Week 13

 Regulations 

Gina Christopher 

Phases of a Design Project

The 6 phases of a design project include programming, schematic design, design development, contract documents, construction administration, and post occupancy evaluation. During the programming phase, the interior designer interviews the client and creates a user needs assessment and spatial analysis of what is required of the project. Case studies are done, occupancy type is determined, and applicable codes are considered. During the schematic design phase, preliminary design solutions are presented to the client, and several options are considered until one solution is accepted. The design team will conduct occupancy calculations, determine the required number of exits and describe path of egress. The maximum travel distance will also be considered. During design development, the designer will select all materials and finishes as well as partition types. During the contract documents phase, a final set of construction documents are created which contain all applicable codes used to design the project. During the construction administration phase, the designer will visit the site and make sure the design intent is being followed during the construction process. During the post occupancy evaluation, feedback is gather based on user satisfaction, comfort, and productivity.     

  

Building Codes

The International Code Council (ICC) promulgates a new International Building Code every 3 years through the ICC Code Development Process. The current version of the IBC is the 2024 edition. The primary purpose of a building code is to get people out of a building safely in the event of a fire or other emergency.    

Safe Egress 

The path of egress included three primary components: exit access, exits, and exit discharge. The exit access consists of the path to an exit. The exit itself refers to the exit door, and the exit discharge is the destination area where someone goes when escaping a fire. 

The four principles of egress include: 

1. a designer must provide alternative paths of travel to avoid a fire

2. a design must protect occupants from fire and smoke

3. buildings must accommodate all occupants and their needs

4. the means of egress path must be well marker and illuminated, emergency power must be provided to light the path  

Application of the Building Code

There are many objectives that help designers achieve a safe means of egress including compartmentalization, fire separation, movement along the path of egress, detection, suppression, smoke removal and control, and interior finishes. Compartmentalization is the process by which sections of a building are closed off during a fire or emergency. Different uses within a building as well as egress corridors, doors, and stairs must maintain specific fire rated separations in compliance with chapter 10 of the IBC to meet fire separation codes. Movement along the path of egress and throughout the building is addressed in the following areas by the IBC: egress stairs, corridors, and exits. Detection consists of fire-detection equipment used to detect smokes and fire within a building. Smoke detectors include three types: smoke, heat and flame. Detectors trigger an alarm which includes audio signals and visual strobes. Alarms may be set off automatically or by using a pull mechanism. Fire suppression equipment is used to extinguish a fire. These may include fire hoses, hand-held fire extinguishers, standpipe systems, and sprinkler systems. The single biggest cause of death during a building fire is by smoke, not fire. The release of toxins when materials burn is the primary cause of smoke. Designers should avoid the use of plastic foams unless they have been treated or encased in noncombustible covering. Despite these measures, fire still produces smoke, so smoke removal becomes a key concern. Designers must consider the proper placement of exhaust hatches and fans. It is extremely important to consider interior wall and ceiling finish requirements by occupancy based on the IBC tab le 803.5.      

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA specifies how every public building must provide equal opportunity access for people with a variety of disabilities. This includes people that use wheelchairs and those with vision or hearing impairments. A compliant route consists of the entire pathway a person must take from the site throughout the entire building. Whenever a building contains more than one floor, equal access is required. The max. slope for ADA compliant ramps in 1:12. To provide a 32" clear opening through a doorway, a 36" door is required. The required clearance on both the push and pull side of a door must also be provided. Elevators are not considered a means of egress. Those is a wheelchair need to wait at the top of the stairs to be rescued, otherwise known as an area of refuge. Within an area of refuge, you may need to have multiple wheelchair spaces. IBC requires one 30"x48" wheelchair space for every 200 occupants. Public restrooms must be ADA compliant and have a minimum of one accessible bathroom in each building. ADA restrooms have specific dimension needs for toilet areas and sink areas. Signage in a public building must include Braille for the visually impaired and symbols for the hearing impaired. The ADA prohibits projections in excess of 7" into any egress corridor for protection of the visually impaired. Drinking fountains also need to be accessible.   

Industry- Specific Regulations 

Depending on the specific project types, additional regulations may be applied. The NFPA 101 Life Safety Code is published by the National Fire Protection Association and provides additional requirements for life safety in the event of a fire including fumes, smoke, and panic. Several different testing agencies certify products and materials as safe foe use. These reference standards are then used in the building codes to indicate required compliance levels in various conditions. Some testing agencies include ANSI, UL, and ASTM. In addition to required codes and standards, several voluntary measures have been developed to assist designers and contractors in creating sustainable buildings and interiors, such as LEED. Each jurisdiction decides what version and what building codes to adopt. Many states will adopt the international building code and then add their own alternations. 

Accessibility at Judson - Ohio Hall

Ohio Hall was not very accessible. There was a ramp to get into the building as well as accessible wheelchair door operating buttons, but inside the building there was no ramps or elevators. There were a lot of stairs in this building, with no clear areas of refuge for someone in a wheelchair. Signage was good and consistent throughout the building and outside the building. There were also many different types of seating in the main lobby area, which was good. Projections into any main walkways were minimum as well. Overall, the main accessibility issue in Ohio Hall is for those with leg impairment. There is no easy way for someone in a wheelchair to navigate the building. Below are some photos that show Ohio Hall.