IND 422 Interior Design: Studio IV Study Guide

This set of flashcards covers the key concepts, terms, and regulations related to building codes and regulations for Interior Designers, focusing on the ADA, occupancy classifications, egress requirements, and fire safety measures.

What does ADA stand for and what is its significance for Interior Designers?

ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act, which is a notable law that addresses accessibility in design.

What is the primary model code used for building design?

The International Building Code (IBC) is the primary model code used.

What does NFPA stand for and what does it do?

NFPA stands for National Fire Protection Association, which develops codes and standards to reduce fire hazards.

What is ASTM E119?

ASTM E119 is a test for fire resistance of building construction and materials.

What is ASTM E119 2 parts to the test?

The first measures the heat transfer through the assembly – how long before
materials on the other side combust.

The second part is the Hose Stream test – high pressure to simulate how the assembly stands up to the
impact of falling debris and the cooling and eroding effects of water.

What does the NFPA 701 test evaluate?

NFPA 701 - Standard methods of fire texts for flame propagation of textiles and films; is used to evaluate the flammability of textiles and films.

Define fire partition and its requirement.

A wall assembly with a fire resistance rating of 1 hour. Must extend from the floor to the underside of the floor or roof slab above.

What is the difference between fire barrier and fire partition?

A fire barrier is a more stringent barrier that provides more fire resistance than a fire partition and must have a rating greater than 1 hour.

What is meant by occupancy classification in the IBC?

Occupancy classification refers to the categorization of buildings based on their use, impacting design requirements.

What is the maximum length of travel for egress in a building that is fully sprinklered?

The maximum travel distance is typically extended in sprinklered buildings, specifics depend on the code.

What is the width requirement for exit doors?

Exit doors must have a clear width of at least 5 feet in commercial occupancies.

What are the minimum and maximum heights for handrails?

Handrails must be between 34 inches and 38 inches in height.

Define egress and what are its three parts?

Egress is the means of exit from a building, consisting of the exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge.

What is the minimum width of a corridor that serves 50 or more people?

The minimum corridor width must be 44 inches for spaces serving 50 or more people.

What is the size requirement for an escape window in a residential space?

An escape window must have a minimum opening of 20 inches wide and 24 inches high.

What are the ADA requirements based on?

ADA requirements are based on the ICC/ANSI 117.1 standard for accessible design.

The design professional is ultimately responsible for what?

The design professional is ultimately responsible for making sure that the design meets all applicable codes and regulations.

What does ASTM stand for and what does it do?

ASTM stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials, and it publishes test procedures and standards to be used by testing agencies. (It does not perform the actual tests).

What does ANSI stand for and what does it do?

ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute, and it approves standards

What does UL stand for, and what does it do?

UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories and is one of the most well-known testing labs. It developed standards and provides safety testing and certification for a wide range of products and materials.

One of the most common uses of UL testing is for what?

One of the most common uses of UL testing procedures is for doors and other opening protections.

What are the most important types of tests for interior design components?

The most important types of tests for interior design components are the tests that rate the ability of a construction assembly to prevent the passage of fire and smoke
from one space to another.

NFPA 252 - what are the tests for?

Standard Methods for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies – evaluates the ability of a door
assembly to resist the passage of flame, heat, and gases

NFPA 257 - what are the tests for?

Standard for Fire Test for Window and Glass Block Assemblies – specific fire and hose
stream test procedures – it determines the degree of protection from the spread of fire.

what does the flammability test for finish materials determine? (3 things)

1. Whether a material is flammable – does it burn with applied heat or will it combust (adds fuel
to the fire)
2. The degree of flammability (how fast it spreads across the material)
3. How much smoke and toxic gas the material produces when ignited

What’s the Steiner tunnel test?

It rates the surface burning characteristics of interior finishes and other building materials by testing (in a narrow test chamber) a sample piece with a controlled flame at one end.

It gives the materials flame spread rating compared to glass-reinforced cement board (0 rating) and red oak flooring (100 rating).

What class is the most Fire Resistant?

Class A is the most fire resistant.

When looking at product literature, what is the flame spread indicated by?

Flame spread is indicated by class (letter or Roman numeral) or numerical value.

What’s ASTM E662 Test?

ASTM E662 is a test for determining the smoke density of materials in the presence of a flame. It measures the amount of smoke generated during combustion.

A smoke density value from 0 to 800 is developed.

What do most codes require in value for ASTM E662 Test?

Most codes require 450 or less.

NFPA 253… what type of test?

Flooring Radiant Panel Test - tests a sample of carpet in its normal horizontal position and measures the flame spread in a corridor or exit way of a fully developed fire in an adjacent space.

What 2 material classes are defined by NFPA 253?

Class I: typically required in corridors & exit ways of hospitals, nursing homes, and detention facilities.

Class II – typically required in corridors & exit ways of other occupancies

T/F: IBC allows Class II materials in sprinklered buildings where Class I materials might otherwise be required.

True, IBC allows Class II materials in sprinklered buildings where Class I materials might otherwise be required.

What’s the Methenamine pill test used for?

To determine the ignition characteristics of finished textile floor coverings (all carpet sold and manufactured in US).

If sample burns to 1 inch of metal plate test fails.

What’s the room corner test used for?

It determines the contribution of wall and ceiling coverings to room fire growth.

Can be used instead of Steiner test for interior finishes.

What are the 2 building codes that specify 2 broad classifications for fire resistance?

I. Resistance of materials and assemblies\

II. Surface burning characteristics of finish materials

What are the 2 different types of classifications for Construction Materials and Assemblies?

I. Hourly rating determined by ASTM E119 for walls, ceiling/floor assemblies, columns, beam enclosures, and similar building elements.

II. Time rating that doors and glazing must have as determined by NFPA 252 or NFPA 257.

The whole assembly makes something fire resistant and creates…?

Creates a fire-rated barrier.

What’s the hour rating of openings in a fire partition wall?

¾ hour rating except for corridors - 20-minute fire protection assemblies.

What’s a smoke barrier for and what’s its rating?

A smoke barrier is designed to restrict the movement of smoke within a building and provide a rating of at least 1 hour.

Openings in smoke barriers must have at least a 20 minute rating.

What’s the purpose of the regulation for single layers of finish materials according to the ASTM E84?

To control the flame spread rate and to limit combustible materials.

What conditions must textile wall coverings comply with?

One of three:

I. Must be Class A rated according to ASTM84 and sprinkled

II. Meet the reqs. of Method B test protocol of NFPA 265

III. Meet the reqs. of NFPA 286

What’s the class of the flame spread index for interior trim?

A minimum Class C flame spread index.

If it i a combustible trim, what is the maximum amount or % you canhave?

Floor base trim-6” or less whatis its class?

What arre the IBC occupancy classification?

A

B

E

F

H

I

M

R

S

U

Occupancy classifications defined by the International Building Code (IBC) that categorize buildings based on their use, including Assembly (A), Business (B), Educational (E), Factory (F), Hazard (H), Institutional (I), Mercantile (M), Residential (R), Storage (S), and Utility (U).

What are the other building requirements that are determined by occupancy classifiation in relationship to interior design - egress, interior finish rquirements, etc…

Egress design, interior finishes, fire partitions and fire barriers, ventilation requirements.

When you have sprinklers - what is the hourly rating reduced by?

Reduced by 1 hour

Every building is classified into types of construction - what are the components?

The components of building construction types include structural elements, fire-resistance ratings, materials used, and architectural features that distinguish each construction type according to the International Building Code.

What are type 1 & type 2 in relationship to types of construction?

1.hourly rating determined by ASTM E119 for walls, ceiling/floor assemblies, columns, beam
enclosures, and similar building elements.

2. Time rating that doors and glazing must have as determined by NFPA 252 or NFPA 257
Ex: Exit access corridors are required to have at least a 1 hour rating, but the door assemblies
need a 20 minute rating

Along with occupancy groups - the building type limit the area and height of a building

Mixed Occupancy

Almost all new building are now requiired to have some type of fire detection device

True

Define a fire protection system

What is the most common type of automatic system for fire protection?

Know NFPA 13 in relationship to sprnklers

Wha are the two basic issue with glazing?

Fire resistance rated glazing -glass or other material that has been tested according to ASTME119

Define guards & requirements

Define egress

What are the 3 parts of egress?

Define occupant load

When determining the occupant load, all potions of the building are presumed to be occupied at the same time

What are the factor for deteming the number of exits or exit access doorways?

What is te common path of egress travel?

What is the maximum length of travel is the building is fully sprinklered?

What if iti is sprinklered?

Define maximum travel distance

Width of exits - at least 5’ corridors for commercial occpancies

What is the maximum length for dead en corridors? If it is sprinklered?

No matter what - what is the minimum corridor width if a space serves 50 people or more?

What is the width of a school corridor with 100 or more people?

Doors placed in a 1 hour corridor must have what type of fire rating?

If glass is used what is te percentage allowed?

What if the glass is fire resistance rated?

Doors cannot swing into travel path

What is clear width for aa door?

what is the maximum and minimum of doors?

Egress doors must have automatic closers

Define stairways

If you have 50 or more people, how wide does the stairs need to be?

If you have 49 people or more , how wide can the stair be?

How far can hadrails project into the width of a corridor?

What is the minimum riser and tread for commers=cial stairs?

Residential?

Hw large is the landin space in front of the stairs for a residence?

Interior exit staiways must be completely enclosed

If a building has 4 or mre tories, what is the rating for the walls?

What is the height of the handrail?

What is the size of the gripping area?

What is the space between the handrail and the wall?

In residentaial space, there must be an escape window - what is the size

What is the width of a corridor in a residential space?

Construction- if changes are needed for resubmission, this is usually the interior designer’s responsibility

Once the final inspection is complete, a certificate of occupancy is issued