Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Fire rated acoustical tile ceilings
It seems counter-intuitive to think that acoustical tile ceilings can be part of a rated assembly, but they are, based on UL classifications and product literature.
Friday, September 24, 2010
UFAS
Any project that involves federal funding must comply with UFAS. This means direct funding, block grants, vouchers, the whole nine. All tax credit financed projects which take vouchers must comply with UFAS. The short answer here is that 5% of the units must comply with UFAS standards, regardless of the local jurisdiction's requirements (which, depending on where you are, requires 2% to 15% of units to be accessible per the IBC, which references ANSI 117.1).
It seems that in jurisdictions that require less than 5% accessible units, the compliance with UFAS (5%) is a safe harbor.
In jurisdictions that require more than 5% accessible units, compliance with UFAS for the 5% and compliance with ANSI for the remaining required units would suffice. Or UFAS for all of them.
When there is no federal money involved, UFAS doesn't apply.
Quick access to the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards.
And the mother of all checklists for UFAS is here.
It seems that in jurisdictions that require less than 5% accessible units, the compliance with UFAS (5%) is a safe harbor.
In jurisdictions that require more than 5% accessible units, compliance with UFAS for the 5% and compliance with ANSI for the remaining required units would suffice. Or UFAS for all of them.
When there is no federal money involved, UFAS doesn't apply.
Quick access to the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards.
And the mother of all checklists for UFAS is here.
Paint colors
One of the most subjective aspects of design, based on opinion and taste, and not at all on empirical reasoning. Couple that with the fact that finishes are often chosen in places where the light that will actually reflect on them in their final built environment is not rendered in the same way, i.e. we're pickin' 'em in our office under fluorescent lighting.
For what it's worth, paint colors by a particular manufacturer on the screen are searchable here.
For what it's worth, paint colors by a particular manufacturer on the screen are searchable here.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sliding doors
Operable sliding doors for retail/apt lobby/etc entrances come in many options. One of the most popular manufacturers is Stanley, who produces many other items besides sliding doors.
Permitting officials are starting to look for cutsheets for this information, so the specs and drawings on the site provide the code compliance info that they need.
Permitting officials are starting to look for cutsheets for this information, so the specs and drawings on the site provide the code compliance info that they need.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Trench drains
Often overlooked, the last defense against water entering interior spaces. Especially in backsloped basement areas or HC entrances.
Best solution is to grade properly so as not to have them at all.
Bigger, beefier ones for parking lots, garages, etc. Smaller ones end of HC ramps that slope toward buildings (like the Parkwood leasing office).
Considerations are size, depth (must be formed in concrete), type of grate openings, where outfall leads to.
Neenah Foundries line spec'd for Georgia Commons.
Used at Fairlawn Marshall Scattered Sites to divert sheet flow from the parking lot toward the buildings (bad pre-existing site condition).
Best solution is to grade properly so as not to have them at all.
Bigger, beefier ones for parking lots, garages, etc. Smaller ones end of HC ramps that slope toward buildings (like the Parkwood leasing office).
Considerations are size, depth (must be formed in concrete), type of grate openings, where outfall leads to.
Neenah Foundries line spec'd for Georgia Commons.
Used at Fairlawn Marshall Scattered Sites to divert sheet flow from the parking lot toward the buildings (bad pre-existing site condition).
Treads and risers
7-11.
Not the Slurpee store. Not the 1st American pro cycling team to compete in the Tour De France.
7" risers, 11 " treads. Code minimums. Some jurisdictions allow for up to 8 1/4" risers and 9" treads within dwelling units, but this is becoming passe.
Another good rule of thumb, for anthropomorphic reasons, is the number 18, as follows:
riser + tread = 18"
Lower risers require longer treads, to accommodate the natural gait of walking...
Not the Slurpee store. Not the 1st American pro cycling team to compete in the Tour De France.
7" risers, 11 " treads. Code minimums. Some jurisdictions allow for up to 8 1/4" risers and 9" treads within dwelling units, but this is becoming passe.
Another good rule of thumb, for anthropomorphic reasons, is the number 18, as follows:
riser + tread = 18"
Lower risers require longer treads, to accommodate the natural gait of walking...
Authorities Having Jurisdiction: DC
Some key things to remember:
DC requires 15% (!) of units to be Type A ANSI accessible. This is fraught with different interpretations. 15% of units on the accessible route? 15% of units for the entire building/project? It is only clear that new construction in an elevatored building has 15% HC units, due to the fact that every unit is on an accessible route. Woodson Heights demonstrated that the same agency can have 2 different interpretations of this during the permitting process, and no clear answer.
DCRA website.
DC Building Code Supplement of 2008.
DC Building Code Supplement of 2003 (now defunct, but still enforced for buildings with permit submissions prior to December 2008)
DC requires 15% (!) of units to be Type A ANSI accessible. This is fraught with different interpretations. 15% of units on the accessible route? 15% of units for the entire building/project? It is only clear that new construction in an elevatored building has 15% HC units, due to the fact that every unit is on an accessible route. Woodson Heights demonstrated that the same agency can have 2 different interpretations of this during the permitting process, and no clear answer.
DCRA website.
DC Building Code Supplement of 2008.
DC Building Code Supplement of 2003 (now defunct, but still enforced for buildings with permit submissions prior to December 2008)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Fire separation assemblies
Contrary to popular belief, the gypcrete in the UL L-528 floor ceiling assembly is not required to achieve the 1 hour rating. Flooring system No. 1 specifically shows underlayment without any sort of gypcrete.
UL ratings can be accessed online here.
Fire resistance assemblies can be selected by fire rating here. This is a cool little interactive exercise that avoids having to thumb through the Big Orange Book. It's still a good idea to consult the B.O.B. anyway as we can't depend entirely on the web...
Use ALL the tools at your disposal.
UL ratings can be accessed online here.
Fire resistance assemblies can be selected by fire rating here. This is a cool little interactive exercise that avoids having to thumb through the Big Orange Book. It's still a good idea to consult the B.O.B. anyway as we can't depend entirely on the web...
Use ALL the tools at your disposal.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Cabinet nomenclature
BLSH3636 = BRC36 = Base lazy susan with full height doors
This can get quite confusing.
Every cabinet manufacturer has a different label for type of cabinet...drawings should have a legend/note indicating exact cabinet type to convey intent.
This can get quite confusing.
Every cabinet manufacturer has a different label for type of cabinet...drawings should have a legend/note indicating exact cabinet type to convey intent.
Interior building dimensions
Check, double check, triple check.
Repeated units can morph over time, and even within a building plan, especially if the building has a subtle shape change (i.e. parallelogram) or there are outside corner and inside corner units.
Check for dimensional regularity of critical spaces (front entry, door clearances, kitchens, and bathrooms) to find anomolies in the layouts.
Georgia Commons units, especially types 1A & 1B, represent these unique conditions within "regularized" layouts.
Repeated units can morph over time, and even within a building plan, especially if the building has a subtle shape change (i.e. parallelogram) or there are outside corner and inside corner units.
Check for dimensional regularity of critical spaces (front entry, door clearances, kitchens, and bathrooms) to find anomolies in the layouts.
Georgia Commons units, especially types 1A & 1B, represent these unique conditions within "regularized" layouts.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Dryer vent ductwork issues
Distance from wall, number of bends, vent cap strategies, heat rating against insulation...
Roof ventilation - different types of roof vents
"Roof jacks" aka shed roof vents for situations where ridge or gable venting is not possible. This assumes that soffit venting is in place; this vent draws air through the higher portion of the roof.
Energy efficient roof designs are starting to look into not ventilating the roof at all and considering the roof membrane as a portion of the insulated building envelope.
Energy efficient roof designs are starting to look into not ventilating the roof at all and considering the roof membrane as a portion of the insulated building envelope.
Everything we need to know about drywall.
US Gypsum Association website.
Some shaftwall details from Georgia Pacific.
Gypsum board product details from Certainteed.
Some shaftwall details from Georgia Pacific.
Gypsum board product details from Certainteed.
Mailboxes, etc. (Get it?)
Postal service regs require "4B+" mailboxes in new construction/relocation of existing boxes. More space requirements!!!
Here's a link.
Here's a link.
Ganged mailbox info for apartment/condo lobbies, including heights, installation details, specs, etc.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Stairwell door fire safety/security
IBC requires positive latching at all doors, and passage between stairwell and floor served.
Buildings that require stairwell security require electric strikes or trim to achieve this.
Electric strikes will only comply with both if Hi-Tower strike is used. Otherwise utilize electrified cylinder trim (with electric hinge). Or other options, like these.
More research here.
Code citations:
IBC 2006 1008.1.8.7 & 403.12
NFPA 1014 7.2.1.5.7 sections 1-10
IIC ratings
Impact insulation class (IIC) ratings are required to be 50 (45 if field tested).
These are not enforced by local jurisdictions, at least not lately, but they may become popular among the litigious crowd.
Hard surfaces: Use underlayment under tile/hardwood.
Bare concrete (stained) while hip is a tough surface to clad to meet IIC.
Soft vinyl and carpeting approach 50 IIC plus.
Links:
How resilient channels absorb sound waves. Resilient channels lose their effectiveness when they are "shorted out".
IIC definition. Shows axon sketches of different material configurations.
Sound deadening materials. And techniques, too.
Steel Doors
Steel Door Institute has good info for specs, and downloadable .pdf docs for different conditions.
A Label = 3 hours
B Label = 1.5 hours (90 minutes)
C Label = .75 hour (45 minutes)
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