Architecture, Engineering & Planning EVstudio | Denver & Evergreen Architect | Colorado & Central Texas | Blog

EVstudio.info has Moved

Sean O'Hara — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:07:21 +0000

This is planned to be the last new post on EVstudio.info. We've moved and merged with the EVstudio.com blog. Check out the new home at www.EVstudio.com/blog.

Accessible and Smart Rec Center Cabana Design

Matt Svoboda — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:45 +0000

One of the most important functions of recreation center cabanas in family locker rooms is providing a convenient place for users of all physical ability levels to change in comfort and privacy. As the recreation center cabana concept has become more common, the diversity of target users has increased and the types and arrangements of fixtures has evolved as well. Cabanas now are often larger and better designed to not only accommodate wheelchair users but families and seniors also. Standard clearances and adjacencies are of course observed, but there are other factors for an architect to consider:

The Bench - An accessible bench is required by code for the rec center cabana to be considered a changing room or part of a locker room, and benches of this kind are often misinterpreted. The bench is required to be 20-24 inches deep and 42 inches long minimum, and is required to allow a parallel approach on a SHORT end of the bench. This means that a wheelchair user should be able to position themselves with their back to the wall and slide onto the bench in a manner similar to how they would move onto the retractable seat in a shower. Also, consider using a longer bench (up to 6 feet) if you have the room. Not all of your disabled guests need a wheelchair! For your guests which need assistance getting dressed, a place to lie down fully can be a big help. If you are concerned about using up too much space, make one "deluxe" room and minimize the rest...your users will remember which one it is!

Door swing - Swinging a door out of a room is a common trick when having trouble with required clearances in the room, but in a high-traffic area like a family locker room it is often inadvisable to allow a door to swing out for fear of hitting someone. Try keeping all plumbing fixtures on the wall opposite the cabana door to allow the maximum door maneuverability.

Toilet partition - The biggest eater of space in any accessible area is the turning radius. This can be exacerbated by the desire to have an individual toilet partition in your cabana which allows one family member (a child, for example) to use the toilet with privacy while others use the shower or wash their hands. If you have several cabanas and space is tight, consider using the toilet partition in only the non-accessible rooms, and you'll find there is greater flexibility and convenience for your disabled users, who frequently use the room solo.

Originally posted 2010-02-26 00:01:04.

Bentley RAM Structural Software used by EVstudio

Jim Houlette — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:44 +0000

Structural Model - All Systems

The structural department prefers to use Bentley RAM structural design software for our finite element design needs. The total design package includes many different tools that can be used individually or together as shown above when several different materials and framing members are used. The software allows engineers to model a structure in 3D and keep a complete "total" design all in one. Different framing systems can then be designed using the different tools, but yet all loads and materials are saved into the same model.

This model is of the Company Headquarters building for the Warrior in Transition Project at Fort Hood, Texas. EVstudio is also designing the Soldier & Family Assistance Center that will be built along with the Headquarters. We are the design partner for Au Authum Ki who is the contractor and contract holder.

Elevated Two-way concrete floor - Reinforcement perspective

Although the structural software is very powerful, you as the engineer must be fully aware of how each member is interacting with each other and verify the output is correct.

Elevated Two-way concrete floor - Deflection plan

Originally posted 2010-08-17 00:01:54.

The Maximum Occupant Load in the Building Code – Not a Maximum

Sean O'Hara — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:43 +0000

There is a common misconception about the "Maximum" Occupant Load table in the International Building Code. This table list the number of occupants per square foot that you are designing to rather than a true maximum.

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.

Types and Design of Wood Trusses

Jim Houlette — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:42 +0000

Here are some great resources about the different types of wood trusses and how they are designed. If you have any questions about roof or floor trusses please let us know.

Alpine Engineered Products – Builder’s Guide

SBCA – Structural Building Components Association – Truss Configurations

Originally posted 2009-08-16 00:01:36.

Common Egress Window Sizes and Operation

Sean O'Hara — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:41 +0000

I recently posted an article on the rules behind egress windows. I realize that knowing the rules doesn't necessarily mean that you know the most common window sizes for each different window operation. So here are the basics and some links to the Anderson Window catalog as a guide:

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.

Rating of Floors and Ceilings of Exit Enclosures

Bill Foster — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:40 +0000

(Disclaimer: Code Analysis especially for egress and fire ratings is very building specific and a solution that works for one building may not work for another.)

In a recent project I set about to solve a question that occurs quite frequently in multi-story buildings.

Can you rate the ceiling or “lid” of a stair or elevator enclosure thus avoiding the expense and complication of taking the rated walls to the bottom of the roof? What I found is still somewhat inconclusive. On this building the IBC allows for a rated lid as long as it matches the rating of the vertical walls (IBC 2009, Section 708.12).

The only problem is that ceiling assemblies do not have their own ratings. Only Floor/Ceiling or Roof/Ceiling assemblies are given ratings. This can be handled by making the ceiling of the vertical enclosure into a Floor/Ceiling assembly. If you are dealing with a building type that allows for combustible materials such as plywood in your floors then there are relatively simple assemblies that will work.

If not then the assemblies get more expensive and it may be in your best interest to take the walls of your enclosure to the bottom of the roof deck. This was the case in this building.

That choice brought up another question:

Does the roof have to be rated at the top of a stair or elevator shaft?

The answer on this particular building appears to be no because the IBC only talks about the walls of vertical enclosures being rated and does not mention the top and bottom.

IBC 707.3.2 “fire barrier separating building areas from an exit shall exit shall comply with Section 1022.1.”

And

IBC 707.5 “Continuity: Fire barriers shall extend from the top of the floor/ceiling assembly below to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, slab or deck above and shall be securely attached thereto.”

Based on these sections I concluded that for this particular building taking the exit enclosure walls from foundation to roof deck was the most straightforward approach and that neither the floor or the roof needed to be rated.

Originally posted 2010-12-06 00:27:00.

Common Land Surveys Available From EVstudio in Colorado

evstudio — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:39 +0000

EVstudio has a Colorado Professional Land Surveyor as part of our team and provides a variety of surveys to meet our clients' needs. Four of the most commonly requested surveys are improvement location certificates, land survey plats, improvement survey plats and ALTA/ACSM surveys.

IMPROVEMENT LOCATION CERTIFICATE (ILC) – The simplest survey which includes the size of lot, size of structure(s), existing property corner evidence. Commonly requested for real estate transaction, simple and inexpensive. Only marginally useful for design work.

LAND SURVEY PLAT (LSP) – Also known as a boundary survey. Utilized to determine boundary lines and corners, determine encroachments, and/or construct new improvements on your property, etc.

IMPROVEMENT SURVEY PLAT (ISP) – Basically an LSP with some additional information regarding existing observable improvements such as streets, curb & gutter, sidewalks, dry utilities, wet utilities, etc. Can also include easements of record and topography if the client so desires. Utilized for more extensive proposed improvements and as a base for design services.

ALTA / ACSM SURVEY – Pretty much a cafeteria style survey where the client can pick items from an Optional Table A and create his own survey for specific purposes. The base required portion of any ALTA definitely meets the requirements of an LSP and includes some of the elements of an ISP and includes record Title research of easements and encumbrances to the property. Table A consists of additional options that can be shown depending on the goals of the project, requirements of the lender, etc. This is the 2005 version of Table A:

Originally posted 2010-01-21 00:09:38.

The ADA, ICC/ANSI A117.1 and Kitchen Sinks in Break Rooms

Anthony Ries — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:38 +0000

Building codes and guidelines are always full of exceptions and variations on a theme and the Americans with Disabilities Act is no different. The ADA was first created in 1990. It is designed to protect against discrimination based on disability. The act has five titles or sections. Architects deal primarily with Title III – Public Accommodations. Since passage the ADA guidelines have incorporated information from the model building codes such as the IBC in order to reconcile differences.

Kitchen Sinks

In a typical situation an accessible kitchen sink has to have a clear space beneath. This allows a person in a wheelchair to approach the sink and get close enough to effectively use it. Generally, this requires such a person to get their knees under the sink while still having a clear area for their toes.

Most office break rooms consist of countertop and cabinet space, a refrigerator, coffee maker and a toaster oven. In this situation a parallel approach is allowed at the sink. This allows there to be a standard base cabinet under the sink.

What is the difference between a break room and a typical kitchen? Cooktops and ranges. In a space with a kitchen sink but no cooktop or conventional range, a parallel approach is allowed to the sink by section 606.2, exception 1 of the ADA guidelines. It is also important to know that countertops in such spaces must be no higher than 34” and no deeper than 24”

Originally posted 2010-12-02 00:06:19.

Resistance Piers for Economical Foundation Repair

Adam Denton — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:37 +0000

EVstudio is asked quite frequently to perform structural evaluations of cracked foundation walls. These cracks are often due to settlement. Modern design philosophy (and most geotechnical reports) calls for the original structural engineer to design foundation walls to clear span ten to fifteen feet to account for soft patches of bearing soil or soils that may be become saturated and hydro-consolidate (shrink in volume when wet). Older homes are more susceptible to damage because they were typically not designed with this in mind. This is not to say they were designed poorly, there were just different design philosophies and industry standards at the time they were constructed.

Installed Resistance Pier Bracket

How a resistance pier works is quite simple. First, a steel bracket is fastened to your foundation, typically at the footing. Then a hydraulic ram is installed on the bracket which drives a steel pier into the ground. Using the hydraulic forces in combination with the weight of the structure above, the steel pier is driven down through the softer soils (which are causing the settlement problem) until bedrock or suitably firm soils are reached. Once the pier reaches competent bearing, the foundation is stabilized and in some instances can even be raised back into a level position.

EVstudio works closely with Pinnacle Structural Services in the evaluation of foundation repairs utilizing the resistance piers as one of many considered solutions.

For more information on resistance piers please watch this informative video.

Originally posted 2011-09-24 00:49:33.