Oregon Building Code
Updates
April
2011
I had a question about the new Energy
Code requirement [502.4.6] requiring Vestibules at all exterior doors, so I
contacted the State for an interpretation.
502.4.6 Vestibules.
A door
that separates conditioned space from the exterior shall be protected with an
enclosed vestibule, with all doors opening into and out of the vestibule
equipped with self-closing devices. Vestibules shall be designed so that in
passing through the vestibule it is not necessary for the interior and exterior
doors to open at the same time.
Exceptions:
3. Doors
that open directly from a space less than 3,000 square feet in area.
What qualifies as a ‘space less
than 3000sf?’ My first thought was that vestibules would be springing up all
over the place; not necessarily a good idea from a design standpoint. I
contacted the State in regard to the space below:
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The area in question is a building lobby [pink] that measures about
~1900sf in area.
If you look closely, you’ll see that there are doors at all of the
junctions with cross corridors; so that the space is enclosed, thus
reducing the floor area to less than 3000sf.
It
works, according to Mark Heizer, PE, a Policy Analyst for the Oregon
Building Codes Division. The 3000 SF area is defined as being
“continuous floor space, not separated from other spaces
by a wall and doors to structure (i.e.
have shared air). So if there is a wall that goes to ceiling/structure
and has doors, and this wall separates the “entry” space from adjacent
spaces, the adjacent spaces do not count in the total (toward the 3000
SF).”
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More Energy Code stuff:
The
Building Codes Division is now presenting a 2010 OEESC
Online Training course.
This course is designed for you to go at your own pace through the
different pages. There are about 3 hours of videos that make up the training.
Each video is accompanied by questions. You need to watch the video and then
answer the questions before you can move on to the next video. This class is
worth 4 BCD continuing education credits in Structural program code-change. It
will fulfill the requirements of a code-change course on the 2010 Oregon Energy
Efficiency Specialty Code.
Click here to start the training course.
Revised Alternate Braced Panel rules [R602.10.6.2]:
The Building Codes Division has published a temporary rule amending the
2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) by amending Section
R602.10.6.2 for an alternate braced wall panel adjacent to a door or
window opening.
This temporary rule became effective April 15, 2011 [last Friday]. The
2008 ORSC Section R602.10.6.2 requires an alternate braced wall panel
adjacent to a door or window opening have tie-down devices rated at
4,200 pounds of uplift. It was recently brought to the attention of the
Division that tie-down devices for this application are not capable of
meeting a 4,200-pound rating.
This rating is necessary to comply with seismic requirements in Oregon.
Adopting this code amendment by temporary rule allows the use of a 3500#
device to be applicable for the duration of the 2008 ORSC, and during
the transition period for the 2011 ORSC. 2011 Oregon Residential
Specialty Code Adoptive date: July 1, 2011. |
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MJ Arts is a State-licensed Plan Reviewer and
Structural Inspector; and is available to assist you with your plan review
needs. MJ Arts can provide you with timely plan review and Code interpretation
information. For email information, contact:
marty@mjarts.com
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available on an hourly, monthly or contract basis for architects, designers and
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