Architekwiki
  • Home
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Other
    • Reading List
    • Details
    • The 3 Aspects
    • About
    • Sign Up
    • Terms of Use
  • Ochre
    • Ochre
    • Ochre KB
    • Ochre FAQs
    • Ochre Help
  • Home
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Other
    • Reading List
    • Details
    • The 3 Aspects
    • About
    • Sign Up
    • Terms of Use
  • Ochre
    • Ochre
    • Ochre KB
    • Ochre FAQs
    • Ochre Help

Architekwiki

A Resource For Architects
Subscribe

Categories

All
3 Aspects
Business Development
Communications
Concepts
Design
Detail
Estimating
Finances
Legal Issues
Management
Miscellaneous
Money
Ochre
People
Planning
Process
Projects
Records
Services
Specifications
Standards
Time
Tools

Archives

July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
February 2022
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
June 2021
May 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012

How Codes Affect Design - Rule Of Thumb

6/30/2019

 
CODES
Just about every project needs to address zoning and building codes.

Codes
Just about every project needs to address codes, and chief among the various codes are zoning ordinances and building codes. Based on traditional contracts, the architect isn't charged with the responsibility for complying with zoning. In reality, I think you will be in a jackpot if you don't make sure of compliance. Building codes are more obviously a part of design and of your responsibilities. The two, zoning and building, overlap a bit; but they couldn't be more different. Here is a brief overview.
How Zoning Affects Your Project

In contrast to building codes, zoning applies to the property on which your building sits. Zoning restricts how you may develop your property. It prescribes what uses are permitted on the property. Unlike the building code, zoning can prevent a project from being built. If the proposed use is not a Permitted Use you can be out of luck. 

Zoning is promulgated locally and a zone change may resolve the issue of Permitted Uses. However, the requested zone change may not be granted.

Besides Permitted Uses, zoning governs many other development issues, such as building setbacks, height restrictions, parking, exterior signage, fence locations, landscaping, storm water management, paving, curbs, access points to roads, steepness of grades, erosion control and exterior lighting levels. You can see why you need to know about zoning. If you ignore zoning you could easily have a major redesign on your hands. And an argument with your client over who pays for it.

Next after the major issue of Permitted Uses are the key site planning issues that control building size and placement: setbacks, height limits and parking. Setbacks determine how much land must be reserved at the perimeter of the site. Parking regulations determine how many parking spaces will be required. Height limits determine the number of stories permitted above the ground. You certainly cannot do whatever you want.

Both zoning and building codes should be investigated at the same time and before starting design because of their overlapping criteria when it comes to building size and use.


What You Should Know About Building Codes

Every project must comply with the building code. Building codes apply to the building itself and usually are statewide. Compliance is always possible. In worst-case situations, the cost of compliance is what ruins a project's feasibility. 

Code requirements fall into major and minor issues. The minor issues are things like fire ratings of materials, use of plastics and other flammable materials, handicap accessibility and structural requirements. All of these are easy to comply with and rarely increase costs significantly. Complying with the building code for new construction is rarely problematic, but additions and remodeling may run up against the major issues. 

The major issues are Height and Area Limits, Construction Type, and Use Groups (especially change of use). Building codes limit the area per floor for each Use Group depending on the Construction Type. The number of stories permitted is also limited. These are the height and area limits.

The Use Group is the type of function that the building houses: residential, business, education etc.

The Construction Type is a measure of fire- resistance. The more fire-resistant, the larger the building is permitted to be. In order to determine the maximum size that you are permitted, you must determine your Use Group and Construction Type. 

In the case of additions, the allowable area may be very limited because of the Construction Type of the existing building. The solution may be to separate the addition with a fire wall, sprinkler the whole building, or upgrade the Construction Type. 

Remodeling an existing building can run afoul of these requirements if the Use Group is changed. This triggers the requirement for the whole building to be brought up to the current code, including adherence to height and area limits. It is wise to evaluate these code restrictions before embarking on a design that may not be permitted.


Codes definitely affect your design.
​My advice: 'Address codes early and often.'
Codes
Codes

Comments are closed.
    Resources

    Start Here

    Ochre Bookkeeping App

    Thank You for your donation

    Trello-PM

    FeeCalqs3

    Financial Model Workbook

    OFFPLAN

    Drywall Details

    Terms of Use
    Your use of Architekwiki is implicit agreement with the 
    ​
    Terms of Use.

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

Picture

Picture
VISIT ARCHITEKWIKI'S RESOURCES
​
START HERE
ABOUT
SIGN UP
TERMS OF USE
Architekwiki | Architect's Resource | Greater Cincinnati 
© 2012-2022   Architekwiki​