Tag Archive for ‘Code’
LEED VOC MSDS SCAQMD
Part of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is to provide better environments for building occupants. Something we do every day but don’t think about much is breathing. Our lungs are very sensitive to contaminants and dust. If you have ever walked into a new building or been in a new car you [...]
The ADA, ICC/ANSI A117.1 and Kitchen Sinks in Break Rooms
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 [...]
Slope on Stair Treads and Landings
I received an email today from an individual who’s contractor had built an exterior concrete stair for them. Each tread sloped 3/4″ down from back to front. I quickly emailed them back to let them know that isn’t up to code and in fact is quite dangerous. If those treads get wet or icy it [...]
Installation Complete for Solar Panels on Arvada Annex Building
EVstudio recently had the opportunity to observe the installation of the forty photo-voltaic panels atop the City of Arvada Annex Building. To maximize the potential for solar collection the use of an existing steel framed sight wall originally designed to screen the Annex’s roof top heating and cooling mechanical units from being viewed from street [...]
Steel Stud Track Attachment to Masonry with Simpson Wedge-All
Recently I have been working on a lecture hall project in Killeen, Texas. The structure of this lecture hall is primarily going to be composed of steel roof framing members and concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls. Covering the entrance to this lecture hall is a covered colonnade. The visual architectural requirements of the colonnade’s covering [...]
Killeen, Texas Adopts 2009 I-Codes
The Killeen City Council has voted to adopt the 2009 International Code Council (ICC) Building Codes. The new codes will become effective April 1, 2011, however the 2008 National Electric Code will remain in effect. In addition to the ICC codes Killeen has published their local amendments to the Codes which take precedence [...]
2009 Code Update: Deck Attachments
The 2009 International Residential Code has new provisions concerning the attachment of decks to homes. Most significant in this is the new hold-down tension device requirement of R502.2.2.3. This device is illustrated below and will certainly add construction costs to deck addition projects due to the invasive nature of the interior tension device attachment. From [...]
What in the World is a Ufer Ground?
In EVstudio’s structural engineering practice this question comes up almost every week. In contemporary construction, a ufer is a concrete encased ground electrode, which is most often a 20 foot long piece of #4 rebar cast into a foundation wall that will protrude from the top of wall so that the structure’s electrical system may [...]
Separation of Top of Foundation Wall and Adjacent Exterior Grade
One of the most commonly asked questions to the structural department involved the required distance between the top of a foundation wall and the adjacent exterior grade. The 2009 International Residential Code requires a minimum of 6 inches of separation where brick veneer is not present. The idea here is to provide a buffer zone [...]
Varying Design Wind Speeds for Arvada, Colorado
Contractors, Owners and Designers should be aware that the City of Arvada has five different wind zones of varying intensity. This could mean a difference of up to 20-25 pounds per square foot of wind pressure on the components and cladding of roofs. For a project such as solar panel installation this could have significant [...]
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