Question

Q No# 8

How is the maximum basic floor area of a building determined?

Q No# 11

How are the exterior wall fire-resistance rating requirements determined for buildings that are on the same lot?

Q No# 15

How are the required fire-resistance ratings of specific building elements determined?

Q No# 16

How do the two different categories of Type I construction differ in fire protection?

Q No# 17

Which characteristics are typical of a Group I occupancy?

Q No# 18

What do storage occupancy classifications have in common with those of manufacturing uses?

Q No# 19

Which occupancy groups are eligible for unlimited floor area in a one-story nonsprinklered building?

Q No# 20

Describe the difference between a through penetration and a membrane penetration.

Answer 1

Q No# 8) How is the maximum basic floor area of a building determined?

A)

Q No# 11) How are the exterior wall fire-resistance rating requirements determined for buildings that are on the same lot?

A) Usually an imaginary line is drawn between the buildings adjacent to each other residing in the same lot. As shown in the below figure:

[Source: Thornburg_D.W.,Henry_J.R., International Building Code illustrated, 2015 ]

The fire-resistance ratings are determined in IBC by considering the exterior wall construction, opening protection, and projection extent and protection based on the proximity of the exterior walls to lot lines, either real or assumed.

The unprotected openings influence the distance of imaginary line from building exterior wall. The greater the number in unprotected openings, the further the imaginary line. IBC puts the limit at least to 15 ft. As shown below:

[Source: Thornburg_D.W.,Henry_J.R., International Building Code illustrated, 2015 ]

here two or more buildings are located on the same lot, they may be considered as a single building.

Q No# 15) How are the required fire-resistance ratings of specific building elements determined?

The building codes prescriptively require minimum fire-resistance ratings for structural building elements such as the structural frame, floor construction, walls (interior and exterior) and roof construction. The purpose of providing these minimum fire resistance ratings is to contain a fire to the space of origin and allow for safe occupant egress, permit safe fire fighter entry and operations and provide structural stability.

Two main types of protection systems are:membrane protection systems and direct applied protection systems.

Structural frame members such as columns, beams, and girders are regulated for fire resistance based on a building’s type of construction. Some types of constructions mandate a higher level of fire endurance for structural members and assemblies on account of the critical nature of their function. Structural members which exhibit mass-effect.The code intends that the fire-resistive protection for primary structural frame members be applied to the individual structural member.

The use of the ceiling protection applies only to horizontal structural members, such as girders, trusses, beams, or lintels.

The structural members shall not support directly applied loads from more than two floors or one floor and roof, or support a load-bearing wall or a non-load-bearing wall more than two stories in height.

[Source: Thornburg_D.W.,Henry_J.R., International Building Code illustrated, 2015 ]

Protection of primary structural members as shown above figure.

The trusses come under secondary structural members where the insulation plays a role in ratings.

The other elements conform to the risk and occupants involved will determine the fire-resistance criteria.

Q No# 16) How do the two different categories of Type I construction differ in fire protection?

"Limited to buildings of Type I construction, the fire-resistance ratings of primary structural frame elements and interior bearing walls supporting only a roof may be reduced by 1 hour. In other words, primary structural-frame members or interior bearing walls providing only roof support shall have a minimum fire-resistance rating of 2 hours in Type IA buildings and 1 hour in Type IB construction."

[Source: Thornburg_D.W.,Henry_J.R., International Building Code illustrated, 2015 ]

Q No# 17) Which characteristics are typical of a Group I occupancy?

" Because the mobility of the occupants of Group I occupancies is greatly diminished (in the case of hospitals and detention facilities, the self-mobility is essentially nonexistent), the code requires an NFPA 13 automatic sprinkler system throughout any building where a Group I fire area exists. For supervised residential facilities classified as Group I-1, Condition 1 occupancies, allowances are made for the use of an approved NFPA 13R system. The similarities between this Group I use and those uses classified as Group R justify the reduction in sprinkler protection."

[Source: Thornburg_D.W.,Henry_J.R., International Building Code illustrated, 2015 ]

Q No# 19) Which occupancy groups are eligible for unlimited floor area in a one-story non-sprinklered building

Where covered and open mall buildings are constructed of other than Type V construction, they may be of unlimited area. Buildings of Type I, II, III, or IV construction may also have unlimited floor area provided they are no more than three stories in height above grade plane.

Q 20)Describe the difference between a through penetration and a membrane penetration.

Membrane Penetration - A breach in one side of a floor-ceiling, roof-ceiling or wall assembly to accommodate an item installed into or passing through the breach.

Through-Penetration Firestop System - An assemblage consisting of a fire-resistance-rated floor, floor-ceiling, or wall assembly, one or more penetrating items passing through the breaches in both sides of the assembly and the materials or devices, or both, installed to resist the spread of fire through the assembly for a prescribed period of time

Q18) Common aspects in storage occupancy to that of manufacturing uses?

Storage Group S.
Storage Group S occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for storage that is not classified as a hazardous occupancy.

311.2 Moderate-hazard storage, Group S-1.
Buildings occupied for storage uses that are not classified as Group S-2, including, but not limited to, storage of the following:

Aerosols, Levels 2 and 3

Aircraft hangar (storage and repair)

Bags: cloth, burlap and paper

Bamboos and rattan

Baskets

Belting: canvas and leather

Books and paper in rolls or packs

Boots and shoes

Buttons, including cloth covered, pearl or bone

Cardboard and cardboard boxes

Clothing, woolen wearing apparel

Cordage

Dry boat storage (indoor)

Furniture

Furs

Glues, mucilage, pastes and size

Grains

Horns and combs, other than celluloid

Leather

Linoleum

Lumber

Motor vehicle repair garages complying with the maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials listed in Table 307.1(1)(see Section 406.8)

Photo engravings

Resilient flooring

Silks

Soaps

Sugar

Tires, bulk storage of

Tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and snuff

Upholstery and mattresses

Wax candles

311.3 Low-hazard storage, Group S-2.
Includes, among others, buildings used for the storage of noncombustible materials such as products on wood pallets or in paper cartons with or without single thickness divisions; or in paper wrappings. Such products are permitted to have a negligible amount of plastic trim, such as knobs, handles or film wrapping. Group S-2 storage uses shall include, but not be limited to, storage of the following:

Asbestos

Beverages up to and including 16-percent alcohol in metal, glass or ceramic containers

Cement in bags

Chalk and crayons

Dairy products in nonwaxed coated paper containers

Dry cell batteries

Electrical coils

Electrical motors

Empty cans

Food products

Foods in noncombustible containers

Fresh fruits and vegetables in nonplastic trays or containers

Frozen foods

Glass

Glass bottles, empty or filled with noncombustible liquids

Gypsum board

Inert pigments

Ivory

Meats

Metal cabinets

Metal desks with plastic tops and trim

Metal parts

Metals

Mirrors

Oil-filled and other types of distribution transformers

Parking garages, open or enclosed

Porcelain and pottery

Stoves

Talc and soapstones

Washers and dryers