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Home My WebLink AboutJOE LAIRD & CHUCK WILLIAMS - CITY OF REXBURG LETTERNILE L.BOYLE ROSE BAGLEY CLFPN RICHARD HORNER IPWMR 6 ANMC140i CM STATE OF IDAHO April 12, 1996 Mr. Jerry Barbera or Mr. Chuck Williams CBO Regional Office 2122 - 112th Ave. N.E., Suite B-300 Bellevue, Washington 98004 P.O. BOX 280 12 NORTH CENTER STREET REXBURG, IDAHO 83440 PHONE (208) 359-3020 FAX (208) 359-3022 SUBJECT: Determination of "Grade" (Sec. 208) and "Story" (Sec. 220) Sill height for bedroom windows (Sec. 310.4) Dear Mr. Barbera or Mr. Williams: Thank you for your letter of March 13, 1996, that helped clarify a number of questions for us. We are still struggling with the questions surrounding "grade" and "story". We have an apartment building where the top floor and middle floor cantilever out 50" past the bottom floor on the front side of the building (see attached Figure #1A). If we consider the edge of the "building" to be the edge of the bottom floor exterior wall line (Line X -X) on Figure 1A), the "lowest point of elevation" within 5' of this building wall line would be the surface of the exterior exit walkway. Therefore, the distance from the top of the middle floor to the top of the exterior exit walkway would be 9 ft. and the bottom floor would be considered a "first story" rather than a "basement"; consequently, the building would be considered a "three story" building. on the other hand, if we consider the edge of the "building" to be the edge of the middle and top floors (Line Z -Z on Figure 1A), then the "lowest point of elevation" within 5' of this building line (Z -Z) would be the parkinglgt.surface which is 5'-6" to 5'-10" lower than the top surface of the middle floor. Therefore, the bottom floor would be considered a "basement" with two stories above it. Which is the correct wall line to measure the 5' distance from, Wall Line X -X or Wall Line Z -Z? What is the rational (history of safety problems, etc.) that lies behind these definitions and requirements? Would the controlling wall line (X -X or Z -Z) change if the cantilevered portion of the building were to be supported by a longitudinal beam supported by columns resting on the 4 ft. high exterior concrete retaining wall? (See Figure 1 B) Some older apartment buildings in town have adequate sized bottom floor (basement) bedroom windows (Sec. 310.4 - i.e. 5.7. sq. ft. openable area, 24" minimum height and 20" minimum width); however, the bottoms of the window sills are more than 44 inches above the floor. Generally these windows are 50" - 51" above the floor. Is constructing a 6"-7" high step at the window an acceptable alternative to lowering the windows the required 6" or 7"? Referring to your letter of March 13, 1996, and specifically your answer to Question #4, I believe you misunderstood the point I was raising. Sec. 1003.1 Number of Exits, Exceptions 1 & 2 indicate that 2 exits are required with 10 or more occupants. With less than 10 occupants, Sec. 1005.7 says interior walls of exterior exit balconies don't have to have 1 -hour fire -resistance. Consequently, if the 3 apartments to the left of the stairway in Figure 4 had 10 or more occupants, another set of stairs would be required to the left of them. (Sec.1003.1 Exceptions 1 & 2) If the 3 apartments have less than 10 occupants, then fire protected doors and windows are not required (Sec. 1005.7) Therefore, I don't see any set of circumstances that would ever require fire protected doors and windows on exterior exit balconies: consequently Figure 4 would be incorrect as fire protected doors and windows would never be required. Thank you for your help with these interpretations. Very Truly Yours, Jose A�air7�'� City Engineer / Building Official JAL/jw i............ lz c1 I /i/�IObGE y 4�C,�dnl rid, - d e�(llMl}5(d/L'c�_i;. SCAM 2n ala -Inc x I � I I� \ To F , v . X � lz c1 I /i/�IObGE y 4�C,�dnl rid, - d e�(llMl}5(d/L'c�_i;. SCAM 2n ala -Inc x Protection of openings In the Interior walls of exterior exit balconies Is not required when it is possible to exit in two directions. Protection of openings; required . 20 minute doors . 314 hour for all Protection of openings CORRIDORS AND EXTERIOR EXIT BALCONIES Section 3305 (h)