CODE
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
INTERPRETATION
ENGINEERING & BUILDING
STANDARDS DEPARTMENT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
RESIDENTIAL
1. When/why do I need a soil test or subgrade verification?
A. A subsoil verification is needed any time construction is going on or soil that the building
official determines the soil bearing capacity is suspect.
2. Handrail heights, picket spacing, can handrail be broken during run?
A. Handrails must be between 30 and 38 inches in height. Pickets shall be spaced so that a
4-inch sphere cannot pass through. Handrails may be broken when at the inside radius
of a winder stair, but the gap cannot exceed one tread width.
3. How to corner brace when window/door at corner, bracing material?
A. Corner bracing shall be placed as close to corner as possible and at 25-foot intervals
along exterior walls. Let in 1x4 bracing, ½ plywood, OSB or approved structural panel
may be used.
4. Fireplace/chimney to framing clearances, fireplace/mantel clearance.
A. All wood framing members must be kept 1 inch from chimney masonry and 2 inches from
fireplace masonry.
5. Weep hole/base-flashing material.
A. Weep holes must occur at 48” o/c at bottom of brick veneer and shall have minimum 6
millimeters base flashing.
6. General stair questions.
A. Stairways must be 36 inches clear width above handrail and 22 inches below with one
rail and 28 inches where two rails are provided.
7. Collar tie/rafter tie questions, ridge beam required?
A. Where ceiling joists and rafter ties are omitted as in a cathedral exiling, rafters shall be
supported on bearing walls, headers or ridge beams.
8. Garage separation, glass in garage doors.
A. Garages must be separated from living spaces by minimum ½ inch sheet rock.
9. Safety glazing, location, when required?
A. Safety glazing is required within 24 inches of a door in the same place, over
tubs/showers and where a window is within 18 inches of the floor and over 9 square feet.
10. Exposed plastic or foam insulation and vapor barriers in attic.
A. Exposed foam insulation at toxic smoke producing insulation may not be exposed in
attics or bedrooms.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Page 2
COMMERCIAL
1. Exit door hardware, what is allowed?
A. Generally exit door hardware musts be ADA compliant and such that people can be l
locked out, but not in. Assembly areas require special hardware.
2. Tested firestopping systems, engineered judgements allowed, who can provide tested
systems?
A. Tested firestopping systems must be used when available. These systems must be
tested and certified by independent testing labs such as underwriters laboratories.
Engineered judgements will be allowed only in the absence of a tested system.
3. Handicapped signage, location, size, Braille required?
A. ADA compliant signage is required in all commercial buildings. Please refer to Volume
1-C.
4. Handicapped equipment heights.
A. Handicapped equipment heights are indicated in Volume 1-C.
5. Accepted firestopping materials?
A. Accepted Firestopping materials must be certified by independent testing labs and must
bear their seal on packaging.
Gene Morton
Building Codes Administrator
Jim Mullis
Assistant Building Codes Administrator
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Q&A.doc