NC State Building Code: Residential Code 2018

Chapter 2

Definitions (Fenestration, Mason Unit and Solid)

Page 3

Definition
Fenestration

Skylights, roof windows, vertical windows (whether fixed or moveable); opaque doors; glazed doors; glass block; and combination opaque and glazed doors.

(Chapter 2) Page 12

Definition
Masonry Unit

Brick, tile, stone architectural cast stone, glass block or concrete block confirming to the requirements specified in Section 2103 of the international Building Code.

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Definition
Solid

A masonry unit with a net cross-sectional area in every plane parallel to the loadbearing surface that is 75 percent or more of its cross-sectional area measured in the same plane.

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Chapter 3

Building Planning - Design criteria (Climatic geographic, wind, wind limitations and wind design) Table 301.2 (6),Toilet Bath and Shower spaces (Space required, Figure R307.1), Emergency escape and rescue openings (required, minimum opening area, window sill height), Means of Egress (door, floors and landings at exterior doors, Stairways width, headroom, stair treads and risers, handrails, height, Continuity, Grip-Size), Ramps (Maximum slope, landings required, height), Guards and Window Fall Protection (Where required, Opening limitations) Foam Plastic (Surface burning characteristics) Protection of wood and wood-based products against decay (Location required Ground Contact)

Page 31

Building Planning
R301.2 Climatic and geographic design criteria

Buildings shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions or this code as limited by the provisions of this section Additional criteria shall be established by the local jurisdiction and set forth in Table R301.2(1)

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Building Planning
R301.2.1.1 Wind limitations and wind design

Construction in regions where the ultimate wind speeds from Tables R301.2(4) and R301.2(5) equal or exceed 130 miles per hour (58 m/s) shall be designed in accordance with one of the following:

8. Chapters 45 and 46

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Building Planning
Table R301.2(4)
Ultimate design wind speeds by County (mph)

Counties not listed: 115 ***

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Building Planning
R307.1 Space required

Fixtures shall be spaced in accordance with Figure R307.1 and in accordance with the requirements of Section P2705.1

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Building Planning
Figure R307.1 Minimum Fixture Clearances

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Building Planning
R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue opening required.

Basements, habitable attics and every sleeping room shall have not less than one operable emergency escape and rescue opening.

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Building Planning
R310.2.1 Minimum opening area.

Emergency and escape rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear openable area of 4 square feet (0.372 m^2) The minimum net clear opening height shall be 22 inches (558 mm). The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches (508 mm)

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Building Planning
R310.2.2 Window sill height

Where a window is provided as the emergency escape and rescue opening, it shall have a sill height or not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor;

Chapter 3 Page 53

Building Planning
R311.2 Egress door

Not less than one exterior egress door shall be provided for each dwelling unit. The egress door shall be side-hinged, and shall provide a clear width of not less than 32 inches (813 mm) where measured between the face of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees (1.57 rad). The clear height of the door opening shall be not less than 78 inches (1981 mm) in height measured from the top of threshold to the bottom of the stop.

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Building Planning
R311.3 Floors and Landings at exterior doors

There shall be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door. The width of each landing shall not be less than the door served. Every landing shall have a dimension of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel.

Chapter 3 Page 54

Building Planning
R311.7 Stairways.
R311.7.1 Width

Stairways shall not be less than 36 inches (914 mm) in clear width at all points above the permitted handrail height and below the required headroom height. Handrails shall not project more than 4 1/2 inches (114 mm) on either side of the stairway and the clear width of the stairway at and below the handrail height, including treads and landings, shall be not less than 31 1/2 inches (787 mm) where a handrail is installed on once side and 27 inches (698 mm) where handrails are provided on both sides.

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Building Planning
R311.7.5 Headroom

The headroom is stairways shall be not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) measured vertically from the sloped line adjoining the tread nosing or from the floor surface of the landing or platform on that portion of the stairway.

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Building Planning
R311.7.5 Stair treads and risers

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Building Planning
R311.7.5.1 Risers

The riser height shall be not more than 8 1/4 inches (210 mm). The riser shall be measured vertically between leading edges of the adjacent treads.

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Building Planning
R311.7.5.2 Treads

The minimum tread depth shall be not less than 9 inches (229 mm). The tread depth shall be measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the tread's leading edge. The greatest tread depth within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm).

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Building Planning
R311.7.8 Handrails

Handrails shall be provided on not less than one side of each continuous run of treads or flight with four or more risers.

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Building Planning
R311.7.8.1 Height

Handrail height, measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the tread nosing, or finish surface of ramp slope, shall be not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches.

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Building Planning
R3117.8.2 Continuity

Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space of not less than 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) between the wall and the handrails.

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Building Planning
R311.7.8.3 Grip-size

1. Type I. Handrails with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter of not less than 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) and not greater than 2 inches (51 mm). If the handrail is not circular, it shall have a perimeter dimension of not less than 4 inches (102 mm) and not greater than 6 1/4 inches (160 mm) with a cross section of dimension of not more than 2 1/4 inches (57 mm). Edges shall have a radius of not less than 0.01 inch (0.25 mm).

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Building Planning
R311.8 Ramps

Maximum slope, ladings required, handrails required, height

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Building Planning
Section R312 Guards and Window Fall Protection

Where required, Opening limitations

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Building Planning
R312.1.1 Where required

Guards shall be located along open-sided walking surfaces, including stairs, ramps, and landings, that are located more than 30 inches (762 mm) measured vertically to the floor or grade below at any point within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontally to the edge of the open side.

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Building Planning
R312.1.3 Opening limitations

Required guards shall not have openings from the walking surface to the required guard height that allow passage of a sphere 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter.

Exceptions:

1. The triangular openings at the open side of stair, formed by the riser, tread and bottom rail of a guard, shall not allow passage of a sphere 6 inches (153 mm) in diameter.

2. Guards on the open side of stairs shall not have openings that allow passage of a sphere 4 3/8 inches (111 mm) in diameter.

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Building Planning
Section R316 Foam Plastic

Surface burning characteristics

Chapter 3 Page 59

Building Planning
Section R317 Protection of wood and wood-based products against decay
R317.1 Location Required

Protection of wood and wood-based products from decay shall be provided in the following locations by the use of naturally durable wood or wood that is preservative treaded in accordance with AWPA U1 for the species, product, preservative and end use. Preservatives shall be listed in Section 4 of AWPA U1.

1. Wood joists or the bottom of a wood structural floor when closer than 18 inches (457 mm) or wood girders when closer than 12 inches (305 mm) to the exposed ground in crawl spaces or unexcavated area located withing the periphery of the building foundation.

5. Wood siding and sheathing on the exterior of a building having the clearance of less than 6 inches (152 mm) from the ground.

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Building Planning
Section R317 Protection of wood and wood-based products against decay
R317.1.2 Ground contact

All wood in contact with the ground, embedded in concrete in direct contact with the ground or embedded in concrete exposed to the weather that supports permanent structures intended for human occupancy shall be approved pressure-preservative-treated wood suitable for ground contact use, except that continuously submerged in fresh water shall not be required to be pressure-preservative treated.

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Chapter 4

Foundations- General (Drainage, Soil test), Presumptive load-bearing values of foundation materials (compressible or shifting soil), Materials (concrete), Minimum specified compressive strength of concrete (Table), Footings (minimum size, minimum depth, slope, foundation anchorage), Foundation and retaining walls (Reinforcement, steel reinforcement, piers, height above finished grade) Foundation Drainage (Concrete or masonry foundations), Foundation waterproofing and damp proofing, Wall vented crawl spaces (space moisture vapor control, foundation vent sizing, foundation vent location)

Page 69

Foundation
R401.3 Drainage

Lots shall be graded to drain surface water away from foundation walls. The grade shall fall a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) within the first 10 feet (3048 mm)

Chapter 4 Page 69

Foundation
R401.4 Soil tests

Where quantifiable data created by accepted soil science methodologies indicate expansive, compressible, shifting or other questionable solid characteristics are likely ro be present, the building official shall determine where to require a soil test to determine the soils characteristics at a particular location, This test shall be done by an approved agency using an approved method.

Chapter 4 Page 69

Foundation
Table R401.4.1
Presumptive load-Bearing Values of Foundation Materials^a

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b. Where the building official determines that in-place soils with an allowable bearing capacity shall be determined by a soils investigation.

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Foundation
R401.4.2 Compressible or shifting soil

Instead of a...

Chapter 4 Page 69

Foundation Materials
R402.2 Concrete

Concrete shall have a minimum specified compressive strength of f'c as shown in table R 402.2.

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Foundation
Table R402.2
Minimum specified compressive strength of concrete

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c. concrete in these locations that is subject to freezing and thawing during construction shall be air-entrained concrete in accordance with footnote d.
d. Concrete shall be air-entrained. Total air content(percent by volume of concrete) shall be not less than 5 percent or more than 7 percent.

Chapter 4

Foundation
Section R403 Footings
R493.1.1 Minimum Size

Minium sizes for concrete or masonry footins shall be as set forth in Table 403.1(1) and Figure R403.1(1)

Chapter 4 Page 70

Foundation
Table R403.1(1)
Minimum width of concrete precast or masonry footings (inches)^a

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Foundation
Notes:

d. for minimum footing width (W) see Table R403.1(1)
e. Minimum footing thickness (T) is: 6" for 1 story 8" for 2 story and 10" for 3 story.

Chapter 3

Foundation Footings
R403.1.4 Minimum depth

All exterior footings and foundation systems shall extend below the front line specified in Table R301.2(1) . In no case shall the bottom of the exterior footings be less than 12 inches (305 mm) below the finished grade.

Chapter 4 Page 74

Foundation Footings
R403.1.5 Slope

The top surface of footings shall be level (1/2 inch in 10 feet) or shall be brought level, under the width of the wall, with masonry units with full mortar joints. The bottom surface of footings shall not have a slope exceeding one unit vertical in 10 units horizontal (10-percent slope). Footings shall be stepped where it is necessary to change the elevation of the top surface of the footings or where the slope of the bottom surface of the footings will exceed one unit vertical in 10 units horizontal (10-percent slope).

Chapter 4 Page 74

Foundation
R403.1.6 Foundation anchorage

Wood sole plates at all exterior walls on monolithic slabs, wood sole plates of braced wall panels at building interiors to the foundation with minimum 1/2-inch- diameter (12.7 mm) anchor bolts spaced a maximum of 6 feet (1829 mm) on center or approved anchors or anchor straps spaced as required to provide equivalent anchorage to 1/2-inch-diameter (12.7 mm) anchor bolts.

There shall be a minimum of two bolts per plate section with one bolt located not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the corner.

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Foundation and Retaining Walls
R404.1.3.3.7.1 Steel Reinforcement

In buildings assigned to Seismic Design Category A, B or C, the minimum yield strength of reinforcing steel shall be 40,000 psi (Grade 40)

Chapter 4 Page 86

Foundation and Retaining Walls
R404.1.5.4 Piers

The unsupported height of masonry piers shall not exceed 10 times their least dimension.

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Foundation and Retaining Walls
R404.1.6 Height above finished grade

Concrete and masonry foundation walls shall extend above the finished grade adjacent to the foundation at all points a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) where masonry veneer is used and a minimum of 6 inches (152mm) elsewhere

Chapter 4 Page 87

Section R405 Foundation Drainage

Drains shall be provided around all concrete or masonry foundations that retain earth and enclose habitable or usable spaces location below grade. Gravel or crushed stone drains shall extend not less than 1 foot (305 mm) beyond the outside edge of the footing and 6 inches (152 mm) above the top of the footing and be covered with an approved filter membrane material.

Chapter 4 Page 90

Section R406 Foundation Waterproofing and Dampproofing
R406.1 Concrete and masonry foundation dampproofing

Foundation walls where the outside grade is higher than the inside grade shall be dampproofed from the top of the footing to the finished grade.

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Section R406 Foundation Waterproofing and Dampproofing
R406.2 Concrete and masonry foundation waterproofing

In areas where a high water table or other severe soil-water conditions are known to exist, exterior foundation walls that retain earth and enclose interior spaces and floors below grade shall be waterproofed from the higher or (a) the top of the footing or (b) 6 inches (152 mm) below the top of the basement floor, to the finished grade.

Chapter 4 Page 91

Foundation
Wall vented crawl spaces
R408.1 Space moisture vapor control

Vented crawl space foundations shall be provided with foundation vent openings through the exterior foundation walls.

Chapter 4 Page 92

Wall vented crawl spaces
R408.1.1 Foundation vent sizing

The minimum net area of ventilation openings shall be not less than 1 square foot (0.0929 m^2) for each 150 square feet (13.9 m^2) of crawl space ground area.

Chapter 4 Page 92

Foundation
Note:

This is based on the square footage of the crawl space, not the cubic footage. Use Square footage divided by 150.

Foundation
Wall vented crawl spaces
R408.1.2 Foundation vent location

One foundation vent shall be within 3 feet (914 mm) of each corner of the building.

Chapter 4 Page 92

Chapter 5

Floors- Wood Floor framing (allowable joist span, joists under bearing partitions, bearing, floor systems, joist framing, cutting drilling and notching, sawn lumber, framing of opening, wood trusses, alterations to trusses), Concrete floors on ground (General, Vapor retarder)

Page 97

Wood Floor Framing
R502.3 Allowable joist spans

Spans for floor joists shall be in accordance with Tables R502.3.1(1) and R502.3.1(2)

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Wood Floor Framing
Table R502.3.1(1) Floor joist spans for common lumber species (Residential sleeping areas, live load= 30 psf, ltriangle=360)^a

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Chapter 5 Page 97

Wood Floor Framing
Table R502.3.1(2) Floor joist spans for common lumber species (Residential living areas, live load= 40 psf, ltriangle=360)^a

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Chapter 5 Page 97

Wood Floor Framing
R502.4 Joists under bearing partitions

Joists under parallel...

Chapter 5 Page 104

Wood Floor Framing
R502.6 Bearing

The ends of each joist, beam or girder shall have not less than 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) of bearing on wood or metal and no less tha 3 inches (76 mm) on masonry or concrete except... *** come back

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Wood Floor Framing
R502.6.1 Floor Systems

Joists framing from opposite sides over a bearing support shall lap not less than 3 inches (76 mm) and shall be nailed together with a minimum three 10d face nails.

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Wood Floor Framing
R502.6.2 Joist framing

Joists framing into the side of a wood girder shall be supported by approved framing anchors or on ledger strips not less than normal 2 inches by 2 inches (51mm by 51mm).

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Wood Floor Framing
R502.8 Cutting, drilling and notching

Structural floor members shall not be cut, bored or notched in excess of the limitations specified in this section.

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Wood Floor Framing
Figure R502.8(1) Cutting, notching and drilling

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Wood Floor Framing
R502.8.1 Sawn lumber

Notches in solid lumber joists, rafters and beams shall not exceed one-sixth of the depth of the member, shall not be longer than one-third of the depth of the member and shall not be located in the middle one-third of he span. Notches at the ends of the member shall not exceed one-fourth the depth of the member. The tension side of the members 4 inches (102 mm) or greater in nominal thickness shall not be notched except at the ends of the members.

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Wood Floor Framing
Note:

Allowable notch depths and hole diameters should be calculated based upon the actual size of the lumber

Wood Floor Framing
Framing of openings

Openings in floor flaming...

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Wood Floor Framing
R502.11 Wood Trusses

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Wood Floor Framing
R502.11.3 Alterations to trusses

Truss members and...

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Section R506 Concrete Floors (On Ground)
R596.1 General

Floors shall be a minimum 3 1/2 inches thick. The specified compressive strength of concrete shall be as set forth in Section R402.2

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Concrete Floors (On Ground)
R506.2.3 Vapor retarder

A 6-mil polyethylene or approved vapor retarder with joists lapped no less than 6 inches shall be places between the concrete floor slab and the base course or the prepared subgrade where no base course exists.

Chapter 5 Page 108

Chapter 6

Wall Construction- Wood Wall Framing (Fastener schedule for structural members, Maximum stud spacing, drilling and notching studs), General masonry construction (Mortar, Grout) Construction requirements (Bead and head joists, grout placement, thickness of masonry, Minimum thickness, bonding with masonry headers, solid units, Bonding with wall ties) Glass unit masonry (units, standard units, thin units, exterior standard-unit panels, exterior thin-unit panels, interior panels Interior panels)

Page 109

Wood Wall Framing
Table 602.3(1)
Fastener schedule for structural members

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Chapter 6 Pages 110-116

Wood Wall Framing
Table 602.3(5)
Maximum stud spacing, drilling and notching studs

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Chapter 6 Page 121

Wood Wall Framing
R602.6 Drilling and notching-studs

Drilling and nothicn of studs shall be in accordance with the following...

Chapter 6 Page 124

Section R606 General Masonry Construction
R606.2.7 Mortar

shall meet the proportions specifications of table R606.2.7 or the proportion specifications of ASTM 270...

Chapter 6 Page 148

General Masonry Construction
R606.2.11 Grout

Grout shall consist of ...

Chapter 6 Page 148

General Masonry Construction
Table R606.2.11 Grout proportions by volume for masonry construction

Chapter 6 Page 149

General Masonry Construction
R606.3 Construction requirements (Bead and head joints)

Unless otherwise required or indicated on the project...

General Masonry Construction

Chapter 6 Page 148

General Masonry Construction
Grout placement

Grout shall be...

Chapter 6 Page 149

General Masonry Construction
Thickness of masonry

Chapter 6 Page 150

General Masonry Construction
Minimum thickness

Chapter 6 Page 150

General Masonry Construction
Bonding with masonry headers

Chapter 6 Page 156

General Masonry Construction
Solid units

Chapter 6 Page 156

General Masonry Construction
Bonding with wall ties

Chapter 6 Page 156

Section R607 Glass Unit Masonry
Units

Hollow or solid glass block units shall be standard or thin units

Chapter 6 Page 157

Glass Unit Masonry
Standard units

The specified thickness of standard units shall be not less than 3 7/8

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Glass Unit Masonry
Thin units

The specified thickness of thin units shall be not less than 3 1/8 inches for hollow units and not less than 3 inches for solid units.

Chapter 6 Page 157

Glass Unit Masonry
Exterior standard-unit panels

The maximum area of each individual standard-unit panel shall be 144 square feet where the design wind pressure is 20 pounds per square foot.

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Glass Unit Masonry
Exterior thin-unit panels

The maximum area of each individual thin-unit panel shall be 85 square feet

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Glass Unit Masonry
Interior panels

The maximum area of each individual standard-unit panel shall be 250 square feet. The maximum area of each thin-unit panel shall be 150 square feet.

Chapter 6 Page 157

Chapter 7

Wall Covering- Interior covering (Gypsum board and gypsum panel products, wood framing) Exterior covering (wood, hardboard and wood structural panel siding, horizontal wooded siding, anchored stone and masonry veneer, general, Lintels, Anchorage, size and spacing, flashing, weepholes)

Page 231

Wall Covering- Interior covering
R702.3 Gypsum board and gypsum panel products

Chapter 7 Page 232

Wall Covering- Interior covering
R702.3.2 Wood Framing

Wood framing supporting gypsum board shall be not less than 2 inches nominal thickness in the least dimension except that wood furring strips not less than 1-inc-by-2-inch nominal dimension may be used over solid backing or framing spaced not more than 24 inches on center.

Chapter 7 Page 232

Wall Covering- Interior
Table R702.3.5 Minimum thickness and application of gympsum board and gympsum panel products

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Chapter 7 Page 233

Wall Covering
Section R703 Exterior covering
R703.5 Wood, hardboard and wood structural panel siging

Chapter 7 Page 239

Wall Covering- Exterior
R703.5.3 Horizontal wood siding

Horizontal lap siding shall be installed in accordance with the manufactures...

Chapter 7 Page 239

Wall Covering- Exterior
R703.8 Anchored stone and masonry veneer, general

Anchored stone and masonry veneer shall be installed in accordance with this chapter, Table R703.3(1)

Chapter 7 Page 241

Wall Covering- Exterior
R703.8.3 Lintels

Chapter 7 Page 244

Wall Covering- Exterior
R703.8.4 Anchorage

Chapter 7 Page 244