Building Code Fundamentals Quiz

Questions and Answers

It is critical that you memorize sections of the code.

False

Group U buildings are normally occupied for extended periods but at unusual times.

False

At a minimum, the code analysis of a project should include (select more than one answer).

Option 2 (correct)

Option 3 (correct)

Option 1 (correct)

Option 4 (correct)

Institutions (Type I group) are places where the occupants have limitations or special restrictions placed on them.

True Signup and view all the answers

Group E occupancies must be considered Group A occupancies if they have more than 50 occupants.

False Signup and view all the answers

A key determinant for residential classification is people sleeping in the building.

True Signup and view all the answers

Conditions that affect the type of Group I (Institutional) occupancy include:

Condition 1 Signup and view all the answers

Match the description of the occupancy to its occupancy rating.

Movie Theater = Group A-1 Food Court or Restaurant = Group A-2 Gaming area in a casino = Group A-2 Church = Group A-3 Signup and view all the answers

Occupancy classifications trigger specific requirements for allowable height and area.

True Signup and view all the answers

Learn the table of contents and use the index of the code.

True Signup and view all the answers

The code recognizes that changes (in materials and methods) may change more rapidly than the code.

True Signup and view all the answers

A mercantile business selling limited quantities of a hazardous material must be classified as a high hazard (Group H) occupancy.

False Signup and view all the answers

An italicized term found in the code indicates __________.

the term is being used specifically as it is defined in the code. Signup and view all the answers

From the list below, select all the answers that are IBC occupancy groups.

IBC Group 2 Signup and view all the answers

Match the item description to its meaning in the code (all these items will be found in the margin of the code page).

Solid line = Indicates a text change from the 2009 code A single asterisk = Text or table has been relocated within the code Double asterisk = Text or table immediately following has been relocated from somewhere else in the code An arrow in the margin = Indicates a deletion in the section Signup and view all the answers

Control areas are ways we deal with hazardous materials in different building occupancy types.

True Signup and view all the answers

When interpreting a code section, it is critical that you examine the code definitions for the terms used in the code section.

True Signup and view all the answers

Group A Assembly occupancies have 50 or more occupants.

True Signup and view all the answers

According to our author, the one key word to understanding how building codes are developed is intent.

True Signup and view all the answers

As a designer, you would use the ICC-ES to do what?

prove or demonstrate compliance of a new material or method to a code official. Signup and view all the answers

A code is a general requirement that must be interpreted for a specific application to a specific project.

True Signup and view all the answers

Different portions of the code(s) are written by different authors.

True Signup and view all the answers

Special use buildings may at first seem to fit into typical occupancy groups, but characteristics of the building require additional code provisions.

True Signup and view all the answers

The development of new codes and/or code provisions must precede the development of new building types, components, and methods.

False Signup and view all the answers

The [a] should make a progression from [b] to [c] in analyzing a [d].

The designer should make a progression from general to specific in analyzing a building. Signup and view all the answers

From the choices provided, select all the special uses and occupancies.

Use 4 Signup and view all the answers

When using the IBC and considering special uses and occupancies, a large department store is termed an ________ building.

anchor. Signup and view all the answers

Find the total occupancy for a new mall with the following characteristics: 300,000 s.f. of gross leasing area, a food court with an area of 7000 s.f. and an assembly area with fixed seating for 400.

<ol start="6987"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

In a mall, if a tenant space has an occupancy load of 55, it must have _____ means of egress from the tenant space.

<ol start="2"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

In a mall, an assembly area for _____ or more occupants is to be located in the building so that their main entrance is immediately adjacent to a principle entrance to the mall.

<ol start="500"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

A [a] is a roofed or covered [b] area into which [c] or more [d] have their main entrances.

Mall is a roofed or covered pedestrian area into which two or more tenants have their main entrances. Signup and view all the answers

Malls are limited to 4 stories at one point and can be no more than 4 stories above grade.

False Signup and view all the answers

The minimum width of exit passageways from a mall is ____ inches.

<ol start="66"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

The maximum distance of travel from a point in a tenant space in a mall to an exit is _______ ft.

<ol start="200"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

The wall separating an anchor building from the covered mall are to be rated ______ hour fire wall.

<ol start="3"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Fire partitions between tenants in a mall must have a minimum fire resistance of _____ hour.

<ol> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

High rise buildings have occupancy loads above even the highest reaching fire fighting ladders and equipment.

True Signup and view all the answers

For high rise buildings, the ______ are the primary means of egress.

Stairs. Signup and view all the answers

In a high rise building, a two-way communication system for firefighters operating between (select all correct answers) is required.

Enclosed stairways Signup and view all the answers

In high rise construction, shafts and vertical penetrations must be enclosed to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.

True Signup and view all the answers

In high rise construction, in seismic design categories, a secondary water supply capable of supplying the hydraulic sprinkler demand for up to _____ minutes is required.

<ol start="30"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

In a high rise building stairway, doors that are locked from the stairway side must be capable of being unlocked simultaneously from the fire command center.

True Signup and view all the answers

Select all the correct characteristics of the required emergency power in a high rise building.

Required for the operation of evacuation systems Signup and view all the answers

Atrium codes have developed as a sort of hybrid between mall and high rise building codes.

True Signup and view all the answers

The greatest concern about atrium fire and life safety involves the control of fire.

False Signup and view all the answers

Atriums are required to have smoke management systems.

True Signup and view all the answers

Select all the items required by IBC code for an atrium.

Means to allow air in and smoke out for the smoke control system Signup and view all the answers

Service stations are normally considered a Group M occupancy.

True Signup and view all the answers

For an open parking garage, the open area on a tier must be at least _____% of the total wall area for that tier.

<ol start="20"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

The minimum required clear height for an open parking garage for each floor level is _____ ft.

7 ft. Signup and view all the answers

A major difference between open and closed parking garages is ______________.

ventilation. Signup and view all the answers

The IBC code is organized to proceed from determining the occupancy first and then determining what heights and areas are allowable for the occupancy classification.

True Signup and view all the answers

The designer is faced with an iterative process when developing a building and determining its area, height, and type(s) of materials.

True Signup and view all the answers

Buildings cannot contain more than one occupancy type.

False Signup and view all the answers

Building area is usually considered to exclude the thickness of the exterior walls of a building.

True Signup and view all the answers

Building heights are measured to the average height of the highest roof thus allowing for pitched roofs, varying parapet heights, and rooftop equipment enclosures.

True Signup and view all the answers

Match the term to its definition.

Building Height = The vertical distance from the grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface. Story Height = The measured vertical distance from the top of one finished floor to the top of the next successive finished floor. Mezzanine = An intermediate floor level inserted between two larger floor plates. Grade plane = The reference plane representing the average grade levels along the exterior walls of the building. Basement = Not a story above grade plane, not more than 6' above grade plane, not more than 12' above the finished ground level at any point. Signup and view all the answers

When using table 504.3, an [a] is determined first then reading [b] the table leads to allowable [c] in sf and [d] in ft and stories.

An occupancy is determined first then reading across the table leads to allowable area in sf and height in ft and stories. Signup and view all the answers

The height restriction in feet for a building is generally independent of occupancy.

True Signup and view all the answers

Match the building type to its general description.

Type I = Fire-Rated Unlimited Type II = Fire-Rated Limited Type III = Partially Rated Type IV = Heavy Timber Type V = Nonrated Signup and view all the answers

503.1, [dealing with low-hazard high-bay spaces] of the code allows one or more fire walls to divide a single structure into a number of separate buildings.

True Signup and view all the answers

Basements may be excluded from the overall building area (in some cases).

True Signup and view all the answers

Multiple buildings on a single site may be considered as separate buildings.

True Signup and view all the answers

You are designing a new executive center (Type III construction not sprinkled) and need to design a mezzanine with 12,000 square feet of floor area. What is the maximum floor area for the mezzanine the code will allow?

<ol start="4000"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Tables 504.3 and 504.4 establish building height. A building's height must meet both criteria: height in feet and number of stories.

True Signup and view all the answers

Mezzanines must have a minimum of 7' clear headroom.

True Signup and view all the answers

Mezzanines must always have two means of egress.

False Signup and view all the answers

You are given a building situation where the building sides are 60 ft instead of 50 ft. The new allowable area Aa is __________ sq.ft.

<ol start="121125"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Building Code Fundamentals

Memorization of specific code sections is not critical.
Group U buildings are not typically occupied for extended periods at unusual times.
Code analysis should cover all relevant options and requirements.

Occupancy Classifications

Institutions (Type I Group) are designed for occupants with restrictions.
Group E occupancies do not transform into Group A based on population thresholds.
Residential classification often relies on whether people sleep in the building.
Conditions for Group I (Institutional) occupancy are broad and encompass various factors.

Matching Occupancy Ratings

Movie Theaters fall under Group A-1.
Food Courts and Restaurants are classified as Group A-2.
Churches are rated as Group A-3.

Regulatory Requirements

Occupancy classifications dictate specific requirements for height and area.
It is essential to learn the code's table of contents and utilize the index.
Building officials can approve alternative designs due to rapid changes in materials and methods.

Code Definitions and Special Use Buildings

Italicized terms in the code have specific definitions as outlined in the text.
Special use buildings may appear to fit typical occupancy groups but need additional regulations.

Safety and Fire Codes

Control areas are crucial for managing hazardous materials.
Examination of code definitions is vital for accurate interpretation.
Group A Assembly requires a minimum of 50 occupants.

High-Rise Building Regulations

High-rise buildings often exceed traditional fire-fighting equipment reach.
Stairs serve as the primary means of egress in high-rise structures.
A two-way communication system is required between refuge rooms, fire command centers, and stairways.
Enclosed shafts prevent smoke and fire propagation.

Atrium and Mall Safety

Atriums necessitate smoke management systems to regulate air and smoke during emergencies.
Malls require a minimum width of exit passageways set at 66 inches and must provide two means of egress if occupancy loads exceed 55.
A fire wall of three hours is needed between anchor buildings and the mall.

Parking Garage Specifications

Open parking garages must ensure 20% of total wall area is open.
Minimum clear height requirement for each floor in open parking garages is 7 feet.

Compliance and Area Measurements

Building area calculations typically exclude the thickness of exterior walls.
Building height is measured to the average height of the highest roof surface.
Buildings can have multiple occupancy types, contradicting previous beliefs.

Mezzanine Regulations

Maximum floor area for a mezzanine in Type III construction is limited based on floor area ratios.
Mezzanines must have at least 7 feet of clear headroom; however, they do not always require two means of egress.

Building Height and Area Restrictions

Occupancy requires an analysis of both area and height according to specific tables (504.3 and 504.4).
New code adjustments allow for low-hazard high-bay spaces and exclude basements from total building area under specific conditions.

Practical Application

Under varying conditions, the maximum allowable area for a building changes significantly (e.g., from dimensions) and can yield exact scenarios for design considerations.

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Description

Test your knowledge of building code fundamentals, focusing particularly on occupancy classifications and regulatory requirements. This quiz covers various group ratings, conditions for occupancy types, and essential code analysis. Ideal for students and professionals interested in building safety standards.