing them through local government
• Support renewable energy by providing market support to existing, new and emerging renewable technologies and provide incentives for solar, wind and fuel cell electrical systems.

Question 13

Who is responsible for compliance review and field enforcement of the California energy code?

Answer 13

Compliance with the energy code is plan checked by the local building & safety plan checker and enforced in the field by the local building official.

Question 14

The California energy code is not title 24, commonly mistaken by many plan checkers. What is the correct name of the code?

Answer 14

Part 6, of title 24 is the California Energy Code

Question 15

Name six mandatory requirements of the California Energy code for achieving energy efficiency?

Answer 15

• Space conditioning equipment
• Water heating equipment
• Glazing requirements
• Building envelope and fenestration
• Insulation requirements
• Lighting systems and equipment

Question 16

Describe the performance approach method of compliance with the California Energy Code ?

Answer 16

Performance approach- Most detailed, complex and flexible compliance path. Based on computer calculations according to actual building geometry and site placements (solar orientation, overhangs, size of openings, etc). Primary concerns include:

• heat gain/loss through walls, roof, windows
• solar gain from windows, skylights etc
• Heat storage effects from thermal mass
• Systems for HVAC, lighting and water heating.

Question 17

Describe the prescriptive approach method of compliance with the California Energy Code?

Answer 17

Simpler method, less design flexibility. Components must comply with the respective sections of the energy code, such as the building envelope, space conditioning equipment, service water heating system, lighting system, outdoor lighting system, interior and exterior signs.

Question 18

Who is responsible for signing the Certificate of Compliance for the California Energy Code?

Answer 18

Signed by the person responsible for the building design to certify compliance with party 6. If more than one party responsible, all persons shall sign documents. I.E. the architect and the person who prepared the report.