Building Codes and Interior Design

1
Building Codes and Interior Design

• Nansemond River High School
• Career Technical Education Department
• Architectural Drawing Design
• Dawn Rountree, Instructor

2
Related Competencies

• Design a floor plan.
• Acquire specification information, using the
  Internet and/or manuals.

3
Related Standards of Learning

• 10.4 The student will read and interpret
  informational materials.
• 11.4 The student will read and analyze a variety
  of informational materials.
• 12.4 The student will read and analyze a variety
  of informational materials, including electronic
  resources.
• G.2 The student will use pictorial
  representations, including computer software,
  constructions, and coordinate methods, to solve
  problems involving symmetry and transformation.
• G.12 The student will make a model of a
  three-dimensional figure from a two-dimensional
  drawing and make a two-dimensional representation
  of a three-dimensional object. Models and
  representations will include scale drawings,
  perspective drawings, blueprints, or computer
  simulations.
• G.14 The student will a. use proportional
  reasoning to solve practical problems, given
  similar geometric objects and b. determine how
  changes in one dimension of an object affect area
  and/or volume of the object.

4
Introduction

• Building codes
• are used for protection.
• set the minimum standard for safety.
• provide minimal guidelines for construction and
  inspection of a structure to prevent
• fire
• structural collapse
• general deterioration

5
Things That Could Cause Hazards

• Electrical Wiring
• Heating Equipment
• Sanitary Facilities

6
Early Building Codes

• George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were the
  first Americans to encourage building regulations
  as minimum standards for health and safety.

7
Building Codes Regulate

• Fire Issues
• Structural Ability
• Health Issues
• Security Issues
• Energy Conservation

8
Who Uses Building Codes?

• Engineers, Architects and Building Contractors
• Each City, County or State can write their own
  building codes

9
National Codes

• BOCABuilding Officials and Code Administrators
  International, Inc.
• SBCStandard Building Codes
• UBCUniform Building Codes
• IRCInternational Residential Code-2000

10
In addition to national codes

• HUDDepartment of Housing and Urban Development
• FHAFederal Housing Authority
• ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act
• DOEDepartment of Energy

11
continued

• EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency
• ANSIAmerican National Standards Institute
• CABOCouncil of American Building Officials
• ISOInternational Standards Organization

12
Choosing the Right Code

• The architect and engineer must determine which
  code will be used during the design process.
• They have to ensure that the structure complies
  with all required codes.

13
Choosing the Right Code

• Each code is divided into smaller sections that
  specify regulations covering
• Fire and life safety
• Structural safety
• Mechanical safety
• Electrical safety
• Plumbing safety
• Fire and life safety have the largest effect on
  the design and construction of a residence.

14
Basic Design Criteria for Building and Planning

• Building Codes have a larger influence on
  construction methods than the principle of
  design.
• Area of the code such as climatic and geographic
  design criteria will affect the materials used to
  resist forces from wind, snow and earthquakes.

15
Occupancy-Group R-1

• Houses
• Hotels
• Apartments
• Convents
• Single-family dwellings
• Lodging houses with more than 10 people

16
Occupancy-Group R-3

• Single family dwellings
• Apartment with less than 10 people
• Allowed to use the least restrictive type of
  construction and fire rating group

17
Space within a Home/Dwelling Unit

• Habitable Space
• Room used for sleeping, living, cooking or dining
  purposes

18
Space within a Home/Dwelling Unit

• Non-Habitable Space-
• Closets
• Pantries
• Bathrooms
• Hallways
• Utility Room
• Storage Spaces
• Garages
• Darkrooms
• Etc.

19
Location on the Property-Firewalls

• Exterior walls of R occupancy cannot be within
  3 feet of the property line without special
  provisions.
• If less than 3 feet, the wall must have a one
  hour fire wall rating
• 5/8 gypsum board on each side of the wall1 hr.
  fire wall
• Openings (doors/windows) are not allowed on fire
  walls with less than 3 feet.
• Projections (roofs/chimneys) cannot project more
  than 12 into areas where openings are permitted.

20
Accessibility Code

• Affect R-1 occupancies
• Hotels, apartments, private homes with more than
  10
• People
• R-3 occupancies
• 4 or more dwelling units in one structure
• R-1 occupancies
• Can be divided into
• A-unit
• B-unit

21
A-Unit

• Major Code Sections include
• Accessible Routes
• General Site and Building Elements
• Plumbing Elements and Fixtures
• Communication Elements and Fixtures
• Special Rooms and Spaces
• Built in furnishing and equipment
• Major Guidelines
• Bathroom-wheelchair access
• Kitchen-access to work area and counter height
  requirements

22
B-Unit

• In accordance with Ch. 11 of governing code
  consideration is given
• Accessible routes
• Operating controls for
• Electrical
• Environmental
• Intercom
• Security
• Doorways
• Kitchen
• Bath Design

23
Accessible Routes

• It is the walking surface from the exterior
  access throughout the residence.
• The exterior access can NOT be in a bedroom.
• There must be 1 route to connect all spaces in
  the dwelling unit.
• If only 1 route, it can NOT pass through
  bathroom, closet, etc.

24
Accessible Routes

• Openings must be a minimum of 36 inches except at
  doors.
• Changes in the floor level more than ½ inch must
  have a ramp, elevator or wheelchair lift.
• Ramps cannot have a slope greater than 148.
• Exception! Exterior door to deck, porch or patio
  to lower exterior surface can be 4 inches below
  the finished interior floor surface.

25
Operating Controls

• Controls should be centrally located in a clean,
  floor space minimum 30x 48
• Controls should be no more than 48 from the
  finished floor.
• Controls should be at least 15 from the finished
  floor.

26
Operating Controls-Exceptions!

• Electrical receptacles for dedicated use
• Appliance mounted controls or switches
• Single receptacle above a countertop
  uninterrupted by a sink or appliance
• Floor electrical receptacles
• Plumbing fixture controls

27
Door Openings

• Minimum clear opening of 32 inches
• At least one door must be 36 inches
• Good design allows for a wheelchair to be able to
  turn

28
Kitchen Codes

• Clear floor area should be a minimum of 30x48
• Required for cook top oven, dishwasher, freezer,
  range, refrigerator, sink and trash compactor

29
Toilet and Bathing Facilities

• Doors are not allowed to swing into the required
  clear floor space for any feature unless an
  minimum of 30x48 is provided beyond the swing
  of the door
• Allows the person to enter, close the door and
  move to the feature.

30
Toilet and Bathing Facility Requirements

• 18 minimum space from the centerline of the
  fixture in the bathroom
• 15 minimum space when between the bathtub and
  sink
• 18 minimum from centerline of fixture to the wall

31
Exit Facilities-Doors

• Must have 1 door minimum 36 wide and 68 tall
• Any hall adjacent to that door should be minimum
  36 wide (clear)
• Other door sizes can vary, but one exit door must
  be 36
• Floor or landing must be provided on each side of
  an exterior door within 8 of the threshold and
  door.
• Minimum landing 3x3 door cannot swing over
  clear landing.

32
Emergency Egress Openings

• Egressmeans exit
• Usually doors, windows and hallways
• E.E. is required in EVERY sleeping space and in
  every basement with habitable space
• Escape can be through a door or window that opens
  onto a street, alley, yard, etc.

33
Emergency Egress Openings

• Must operate without the use of tools or keys
• The sill of all E.E. can be no more than 44 from
  the finished floor.

34
Emergency Egress Openings

• Windows must have a minimum clear area of 5.7 sq.
  ft (20 wide min. and 24 tall min)
• In basements, window must have a well (that
  allows the window to be fully opened)
• Minimum projection/width is 36 when open.
• If more than 44 must have a permanent ladder or
  stair

35
Smoke Detectors

• Help provide early detection
• IRC states that the smoke alarm must be in every
  sleeping room and central corridor to these rooms
• 1 level home alarm at end of hall with BR
• Multi-level home alarm on every floor, including
  basement and over the stairs to the 2nd floor
• Split Level only on upper level if lower level
  is less than 1 full story. If there is a door
  there, put an alarm.

36
Smoke Detectors

• Split Levels if there are sleeping areas on a
  floor it must have an alarm
• Should not be placed in the kitchen or fireplace
  because a small about of smoke could set the
  alarm off
• Should be located 12 from the top of the ceiling
  or mounted on the ceiling
• Must be electrically wired so that if one alarm
  goes off all of them will

37
Halls

• Must be a minimum of 36 wide
• Most hallways are 42 or wider
• Wider hallways help to create a sense of openness
  and create an ease of movement
• Make furniture movement easier

38
Stairs

• Dictate the layout of a structure
• Must be considered in the early design stages
• Good design
• Width 36-42
• Common Tread 10-10 ½
• Rise 7 ½
• The rise of the stairs can be no less than 4
  inches.
• The largest step cannot exceed the smallest step
  by 3/8

39
Stairs

• Winding Stairs
• Minimum width of 10 is provided at a point no
  more than 12 from treads.
• Narrow point cannot be less than 6

• Spiral Stairs
• Should be a 2nd option
• Makes it hard to move furniture
• Width minimum 26
• Run 7 ½
• Rise enough for 66 headroom but not more than
  9 ½

40
Stairs

• Headroom
• Must have a minimum 68 for regular stairs
• Must have a minimum 66 for spiral stairs
• Affects WALL PLACEMENT above the stairs

41
Stair Code

• If more than 3 stepsrequired
• At least 1 smooth handrail that goes the length
  of the stairs
• Must be on open side of stairs
• 34-38 above the front stair
• Must be 1 ½ from wall, but no more than
• 3 ½
• Guardrail must be provided at changes in floor or
  ground over 30
• Must be 36 high and 4 object cannot pass
  through it

42
Room Dimensions

• Requirement that affects the size and ceiling
  height of rooms
• Every dwelling unit is required minimum of 1 room
  with 120 sq ft.
• Other habitable rooms (other than the kitchen)
  must be a minimum of 70 sq ft. and not less than
  7 ft in any direction
• 30 minimum space for toilets
• 21 minimum space in front of toilet

43
Room Dimensions

• Habitable Space, halls, corridors, bathrooms,
  laundry rooms and basements must have a minimum
  70 ceiling
• In rooms with a sloping ceiling, minimum height
  must be maintained for at least one half of the
  room
• The rest must have a 5 minimum slope.
• If less, that part cannot be counted in habitable
  square footage.

44
Light and Ventilation

• Code helps to determine window size and placement
• All habitable space must have natural light from
  a window
• Kitchens are the exception to this
• Windows must open to street, alley, or yard on
  the same site
• They may open on a porch as long at 65 of the
  area is open

45
Light and Ventilation

• Skylights can serve as a window
• IRC requires a glazing area equal to 8 of the
  floor area and 50 of that area needs to be open
• Glass is limited in areas of strong winds and
  earthquakes
• E.E. must be in every bedroom
• Bedrooms and laundry rooms must have min 3 sq ft.
  window area and 50 of that must open

46
Alternatives

• In areas where a large number of energy
  alternatives are available you can choose
  depending on the quality of insulation, framing
  system used and quality of windows to be installed

47
Heating

• Very minimal requirements
• IRC requires a heating unit that will produce and
  maintain a room temperature of 68 degrees at a
  point 3 foot above the floor in all habitable
  rooms

48
Sanitation

• Rarely affect the design of a structure
• Must have a toilet, sink, tub or shower
• Not mandated to have hot or cold water
• All plumbing must be connected to a sanitary
  sewer system or to an approved private sewage
  disposal system
• The room containing the toilet must be separated
  from food preparation areas by a tight-fitting
  door.

49
Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria

• The following areas have special code
  information
• Roof live load
• Roof snow load
• Wind pressure
• Seismic condition by zone
• Possible weather damage
• Possible termite damage
• Possible decay damage
• Frost line depth
• Winter design temperature for heating facilties