approval letter access apt 04-03-2013
Thomas Malone April 03, 2013
128 Ryan Road
Florence, MA 01062
Subject Location: 128 Ryan Road
Map Block: 22D-031
Mr. Malone,
Your building permit application and plans dated 3-18-13
have been approved as drawn and per this memo. All work must meet all applicable codes whether noted or not included within this memo.
Please follow up on the following items:
These
items will need to be accomplished as the project moves forward and before rough inspections;
Copy of plans in electronic format.
Stamped engineering for all non prescriptive materials
and or systems.
Fire doors must have closers.
Fire separation must continue to the exterior sheathing and to the roof decks.
A smoke/CO in the 1st floor hall and basement utility rooms
connected to a heat detector within each unit.
Smoke and CO detectors to code within each unit.
As of August 4th 2011 the 8th Edition MA code is the 2009 IRC with MA amendments.
In
the following are some generic requirements which seem to be problematic.
This is not intended to be comprehensive, nor is it a substitute for purchasing and reading the MA codes.
Read
only international codes are available on line at http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ one must also consider the MA amendments to these codes which can be found at www.mass.gov/dps/bbrs
.
The current relevant building codes are:
2009 IBC, 2009 IEBC, 2009 IMC, 2009 IRC, 2009 IECC, AA115, MA amendments.
Structures shall conform to 780 CMR 8th Edition 1 and 2 family building
codes with MA amendments.
Ceiling heights minimum 7’ for habitable spaces, 6’8” for bathrooms includes tub/shower area if a shower head is used, 6’8” for basements, 6’4” at beams/ducts.
780 CMR R305.1. MA amended
Hazardous glazing locations, within 24” of a door, or within 60” of a stair, or across from hot tubs, spas, bathtubs within 60” if not 60” above the walking
surface, and other locations. 780 CMR R308.4
Windows over 72” above grade with the opening less than 24 above the finished floor shall meet the 4” sphere rule. Order restrictors. 780
CMR R612.2
Egress and emergency escape requirements shall be strictly met.
Basements, habitable attics, and all sleeping rooms require emergency escape. 780 CMR R310
Windows within 44”
of floor, DH 3.3 sqft min window size, Casement 20”x41” exception 5 sqft at 1st floor. Minimum clear opening 20”x24” or 24”x20”. 780 CMR R310.1.1
Two doors remote as possible at the
normal level of travel, opening measured from the face of the slab to the stop with door at 90 degrees, one 32” and one 28” minimum 78” high. 780 CMR R311.2
Landing at each door 36”
out and the width of the door minimum 36”, maximum step 7 ¾” from the top of the threshold and only in-swinging doors. 780 CMR R311.3
Stairs have critical standards, make sure you know
the floor finishes when planning. Minimum tread 9”, maximum riser 8 ¼”, maximum overall variance for the run is 3/8”, 4” sphere rule on risers except where
the total rise is 30” or less 780 CMR R311.7.4.3 Exception, 4 3/8” on balustrade, 6” in the triangle. Graspable rail 1 ¼” minimum and 2” maximum rail, height minimum 34” maximum 38”,
required for 4 or more risers. Landing to landing constitutes a new run. Minimum 6’8” ceiling height from nosing. 780 CMR R311.7.
Guards 36” minimum height above walking surface, a bench
is a walking surface, required for more than 30” above floor or grade within 36”, 4” sphere rule. 780 CMR R312.1.
Educate the plumber and electrician about maximum notch and hole sizes,
and placement. 780 CMR R502.8 and R602.6. In bearing studs holes not larger than 40% of a stud no closer than 5/8 to the edge, In interior non-bearing studs holes not larger than 60%
of a stud no closer than 5/8 to the edge, or holes in joist are a maximum 1/3 the depth not closer than 2” from the top or bottom or to any other hole. Notches are different.
Drilling
or notching of more than 50% of the wall plate width of an exterior wall or load bearing partition requires a 16 GA 1 ½” strap across the area and 6” beyond each side with 8 - 10nd nails.
780 CMR R602.6.1
Dryer duct transition is limited to 8’ of aluminum flex and must be exposed. 780 CMR M1502.4.3
Dryer duct maximum equivalent length is 25’ or per manufacturer’s specs.
780 CMR M1502.4.4.1, no screwed connections.
Fire and draft stopping shall be completed before rough inspection. 780 CMR R302.
Ignition barriers in place before final. 780 CMR R316.
Smoke
and CO detectors as required. 780 CMR R314 and R315.
Smokes in each bedroom, within 10’ of a bedroom door.
CO within 10’ of bedroom doors, at each level, at the bottom of a stair leading
to a finished floor above, for every 1500 sqft, (plumbing code in the mechanical room) except if there are no fossil burning fuels.
Heat detector in attached garage, and other large
unfinished unconditioned spaces.
Closets beneath stair which have doors must be drywalled with ½”. 780 CMR R302.7
If there is mechanical equipment or a combustible roof, 30 sqft of space,
and 30” measured from top of ceiling joist to bottom of rafters an attic access of minimum RO of 22” x 30” is required to be located in an accessible place. It must be insulated, gasketed,
and secured in place.
Relevant items must be submitted to the building department for approvals before inspections and or Certificates of Occupancy can be issued.
Feel free to call
if you have any questions. My telephone number is 587-1240 and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting we close for walk-ins at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays.
My email address is: cmiller@northamptonma.gov
Thank you for your cooperation on these matters.
Chuck Miller
City of Northampton
Assistant Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement