Building Codes and Interior Design Chapter 7 Building Codes and Interior Design

Links for Chapter 7 Overview of Codes Accessibility Room Design Related Web Sites

Overview of Codes Codes are designed to protect the consumer by establishing minimum standards of safety Codes cover electrical wiring, heating equipment, sanitary facilities, and structural design Codes were established by Washington and Jefferson to ensure better health and safety

Common Abbreviations Building Officials and Code Administration (BOCA) Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Council of American Building Officials (CABO) International Residential Code (IRC) American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

International Building Code BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO joined in 1972 to form CABO The International Code Council (ICC) was formed in 1994 to create a national code In 1997 ICC and CABO merged The IRC may be formed in 2000

Other Common Codes Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Fire and Life Safety and Structural codes

Location on Property Exterior walls must be build 3’-0” from the property line No doors or windows are allowed on this wall Must resist fire for at least one hour Roof or chimney may not project more than 12” into areas where openings are permitted

Accessibility R-1 includes hotels, apartments, and private residents with more than 10 inhabitants must be accessible Exterior access door cannot be in a bedroom One route is required to connect all spaces with a minimum width of 36”

Accessibility Ramps cannot have a slope greater than 1:48 Control central should be located in a clear floor space at least 30” x 48” Doors must be a minimum of 32” wide

Room Accessibility Kitchen - Must be a clear floor area of 30” x 48” Bathroom - Door must not swing into the clear floor area

Exit Facilities Doors Emergency Egress Openings Minimum of one at least per unit and 36” wide Emergency Egress Openings Required in every basement and sleeping room Window well must be provided for an escape window that opens fully

Smoke Alarms Must be installed in each sleeping room and in the center of a corridor Required for each floor in a multi-level or split-level home Do not place them near kitchens or fireplaces

Accessibility to Rooms Halls - Minimum of 36” wide Stairs Width between 36” and 42” Tread width between 10” and 10 1/2” Riser height about 7 1/2 and not less than 4” Spiral stairs must have adequate headroom and all risers must be equal height

Accessibility to Rooms Stairs Handrail is required if there are more than three stairs Guardrails are required at floor elevation changes

Room Dimensions Minimum room size is 120 sq ft for at least one room Other habitable rooms, except kitchens, must be at least 70 sq ft Rooms with sloping ceilings must maintain the minimum height in half the room Minimum ceiling height is 7’-0”

Lighting and Ventilation All habitable rooms must have natural light provided by windows Bathrooms and laundry rooms must have window or fan Ventilation can be produced mechanically at a rate of 0.35 air changes per hour

Heating and Sanitation A heating unit must be installed that can maintain the temperature at least 68° at a space 3” above the floor A toilet, sink, and tub or shower are required Toilet must be away from the food preparation area All plumbing must connect to an approved sanitation or disposal system

Related Web Sites BOCA - www.bocai.org SBCCI - www.sbcci.org ICBO - www.icbo.org ANSI - www.ansi.org