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With spiral stairs the 3/8" is measured at the 12" walk line.

Originally posted 2011-05-24 00:36:39.

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After several projects of fighting with the UL Manual (Underwriters Laboratories) and the International Building Code I discovered that there is a much easier visual way to find fire rated assemblies.

I use the Gypsum Association Fire Resistance Design Manual. Everything is visual and it is generally acceptable to building departments. It contains the most used gypsum fire rated designs and it also contains information on sound ratings for most of the assemblies. Plus it is a free download which the others are not.

The main note is that you need to read the ratings carefully where some of them are proprietary and designed for one manufacturer's gypsum product. In many cases there will be another number for the same assembly from a different manufacturer or a generic product. You can list them as alternates.

In addition you should read the general notes at the front, they tell you about ways that you can modify the assemblies and still maintain something acceptable for the rating. This is important for adding insulation, adding other layers to the assembly or changing the size of framing members.

Finally, if you need a rating that doesn't involve gypsum board then your best bet is probably Chapter 7 of the IBC. That's where I go for concrete and other assembly materials.

Originally posted 2008-10-27 22:27:18.

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As an example, the table lists 100 gross sf per occupant in a business occupancy. If you have a 1,000 sf office then you are designing for 10 occupants.  However, the 10 really functions as a minimum rather than a maximum. You must design adequate exiting and fixture count for 10 occupants.

If your space is actually designed for more occupants that's absolutely fine as long as you are following all of the code provisions for more occupants. In this example if your 1,000 sf is a call center with 25 people, then you need to make sure your exiting, plumbing, mechanical and so forth are designed to handle 25. You just have to make sure you don't exceed 1 person per 7 square feet, that's an absolute maximum and very tight quarters. I've never seen it, but the code official can ask you to show a diagram for your increased occupant load.

On the other end of the spectrum, you can actually design for less that the maximum occupant load, but only with approval of the building department, and I've never seen this happen.

The code section uses the phrase "design occupant load" and that is really a more accurate phrase.

Originally posted 2009-09-26 00:01:19.

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Casement windows are minimally 2'-4" wide by 3'-4" high. For many casement windows you'll need to order egress hardware which allows the window to not only swing open, but also swing away. Also remember that the sill can't be more than 44" above the floor so you may end up with a taller window for a head height over 6'-8". Anderson's Casement Sizes

Single or double hung windows are minimally 3'-0" wide by 4'-8" high or 2'-8" wide and 5'-6" high. I've seen a 2'-6" wide by 5'-0" high egress window but not all manufacturers make this window size. Anderson's Double Hung Sizes

Slider windows are minimally 4'-0" by 4'-0". Again, watch the maximum sill height. Anderson's Glider Sizes

I've included the links to the Anderson catalogs because they are very clear which of their windows allow for egress. Many manufacturers will call this out in their size charts. I'd suggest checking the specific sizes with the manufacturer that you intend to use and always specify which windows are intended for egress.

Originally posted 2008-11-08 00:01:41.

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Most states have adopted a common process for architectural licensure:

The first item is education, you need an accredited degree from a NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) approved program. This degree is either a Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture or Doctor of Architecture degree. If a degree is called anything else, it isn't an accredited degree. Generally going the Bachelor's route is a 5 year program and a Master of Architecture takes 2-3.5 years depending on your undergraduate education.

Then, there is the internship, and yes, interns are paid. The internship is a process that takes a minimum of 3 years during which the intern completes the Intern Development Program through NCARB. The IDP requires experience in all of the common aspects of the job of a licensed architect including design, construction documents, construction administration, management and professional/community service. Many interns take longer than 3 years to complete their internship.

The last requirement for licensure is the completion of a series of exams. The Architectural Registration Exam is a series of 7 tests over approximately 34 hours. The exams cost $1470, the exams can be taken at your own pace and the pass rate for each section is about 70%. After completion of the ARE, some states have their own additional exam. In most states you can only takes the ARE after completion of the IDP, but some states now allow you to take the ARE prior to completion of the IDP.

Upon completion of the accredited degree, IDP and ARE the candidate is eligible for licensure. The application is made to your state and generally takes several additional weeks. At the end of the process, you are a licensed architect in that state and eligible to apply for reciprocal licenses in other states.

In additional to this primary route, there are several states that will allow additional experience to substitute for the NAAB degree.  Colorado is one of theose states. States have different rules for reciprocal licenses from other states and foreign architects.

In total, the process generally takes a minimum of 8 years but most candidates take longer than the minimum. Among my peers, it is probably closer to a 10-12 process.

Originally posted 2009-08-30 17:45:22.

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The Sundance Channel has a show called Architecture School. It follows the work of a studio at Tulane focused on designing and building a house in some of the more difficult neighborhoods in New Orleans.

Chris and Elicia and I have been watching it and I think it is well done. The project involves real clients and real construction so it is a more interesting show that it might be if it focused more on the traditional studio project. Of course my perspective favors the architecture school experience.

Originally posted 2008-09-12 20:35:47.

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We've done some other small affordable rental house designs for him in the past so I wanted to give him a plan that showed the minimum and keep it in a ranch house without a basement. I drew this quick sketch to show that you don't have to put the bedrooms side by side in a 2 bedroom.I also wanted to give access to the backyard that would be more than 30" wide.

As it turns out, the lot is actually wider than the 25' so we have even more options for the actual plan.

Originally posted 2010-10-14 18:09:22.

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There is no shortage of talk about LEED these days so I think it merits a quick explanation.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it is a green building rating system that has been put in place by the US Green Building Council. Each project is rated based on a variety of criteria and then it is awarded a level of Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum depending on the number of points it is eligible for. Criteria include energy usage, indoor air quality, sustainable sites, water use, construction waste, recycling, etc.

Projects can be certified under several different rating systems including LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core and Shell. In addition there is a LEED for Homes that is new and a LEED for Neighborhood Development that is in its pilot phase.

Individuals who want to be LEED Accredited Professionals have to take and pass a test on one of the various LEED rating systems. When an individual passes the test they carry the LEED AP designation. Currently there are no continuing education requirements.

So for the record, buildings are LEED Certified and people are LEED Accredited. At least some of them.

Originally posted 2008-10-03 18:16:37.

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The primary method is through openings in the exterior walls with a minimum of 1 square foot of opening per 150 square feet of under floor area. Each corner of the building needs an opening within three feet. The vents must be protected with an approved perforated material.

Another option that does not require these exterior openings is covering the exposed earth with a continuous vapor retarder that extends at least 6" up the wall. Even with the vapor retarder the space must be mechanically ventilated, conditioned or used as a plenum space.

Originally posted 2009-10-23 00:01:45.

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