In accordance with the provisions of Section 1021.1 of the International Building Code, can an exit passageway be used as a path of entry into a building? click to continue
IBC Interpretation 47-08 | Issued 04-21-2009 | Section 1015.1
Can a "space" that contains more than one "room", such as a suite of offices, be provided with a single exit access doorway in accordance with the provisions of Section 1015.1 of the International Building Code? click to continue
A modification to clearance from grade for appliances (Section 304.10) has been made to the 2009 International Mechanical Code (IMC). A minimum clearance height for ground-supported mechanical equipment and appliances has been established. A deletion to grease duct cleanouts and other openings (Section 506.3.8) has also been made in the 2009 IMC. Access doors on grease ducts may now be designed so that the use of a tool is permitted to open them. Previously, the code did not allow the use of a tool to gain access. click to continue
2009 IBC | Table 508.2.5 & Section 1604.8.3
A modification to incidental accessory occupancies (Table 508.2.5) has been made to the 2009 International Building Code (IBC). Parking garages and storage rooms are no longer regulated as incidental accessory occupancies. A modification to loading conditions on cantilevered decks (Section 1604.8.3) has also been made in the 2009 IBC. Previous code language had been modified to address the situation in which the load on the cantilevered portion of a deck span could produce uplift at the support remote from the support at the cantilever, which is consistent with the intent of the distribution of live loads in Section 1607.10. click to continue
Today, more than ever, owners and developers look to employ energy efficient, affordable building solutions to construct the next generation of industrial, commercial and residential buildings. Metal buildings systems offer industry a cost-effective and versatile alternative for projects that range from complex production facilities and distribution centers to retail stores, motels, schools and churches. As the application of metal building systems continues to rise, code officials and communities will want demonstrable proof that low-cost, energy-efficient metal building systems provide equivalent or better performance than brick and mortar counterparts in terms of safety and strength. click to continue
Accessibility in Recreation: Getting in the Game
Accessibility requirements primarily exist to allow equal access to all the places where people want to live, work and play. Current building codes address viewing events at recreational facilities with assembly seating requirements (including team and player seating); what the codes are branching out into is access to participation in the recreation activity itself. click to continue
The airtightness of the building envelope is an important key to understanding the performance of any new house. Uncontrolled air leakage can result in high fuel bills, failure of building components and increased builder callbacks. As a result, more and more time is being spent by the building trades sealing up new houses in an effort to reduce problems associated with air leakage. The question on many builders minds these days is; how tight should I be building my houses? After more than two decades of sealing up houses to make them more energy efficient, many people are wondering whether we've gone too far. The answer may be that we haven't gone far enough. click to continue
12 Major Trends in Library Design
Many academic planners assumed that the coming of the Internet would lead to the decline of the library as we know it. To the contrary, many academic libraries have experienced significantly increased patron use in recent years. click to continue