Thursday, May 28, 2009

Clearance heights for cleanouts

NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880


Crawl Space Heights for Cleanouts
Code: 2006 Plumbing Code Date: July 1, 2006
Section: 708.4

Question:
If a cleanout is placed in a crawl space, is the travel path required to be 24 inches in height ?


Answer:
Yes, the cleanout must extend to the outside of the building if the crawl space height is less than 24 inches. If the cleanout is placed in the crawl space, the crawl space height shall be not less than 24 inches at the cleanout and along the travel path from the access door to the cleanout.

Sill Plate Anchor Bolt Hole Size

NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880

Sill Plate Anchor Bolt Hole Size
Code: 2002 Residential Code Date: October 1, 2007
Section: R403.1.6

Question:
How large can the hole in the sill plate be for the 1/2" anchor bolt
?


Answer:
The code does not address this directly. It is assumed that the hole will not exceed the capabilities of the washer and nut to withstand the same tensile strength as the 1/2" anchor bolt. Also the compression of the wood fiber around the hole must also be considered. With these factors considered the hole should not exceed the diameter of the anchor bolt plus 2 times the washer thickness. The hole may be elongated in one direction for alignment with the anchor bolt. Half of the diameter of the elongated hole can not be more than two times the thickness of the washer from the outside diameter of the anchor bolt.

Emergency Egress Openings

NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880
Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening Minimum Size
Code: 2006 Residential Code Date: October 1, 2007
Section: R310.1.1

Question:
What is the difference in the 4.0 square feet minimum net clear opening requirement and the minimum glass area requirement for emergency escape and rescue openings?


Answer:
The 4.0 square feet minimum net clear opening refers to the opening required when the sash is in the fully open position. This opening is expected to be used by the occupant for emergency escape.
The 5.0 and 5.7 minimum glass area requirement is the size of the window opening when all the sashes are removed. This opening size is based on the minimum required opening for a rescue worker to enter and remove an occupant. Also it expected that the rescue worker has the equipment required to knock the sash(s) out for access. The 5.7 square feet opening size for the second and third floors is to account for the additional area needed to dismount a ladder and enter the opening.

Keywords:
Fireman, firemen, glazing

Tempered Glass

NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880

Tempered Glass Next to Doors
Code: 2006 Residential Code. Date: October 1, 2007
Section: R308.4

Question:
If a window is located within 24" of a door, is tempered glass required?


Answer:
Glazing that is within 24 inches of either the hinge or latch side of a door, whose bottom edge is less than 60" above the floor or walking surface and is in the same plane (same wall) as the door, must be tempered or safety glazing which meets CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201. This is different from the NC Building Code (Commercial Code) and the International Residential Code.
Exception 4 applies to a door to a closet or storage area 3 feet or less in depth.

Boat Houses

NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal – Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880

Boathouses Accessory to Single-Family Dwellings

Code: 2006 Residential Code Date: October 14, 2008
Sections: R301.1 and Appendix M

Question 1. Are engineered designs required for all boathouses built at private residences?
Answer: No. Boathouses for private residences are accessory structures to the single family residence. Consequently, if constructed in accordance with Appendix M, the design need not be sealed. Treating the boathouses as freestanding decks is an entirely appropriate application of Appendix M. Essentially, the boathouse is a covered, freestanding deck. The last sentence of Section 502.2.1 states, "Exterior decks shall be permitted to be constructed in accordance with Appendix M." This statement is intended to apply to both attached decks and freestanding decks. Roof structures should be constructed in accordance with Chapter 8 Roof-Ceiling Construction.

Question 2. How should the piles be designed and inspected?
Answer: Appendix M has provisions for embedded posts intended to address lateral stability of the deck. However, the Appendix M embedment depths assume the posts are embedded in concrete encasements. Most residential boathouses utilize driven wood piles or embedded wood posts with no encasement. For driven piles and posts the embedment depth may be calculated using the mathematical formula in Section 1805.7.2.1 of the Building Code. The installer of the piles must provide signed, notarized certification that the piles are installed to the required depths, or the installer can retain an independent testing laboratory to observe the installation and certify the installation. If no testing lab is on site during the installation, and there is any question concerning the depths of the piles, then the local building inspector has the right to request verification through field testing by an independent testing laboratory. Many testing laboratories have access to Ground Penetrating Radar equipment or other devices that are capable of sounding the depths of the piles. Testing, since it is expensive, should only be requested in the event the installation is questionable.

Question 3. For decks and boathouses, can an engineered design be used as an alternate method which is different from the provisions of Appendix M?
Answer: Appendix M was written in general terms to apply to a wide range of structures. Consequently, the provisions of Appendix M are necessarily conservative. It is, therefore, possible for an engineered design to be different from Appendix M and still comply with the intent of the code. Any engineered design should be accompanied by
sealed calculations based on ASCE 7 (American Society of Civil Engineers), the AF&PA (American Forest and Paper Association) National Design Specification, accepted principles of structural mechanics, and accepted principles of soil mechanics.
Note, for structures in Coastal areas, see Chapter 45 for additional requirements. For structures in high-wind zones, see Chapter 44 for additional requirements.

Keywords: Boathouses, covered decks, boat docks

Bedroom Definition

NC Department of Insurance
Office of the State Fire Marshal - Engineering Division
1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202
919-661-5880

Bedroom Definition

Code: 2006 Residential Code Date: October 1, 2007
Section: R202

Question:
When does a room have to be treated as a bedroom?

Answer:

When it meets the definition provided in Section 202 of the code. The definition for “Bedroom” is “Sleeping Room”. The definition for “Sleeping Room” is:
“A room designated as sleeping or bedroom on the plans.”
A room with a closet and/or a room with a window properly sized for an emergency escape opening does not constitute a bedroom. Only a room meeting the definition in the code is considered a bedroom.

Keywords:
Single family dwelling, house, smoke detector

Friday, May 15, 2009

Schedule Monday 5-18-09

125 TREVOR WAY FINAL ELE 05/18/2009 jc 9-11 m
112 E CANVASBACK DR FINAL / COC 05/18/2009 bn 9-11 c
102 HERMANS CT FINAL / COC 05/18/2009 jc 9-11 m
112 WOOD DUCK DR. FINAL / COC 05/18/2009 bn 9-11 c
100 FYVIE DR T - POLE 05/18/2009 ss 9-11 c
541 GRANDY RD T - POLE 05/18/2009 ss 9-11 p
220 & 221 MARSH CAUSEWAY FRAMING 05/18/2009 jc 9-11 f
119 COOPER LANDING DR BLOCK 05/18/2009 ss 9-11 p
170 PUDDIN RIDGE RD GAS TEST 05/18/2009 jc 9-11 m
170 PUDDIN RIDGE RD MEC R / IN 05/18/2009 jc 9-11 m
113 SWAN DR. FOUNDATION 05/18/2009 bn 9-11 c
659 SHAWBORO RD FOOTING 05/18/2009 bn 9-11 c
690 AYDLETT RD FINAL / COC 05/18/2009 ss 9-11 p
119 COOPER LANDING DR SLAB 05/18/2009 ss 9-11 p

Schedule Friday 5/15/09

109 SANDY LN FINAL/CERTIF OF COMPLIANCE 05/15/2009 200800993 9-11 bn p
113 CREEKSIDE DR INSULATION REINSPECTION 05/15/2009 200900238 10-12 jc m
119 COOPER LANDING DR BLOCK INSPECTION 05/15/2009 200900336 9-11 bn p
171 PUDDIN RIDGE RD FINAL/COC REINSPECTION 05/15/2009 200900211 10-12 jc m
175 NEW BEACH RD NAILING/TIEDOWN 05/15/2009 200900360 9-11 bn p
186 WALKER DR FOOTING 05/15/2009 200900399 9-11 bn c
216 WILDWOOD DR TRENCH 05/15/2009 200800778 10-12 jc m
330 GREEN VIEW RD FINAL/COC REINSPECTION 05/15/2009 200900299 10-12 jc m

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

#2 Grade studs

We have recently been finding stud grade lumber being installed in walls greater than 8' please make sure that you are using #2 studs when the stud lenght exceeds 8' with a maximum of 10'. Stud grade lumber may be used up 8' lenght but cannot exceed
8'please look at the grade stamps on your lumber.