Building Regulations & Codes in Interior Design

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to building regulations and codes relevant for Interior Designers.

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act; a civil rights legislation that mandates accessibility in design.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute; approves standards but does not develop or write them.

IBC

International Building Code; primary model code used for building regulations.

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association; publishes codes and standards related to fire prevention and safety.

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials; publishes test procedures and standards.

UL

Underwriters Laboratories; develops safety standards and tests products for safety.

ASTM E119

Tests fire resistance of walls, floor, and ceiling assemblies.

Flame Spread Classification

Indicates the burning characteristics of materials, labeled as Class (letter or numeral) or numerical value.

Fire Partition

A wall assembly with at least a 1-hour rating that provides a continuous barrier.

Smoke Barrier

A barrier that restricts smoke movement, typically with a 1-hour rating.

Occupancy Classifications

Designations used in building codes to determine the use assigned to a building or space.

Egress Definition

A continuous path from the inside of a building to a public way.

Maximum Travel Distance

The distance an occupant must travel to reach an exit.

Stairway Width Requirement

Minimum width for stairways, typically 44 inches for ≥50 people and 36 inches for ≤49 people.

Handrail Height

Required height for handrails, generally between 34 and 38 inches.

Residential Escape Window Size

Must have an openable area of at least 5.7 square feet, with a minimum height of 24 inches and width of 20 inches.