Commercial Plan Review
Land Use and Environmental Service Agency
(Code Enforcement)
Building Q&A 2010
Second Quarter 2010
General:
1. (Q) Are areas of rescue assistance (ARA) required in exit stairways of sprinklered
buildings?
(A) No. Although section 1007.3 of the 2009 North Carolina Building Code does
require them, the 2007 ICC Supplement language has been adopted by the North
Carolina Building Code Council. This amendment becomes effective 01/01/11,
however, it can be applied and used now.
2. (Q) Is it an option to push an exit up into a tenant space, creating a corridor, to meet
the exit remoteness requirements for the tenant space?
(A) No. However, on a case-by-case basis the Building Code Administrator will
consider an alternate method and material approach to solving this issue.
3. (Q) In a covered mall, can a security grill be used as the only exit from a tenant
space?
(A) Yes. Per section 402.12.2, a security grill shall not be brought into the
closed position when there are 10 or more persons occupying a tenant
space served by a single exit or 50 or more persons occupying a tenant space
served by more than one exit.
4. (Q) When a fire wall terminates on the inside of an exterior wall, Section 705.5.1
requires the hourly rating to project 4 feet on either side of the fire wall. Where do
you begin the measurement of the required 4 foot rating on either side of the fire
wall?
(A) The measurement shall be made from the face of the wall at the 90 degree
angle, not from the center line of the fire wall.
5.
(Q) If there are multiple unisex restrooms clustered in a single location, how
many have to be HC accessible?
(A) Per North Carolina Building Code section 1109.2, exception #3, where multiple
single-user toilet rooms or bathing facilities are clustered at a single location, at
least 50% but not less than one room for each use at each cluster shall be HC
accessible. If designated male and female, both must be HC accessible. If
designated unisex, one has to be HC accessible in the cluster.
6.
(Q) What is required for change of ownership at a licensed child day care?
(A) A new license for the new owner is required from the Division of Child
Development (DCD). To obtain this new license a current Fire Department
Inspection certificate and a current Health Department Inspection certificate
is required. In addition, if there is no construction work involved with this
change of ownership, a Building Permit from Mecklenburg County’s Code
Enforcement Department is required. No building plans have to be submitted
and the Building Permit will state “Re-License Only.” If construction is
involved with this change of ownership, detailed construction drawings will
have to be submitted to Code Enforcement for review of compliance with the
North Carolina Building Code. Once the drawings are in compliance the
appropriate permits will be issued for construction.