Building Consistency Meeting Notes
2002 NC BUILDING CODE – MULTIFAMILY CONSTRUCTION
Date: 2/21/2005
Recorder: Gene Morton
Minutes by: Gene Morton
Staff present: Gene Morton, Patrick Granson, Lon McSwain, Edward Prince,
Randy Turner (City Fire), Dale Carter (City Fire).
Public present:
Charlie Watts (Watts Leaf Architects), Wayne Carter
(Mulvaney Homes), Dale Coe (Mulvaney Homes), Darrell Fries (Westfield
Homes), Ken Szymanski (Charlotte Apt. Association), Robert Lesnick (Narmour
Wright Architects), Bernice Cutler (Narmour Wright Architects), John Phares
(Narmour Wright Architects), Darren Price (M/I Homes), Norman Miller (Biltmark
Builders), Ken Lawler (Grubb Properties).
OLD BUSINESS
Distributed list of thirteen issues as generated at the December 9, 2004 meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
The Following Items Were Discussed From The List Of Consistency Issues
Generated at the December 9, 2004 Meeting
Item #1: Horizontal Firestopping:
This regarded the new requirement found in the 2002 Code, Section 716.2.2 that
now requires that fireblocking be installed both vertically and horizontally every
10 feet in wall cavities. An example of where this additional fireblocking might
occur is at a tenant separation, or chase walls where the wall consists of a
double studded frame.
Item #2: Fire Rating Of Breezeway Wall If Suppressed:
This was a question as to whether or not walls located along the exit access
(breezeway) or corridors are required to be rated in a Type VB constructed
building when protected by automatic sprinklers. It was pointed out that although
the code does not require corridor walls to be rated, Section 708 the code does
require walls separating dwelling units to be one hour rated. There was
considerable discussion of this issue. It was noted that these walls are typically
designed as structural shear walls utilizing OSB or plywood and the requirement
to have a rated wall assembly with drywall on each side presents a problem to
designers. A request was made to consider allowing the wall to be designed on
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each side of the breezeway as a one sided fire exposure, with rated drywall on
the unit side of the wall. Gene Morton agreed to discuss this issue further with
staff and report back at the next meeting.
Item #3: Application Of Chapter 17 To Type 5B To Multi Family:
The question was whether or not the Code required Special Inspections for Type
5B Multi Family construction projects. It was pointed out that the requirements
found in Section 1704 are applicable to Type 5B Multi Family. It was noted that
some projects might not require Special Inspections if the construction does not
include any of the types of work listed under Section 1704. As an example, a
simple three-story light frame construction, supported on continuous concrete
footings might not require special inspections.
Item #4: Private Garages Separation Requirements At Condo (Town homes):
(Not Discussed)
Item #5: MC Cable Versus Romex In Mixed (Construction Type) Use Buildings
The question was: If a three-story building is constructed of mixed construction
types (i.e.: concrete on the first floor and wood frame on the upper two floors)
can the wood framed floor areas be wired in Romex? It was noted that this issue
had been discussed with the Chief Electrical Inspector and the N. C. State Fire
Marshal’s office and Romex would be allowed in the wood framed areas.
Item #6 Accessibility Re: Scope A/B:
Because this item is currently being discussed at the State Building Code Council
it was deferred until further notice.
Item # 7 Van accessible parking at a multifamily garage:
(Not Discussed)
Item #8: Sprinklers And Monitoring Thereof – Audibility And Actuation
Requirement:
Charley Watts indicated this item has been discussed with the Fire department
and he will share this at a later meeting.
Item #9 Firewall Construction:
(Not Discussed)
Item #10: Tenant Separation Continuity Where Unrated Floor Penetrates
Separation Wall
(Not Discussed)
Item #11: Use Of Aluminum Clad Wood Windows Where Code Requires NonCombustible Construction:
This was a question of whether or not a wall would be considered noncombustible construction if the windows used were aluminum clad wood
windows. After much discussion regarding the Fire Code requirements which
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included the use of gas grills on balconies, it was agreed that as long as the
wood window material was covered on the outside with a non-combustible
material such as aluminum, the wall would still be considered non-combustible
and the use of gas grills would be allowed.
Item #13: Fire Extinguisher Requirements Inside A (Residential Dwelling) Unit:
This was a question of whether or not the Fire Code required fire extinguishers to
be installed within a residential dwelling unit. Randy Turner indicated that the
Fire Code included no requirements for fire extinguishers to be installed within a
residential dwelling unit and further stated that fire inspectors do not normally
perform any routine inspections of the inside of dwelling units.
Meetings Held Second Tuesday of Each Month from 3 - 4:30pm.
Next Meeting: March 8, 2005
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