Building Materials and Methods: Design and Construction Regulations

BUILDING MATERIALS AND METHODS I DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS

Chapter 2 Overview

• Date: 8/28/2025

• Instructor: Professor Bradford S. Carpenter, P.E.

2.1 Objectives of a Building Code—Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW)

2.2 Enforcement of a Building Code

2.3 Prescriptive and Performance Codes

2.4 Model Codes

2.5 Contents of a Building Code

2.6 Application of a Building Code

2.7 Occupancy Classification of a Building

2.8 Type of Construction Classification of a Building

2.9 Construction Standards

2.10 Standards Writing Organizations

2.11 Other Major Regulatory Constraints

2.12 Zoning Ordinance

2.13 Building’s Accessibility—Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Principles in Practice: Building Code Analysis—A Part of Construction Documents

Objectives of the Building Code: Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW)

• Overview of Regulated Aspects:

  • Life safety

  • Fire and smoke safety

  • Structural safety

  • Health and welfare (including natural resource conservation)

  • Property protection

Health and Safety Regulations

• Life Safety:

  • Includes safety regulations unrelated to fire or structural stability:

  • Guardrail Height and Configuration:

    • Regulated height according to codes.

    • Clear spaces between vertical support members (balusters) to prevent infants crawling through.

  • Handrail Dimensions and Clearances

  • Stair Tread and Riser Ratios and Uniformity:

    • Each tread must have identical dimensions and profile.

    • Applies similarly to risers.

Fire and Smoke Safety Regulations

• Historical Context:

  • 64 A.D.: The Burning of Rome

  • After the fire, rebuilding was mandated with noncombustible materials and stricter regulations.

  • Great Fire of London (1666):

  • Led to strict rebuilding regulations passed by the British Parliament in 1667.

  • Baltimore Fire (1858):

  • Resulted in the establishment of its first building code in 1859.

  • Chicago Fire (1871):

  • Prompted the first building code in Chicago, adopted in 1875.

  • First U.S. Building Code (1905):

  • Published by National Board of Fire Underwriters, aimed at fire damage insurance, later known as the National Building Code.

• Current Fire Safety Regulations Include:

  • Use of fire-resistant building assemblies.

  • Types of building construction affect fire risk.

  • Regulations for exit doors defined by:

  • Height

  • Width

  • Fire resistance

  • Panic hardware requirements

  • Door swing direction.

Means-of-Egress System

• Definition:

  • An essential aspect for Fire and Smoke Safety, comprising a route that must remain unobstructed at all times.

• Three Components:

  • Exit Access: Path leading to the exit.

  • Exit: The designated exit from a building.

  • Exit Discharge: The path from the exit to a public way.

Structural Safety

• Importance:

  • A primary objective of building codes to ensure structural integrity and safety in architecture and engineering design.

Health and Welfare (Including Natural Resource Conservation)

• Provisions Addressed:

  • Interior and exterior lighting standards.

  • Ventilation requirements.

  • Sanitation standards regulating waste disposal.

  • Temperature control mechanisms.

  • Noise minimization regulations.

Enforcement of a Building Code

• Authority:

  • Enforced through the police powers of the state, enabling legislation for public safety.

  • Enacted at local (city or county) government levels, with administration overseen by a building official.

Building Permit and Construction Document Set

• Process:

  • Submission of building plans for approval leading to a building permit issuance.

  • Compliance with inspections at various construction stages:

  • Pre-foundation inspection.

  • Post-foundation inspection.

  • After erection of structural frame.

  • After installation of insulation and vapor retarder.

  • Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) rough-in inspections.

  • MEP final inspections.

  • Final building inspection.

• Typical Building Permit Application:

  • Job address, legal description, contractor name, use of the building, number of floors, and various permits all listed and approved before work commences.

Stop Work Order

• Issued by the City’s Building Official to halt work until compliance with code is confirmed, with fines for violations specified.

Certificate of Occupancy

• Application Process:

  • Owner requests final inspection before receiving permission to occupy the building.

  • Document indicates compliance with all relevant codes and stipulations directly related to the building's classification and specifics.

Board of Appeals

• Role:

  • As a building code is a legal document, disputes over interpretations are settled through inspections and determinations from the building official, with potential for appeal under certain circumstances.

Prescriptive and Performance Codes

• Prescriptive Codes:

  • Provide specific guidelines for construction systems, materials, and devices without alternatives.

  • Easy to interpret and enforce but may be outdated due to advancements in technology.

• Performance Codes:

  • Specify performance criteria instead of dictating materials or methods, focusing on functionality.

Examples of Provisions

• Performance Provision:

  • Section 1404.10 from the International Building Code regarding Fiber-cement siding compliance with ASTM standards.

• Prescriptive Provision:

  • Weather protection standards for exterior walls as detailed in the International Building Code's requirements.

Model Codes

• Definition:

  • Developed by independent organizations, model codes are not legal until adopted by a jurisdiction, which has the authority to enforce them.

• Legacy Codes:

  • Until 2000, three major model codes existed; now under ICC oversight.

• International Code Council (ICC):

  • Established in 1994 to unify model codes, with the first edition of the International Building Code (IBC) released in 2000.

Typical Structure of a Building Code

• Major Parts:

  • Administration

  • Planning

  • Occupancy

  • Construction types

  • Fire safety

  • Building envelope design

  • Nonstructural materials

  • Miscellaneous provisions

Application of a Building Code

• Steps for Application:

  1. Determine the building's occupancy classification.

  2. Determine the type of construction.

  3. Review site frontage and fire sprinkler provisions.

  4. Assess allowable area, height, and stories.

  5. Confirm conformity to occupancy requirements.

  6. Confirm conformity to construction type requirements.

  7. Ensure compliance with egress and accessibility.

  8. Verify adherence to engineering provisions of the code.

Occupancy Classifications

• Factors Influencing Safety:

  • Occupant concentration.

  • Fuel content present.

  • Occupant mobility.

  • Familiarity of occupants with building layout.

Construction Standards

• Importance:

  • Foundation for building codes, detailing:

  • Properties of building products/components.

  • Test methods for property validation.

  • Installation practices.

• Standard Specification: Quality benchmarks for materials.

• Standard Test Method: Procedures to ascertain product/system performance.

• Standard Method of Practice: Construction and maintenance practices.

Standard Writing Organizations

• Key Organizations:

  • Trade associations.

  • Professional societies.

  • Governmental and standards-producing bodies including ANSI, ASTM, and UL.

Other Major Regulatory Constraints

• Zoning Ordinances: Land use regulations based on city comprehensive plans.

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Federal law ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities, establishing regulations for:

  • Employment.

  • Public transportation accessibility.

  • Building access.

  • Telecommunications.

• Future Access Resources: Links to ADA compliance and guidelines available on official resources.