The International building code 2015/2018, Florida Building Code 2017,2020, and corresponding Residential Codes list the following in regards to egress as an emergency escape in regards to windows & doors leading out of a dwelling. Please note that these may be paraphrased and are for general purposes only. Consult the actual code for specific requirements. …
Sunrooms across the US are categorized into 5 categories. AAMA published these in their AAMA/NPEA/NSA 2100-12 publication which made its way into the Florida & International Building Codes. FBC (17, 20) lists this in Chapter 20 section 2002.6 directly siting the AAMA/NPEA/NSA 2100 spec. IBC References AAMA 2100 in IRC Chapter 44 Please refer to…
Florida Statute 555.79(1)(a) lists the requirements and penalties of building plan reviewers when they issue comments and deny permit applications. Here’s an excerpt from that section with a link to the source file here: 553.79 Permits; applications; issuance; inspections.— (1)(a) … Whenever a permit required under this section is denied or revoked because the plan, or the…
Questions frequently arise as to what the rule is in Florida, Miami, and the HVHZ zone (Dade and Broward Counties, FL) under the Florida Building Code (FBC) for impact rating on mechanical equipment. The answer also has similar references in the International Building Code (IBC) for impact areas of the US Coast, and ultimately depends…
Background Building codes require that buildings be classified by their level of importance in determining the risk taken with safety factors against their failure under critical design loads. Calculations for the structure’s overall stability, flexure, and fatigue are all based on the assumption of a given risk category design level. ASCE 7 references risk category…
It is often asked of us to explain the validator and quality assurance requirements of the Florida Statewide Product Approval System. While there is much more to learn about the topic of obtaining a Florida Statewide approval, the following explains these terms and requirements. Contact an engineer at Engineering Express to discuss your product approval…
WHAT IS A MASTER PLAN SHEET / PRODUCT EVALUATION / TER? Think of a master plan sheet product evaluation, or TER (they’re all similar in nature) as a set of general instructions of how to assemble a building component without regard to a specific installation. Unlike an address-specific (or site-specific) plan, Master Plan Sheets are…
HERE’S 3 MYTHS ABOUT PRODUCT APPROVALS: Background: Product evaluations (sometimes called “product approvals”, “ICC reports”, NOA’s or similar) for building components are the general rule in the International Building Code. Building officials, architects, insurance companies, third party reviewers, even homeowners ask for them all the time, frequently refusing permits, insurance discounts, and product installations.…
Alteration – Level 1 (Existing Building Code Section 503): Removal and replacement, or covering of existing materials, equipment, fixtures using new materials that serve the same purpose. Alteration –Level 1 does not include reconfiguration of space. Commentary: Typically the component (delegate) engineer (such as Engineering Express® who are Building Component Design Engineers) serves as…
Overview (Update): Changes to the 2020 Florida Building Code for Porous Impact Protection Devices Porous Impact Protective Systems: ASTM E1996-12A brought a significant change to Porous Impact Protective Systems (PIPS). A Porous Impact Protective System is defined as “An assembly whose aggregate open area exceeds 10% of its projected surface area”. Prior to ASTM E1996-12A,…
As of January, 2018, here is an explanation from Miami Dade County’s Product Approval System (Product Control) on the differences, timeframes, and fees for their various applications: Renewal: This extends the expiration date of the approval (for up to 5 years, contact Miami Dade for your specific time frame). A renewal does not include…
Product Approvals for building components are the general rule in Florida. Building officials, architects, insurance companies, even homeowners ask for them all the time, frequently refusing permits, insurance discounts, and product installations. So what is the legal ruling on when and if product approvals are required for this product? The Florida Building Code requires only…
Section 1809.5 of the Florida Building Code (2017) and 2012, 2015 & 2018 International Building Code describe the design requirements of shallow foundations in regions where soil is subjected to seasonal ground freezing. The code requires that footings are protected from frost to prevent a phenomenon known as heave. Frost heave occurs when water penetrates…
Explanation In the event of a high wind event, it is the concern of building codes ASCE-7 and ASTM specifications that windows and doors don’t fail and develop an opening breach in the building. An opening would allow more wind to enter the structure and pressurize the inside of the building, leading to other doors…
According to Section 1710.8.4 of the Florida Building Code Fifth Edition (2014), “Opening protection components, fasteners, and other parts evaluated by an approved product evaluation entity, certification agency, testing laboratory, architect, or engineer and approved by the holder of the product approval may be interchangeable in opening protection assemblies provided that the opening protection component(s)…
From the 5th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2014) section 1603.1.4 and from section 1603.1.4. of the 2012 International Building Code, construction documents shall show the following: Ultimate design wind speed, Vult (3-second gust), miles per hour and nominal design wind speed (Vasd) as determined in accordance with code section 1609.3.1 Risk Category…
Missile Level E 6.2.1.1 Enhanced Protection (Essential Facilities): Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities, including but not limited to hospitals, other health care facilities having emergency treatment facilities, jails and detention facilities, fire, rescue and police stations, and emergency vehicle garages, designated emergency shelters, communications centers and other facilities required for emergency response,…
About Exposure D Exposure ‘D’ is a multiplier when converting wind velocity to wind pressure that represents coastal areas. It’s used in many formulas in ASCE 7 for wind, a larger topic than covered here. Non coastal areas have Exposure categories B and C. Exposure D is a moving target from the coastline based on…
The answer to that question varies with location and type of building, but feel free to download the attachment listed below which is an exhaustive list of the wind speeds used in the general Florida locale and another general map for the country. Please be sure to verify with your local Building Department as these…
YES. The loading requirement of “Rooftop Structures” has been revised in ASCE 7-10. Essentially, buildings less than 60-ft still have the requirement that their wind load be multiplied by a GCr factor applied to the wind pressure that can be as high as 1.9. This has been in place since the 2007 version of the…
Most all products are evaluated using the ASD method (unless noted otherwise). ASD method in, then ASD method out. Among the notable changes in ASCE 7-10, the wind speed map and the importance factor for wind loads have been replaced with three wind load maps based on difference and newly defined return periods and for…