Tom, Let your conscious be your guide. I once told a contractor I was working for I wouldn't design a building that was aboveground public parking (1 level) with a "horizontal fire wall" (type I), then four stories of type V apartments, all designed to 13R even though the architect said it was OK because the parking was just for tenants and there was a separation between the I and the V and there were only four stories of apartments. I told the contractor he'd need to find another designer and why I wouldn't do it. Props to him for also refusing to do it even though approved by the architect and the AHJ. And by the way that same contractor recently had another thread on this forum because that same AHJ (jurisdiction-not individual although that may also be the case) is refusing to allow for limited combustibility in an unoccupied attic space because IBC doesn't directly address limited combustibility in section X (I forget and don't want to look it up) nor recognize that limited combustibility in 13 is just as much a part of IBC as any other part. So there you go--V over I is OK, five stories of 13R is OK if you separate every four with a "horizontal fire wall" (13R high rise condos anyone?), but there is no such thing allowed as limited combustibility. Go figure.
On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 7:29 AM, Tom Duross <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm going to lose this job for one reason only but I'm doing right by the > code, my liability and my conscience (if that matters). > It's staying as a residential building for the long form application. At > some point, they plan to apply for another permit for changing one unit from > residential to commercial use (they told me short form, but I think the > chart says the indexes require a long, not certain) but this will be done > after all the rough inspections have been received and they begin finish. I > told them the use of pvc and certain types of residential wiring cannot be > used within the unit if it becomes commercial and all the ramifications of > the sprinkler work, but I prefaced it as I "thought" so not to appear as > some kind of expert more so they wouldn't keep asking me free questions for > free info (don't you HATE that?). They think that once the other 7 units > and common basement (OH2 per spec, ok by me) are completed, the changes will > only apply within the four walls of the unit. I sent him a good luck email > an hour ago, I think I'm done even though I really need the work. I am > though, gonna be a sneaky pr*ck and copy the AHJ who's a friend.. ;) > > I have to say I don't mean to seem like the guy who gets all these type of > jobs, what with the knucklehead who reviewed my plans last month but I think > they might seek me out and find me sometimes. Maybe my sprinkler karma is > low or something. > > Also not to digress but another I lost last summer that got "around" the > code I drove bye the other day, empty and all for sale and I smiled. > This guy (owner/builder/bank/self-titled expert) built a eight-unit > four-building attached four story condo with four one-and-two-family > residential permits, each building was two units, one over the other with > fire walls continuous from foundation to roof with air space ( he said he > was an expert holding his USG book) with the "sole" purpose of getting out > of standpipes and using 13D. Separate 1 1/2" services into each 2 family > "building". It got built, it's done, 4 story stairs front and back, but at > least he's having trouble selling them ($599K each). > > Tom > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > -- Ron Greenman at home.... _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
