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Building Codes and Inspections/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Asbestos flue | 10/5/2009 | . |
| Q: My oil-fired boiler needs replacing due to corrosion. It has an asbestos cement flue rising through ... A: If the flue is in good condition physically and there is no need for repair from a performance ... | ||
| venting a furnace | 10/3/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I am just renting a house and noticed that the return air is coming from the crawl space. The land ... A: Your heating guy is right, it's not to code. It hasn't been for many years to my knowledge. ... | ||
| Asbestos Ceiling Tiles | 10/2/2009 | . |
| Q: We are thinking of purchasing a house with 12x12 (possibly slightly smaller?) ceiling tiles. They ... A: 12" glue-on or splined ceiling tiles such as you are describing can have asbestos in them. However, ... | ||
| Bathroom code - three issues. | 9/30/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: We just moved into an apartment. The bathroom is immediately adjacent to the kitchen. The door ... A: Mark, I am not sure where you read a switch cannot be within 48" of a tub/shower but it was not ... | ||
| Bathroom code - three issues. | 9/29/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: We just moved into an apartment. The bathroom is immediately adjacent to the kitchen. The door ... A: Mark, Before I answer your specific questions - the building codes are requirements that set ... | ||
| concrete footings | 9/29/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I am looking into adding a 2 story addition onto my home in Colorado. I would like to pour a slab ... A: This is something that will eventually need to be signed off by an engineer. There are a number of ... | ||
| drywall | 9/29/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: I am helping a neighbor remodel his basement. We have passed all inspections and are ready to ... A: Bob, Most quality builders use 5/8" drywall on the ceilings because it helps to prevent future ... | ||
| Entrance Slope | 9/28/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: I have an addition being built onto my home. The addition is adjoining a garage, connected by a ... A: Joe, The only reference to a slope in the code is section R311.6 Ramps R311.6.1 Maximum ... | ||
| safety glass | 9/27/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: In Minnesota and/or South Dakota is it building code to put safety (i.e. tempered) glass in a window ... A: Curt, I do not know the state rules but I feel certain that they go by the International ... | ||
| Surface mount electrical panel | 9/25/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: Can a surface mount electrical panel be installed on tar paper? A: Josie, I do not know of any code that would prohibit the installation of a service panel on top ... | ||
| Building codes for outside stairs | 9/18/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: What are the codes for stairs leading up to your front door? My stairs are dangerous! They are ... A: Jessica, Max riser height 7 3/4" - max 3/8" difference between risers Min tread width 10" - ... | ||
| Number of Bathroom on commercial place | 9/15/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: we are projecting a Party Place finish out (1,210 inside footage), can you tell us how many ... A: Gustavo, I am not an expert in commercial building codes. The book that would apply is the ... | ||
| Kitchen Exhaust | 9/15/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: In a new multiple family residential building in NYC, specifically Brooklyn, is there a requirement ... A: Mel, The first thing to do is check with your local code authority to see what their rules are. ... | ||
| tile code | 9/14/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: is there a building code for tiles over the bath? I'm instaling a new bath in new home and tiles ... A: Les, If there is a shower head in the bath tub area section 307.2 of the 2006 International ... | ||
| How to correctly test a hot water tank | 9/11/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I have a problem with a building inspector that is claiming our hot water tank if letting off to ... A: Not knowing what instrument he is using, I have no idea if he is following the proper procedure. As ... | ||
| How to correctly test a hot water tank | 9/11/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I have a problem with a building inspector that is claiming our hot water tank if letting off to ... A: Not sure where you are but it sounds to me like the inspector is far exceeding the scope of their ... | ||
| Tamper Resistant receptacles | 9/4/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: What is the NEC code for tamper resistant receptacles? Are these required as part of an under ... A: Sorry for the delay. I was out of town doing some training and away from my reference materials.. ... | ||
| unknown field conditions, design conflicts | 9/3/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: you are reconstructing a facility and are removing the slab in the basement and find a fuel tank. ... A: Ultimately, the local code enforcement people will determine what is needed. Typically, the soil ... | ||
| Exterior Step Code | 9/1/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: We are contemplating removal of a deck in back of our house. Would like to put in steps and a patio ... A: Kirsten, Which way does the door swing? If the door opens inward you can have a stair tread ... | ||
| Stair Railings & Watercloset Space | 8/29/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: For Los Angeles -- On a 10 tread stairway, we have two treads open on one side and fully closed on ... A: TL, I do not know the city codes but the International Residential Code probably applies. You ... | ||
| building codes | 8/29/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I hope you can answer this question. Can two meters be installed in the same address or will it be ... A: First, is your area/property zoned for multi-family? It might be illegal to rent a part of your ... | ||
| Tempered/Safety Glazed Window Req's | 8/28/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I am replacing 9 steel-framed windows, mounted directly in stone; 2 of them 10" from the floor, and ... A: I cannot get that link to open so no comment on that. The local codes usually supersede any ... | ||
| Furnace venting | 8/26/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I have a small commercial building that we are installing 90+ furnaces in. I am venting out the side ... A: There is a considerable amount of controversy over this issue. Some of it is related to exactly what ... | ||
| ADA Compliant Restroom signs, California & Texas | 8/26/2009 | Sharon Toji |
| Q: Three questions: 1) In the ADA-Compliance manuals (Federal, Texas, California #1117B.5.5 #4), the ... A: 1. Pictograms have two parts, the "figure" and the "field" which is actually the background area. ... | ||
| Assessing Possible Asbestos Contamination of an Apartment | 8/21/2009 | . |
| Q: My wife (who is pregnant) and I live on the upper floor of an old house. The basement below, where ... A: Any knowledgable asbestos consultant should be able to COLLECT the sample. Make sure you are clear ... | ||
| Assessing Possible Asbestos Contamination of an Apartment | 8/21/2009 | . |
| Q: My wife (who is pregnant) and I live on the upper floor of an old house. The basement below, where ... A: TEM analysis of micro-vac samples is the standard practice in the asbestos consulting profession. ... | ||
| Crawlspace | 8/21/2009 | . |
| Q: We bought a new home in Taylor SC in December of 2007. Recently we noticed a moldy smell coming out ... A: It sounds as if you certainly have moisture control issues in the crawl which need to be addressed. ... | ||
| outward swinging exterior glass door. | 8/20/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: I have an exterior, outward swinging door in my kitchen with four single pane rectangular pieces of ... A: Morgan, If your door and step combination is actually as you described it, it is not built ... | ||
| international color code for ADA signs | 8/18/2009 | Sharon Toji |
| Q: Where do I find the specified color of ADA 74B? Is there a color book available or is there a PMS ... A: You can go to the Bureau of Standards site and they have the various federal colors. You can ... | ||
| gas h2o htr install | 8/17/2009 | Fred Weldin |
| Q: 1. I have a gas (LP) tankless water heater to install. I have no problem with the install itself but ... A: Don: I respect your expertise, but this is specialized: Are you equipped to measure manifold ... | ||
| gas h2o htr install | 8/17/2009 | Fred Weldin |
| Q: 1. I have a gas (LP) tankless water heater to install. I have no problem with the install itself but ... A: Don: I must advise against DIY gas water heater installation; too much can go wrong, and the risks ... | ||
| Cutting Pipes After Removing Asbestos | 8/16/2009 | . |
| Q: First and foremost, I have read your posts and am thankful there is someone that contributes ... A: Asbestos fibers will settle out of the air in a matter of hours. They can certainly be resuspended ... | ||
| residential codes re windows | 8/16/2009 | Fred Weldin |
| Q: a friend of mine that lives out by dekalb was shopping for new windows for his house, one of the ... A: Debbie: I was told the same thing when I built a house in 1993. Just looked through the 2003 IRC, ... | ||
| Cutting Pipes After Removing Asbestos | 8/16/2009 | . |
| Q: First and foremost, I have read your posts and am thankful there is someone that contributes ... A: The type of pipe insulation you are describing is almost always asbestos containing. The compressed ... | ||
| Virgina code for water heaters | 8/15/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: My water heater needs replacing. The sales clerk at Sears says I need a transfer tank, per code, but ... A: Jeffrey, I have no idea what a transfer tank for a water heater is! Maybe he is thinking of an ... | ||
| Apt Door Numbers | 8/12/2009 | Dana Bostick |
| Q: I represent the Condo-owners at 2905 N. Halsted, Chicago IL 60657. Our association is currently ... A: Codes and Regulations vary pretty widely around the country. There is no standard applied ... | ||
| codes | 8/11/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: I am having an a/c put in tomorrow. One company said under the AL code, I need 3 things: plywood ... A: Lauren, Sometimes it is difficult to accurately answer the question with the info presented. The ... | ||
| codes | 8/10/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: I am having an a/c put in tomorrow. One company said under the AL code, I need 3 things: plywood ... A: Lauren, There has to be an access hole big enough for the air handler to fit and no more than 20 ... | ||
| What defines "Permanent Room" | 8/10/2009 | Sharon Toji |
| Q: A local building inspector (Ca.) recently required my client the developer to redo all of the ... A: The room numbers are not inside the apartments, where there are no signage requirements. They are ... | ||
| hot water heater exhaust venting | 8/10/2009 | Bob Spermo |
| Q: I just moved into a mobile home (renting) and one small bedroom smells of the gas exhaust from the ... A: Kathy, This could be an extremely dangerous situation. If it is a natural gas water heater ... | ||
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Building Codes and Inspections
Answers by Expert:
Sharon Toji
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I have special expertise in the subject of accessibility codes and guidelines (ADA), and most specifically in the field of signage. If you have a question that is not about the ADA or about signs, I suggest you try the following excellent site: Naffa International BCDG (Building Code Discussion Group). The website address is http://bcodes.infopop.cc/eve/ You do have to register, but it's free. You will find discussions here on all kinds of Building Code Q & A topics. You go to the forum that sounds as if it's close to your topic, check out some of the posts and see if it sounds like a fit. Then pose your question. With luck, you may get some really good answers. You can email some of the experts individually by clicking on the headings of their posts. When you ask a question, of me, or of someone on the above site, tell them your state, and maybe your city if it's a large city. That is crucial for answering code questions. Sharon Toji
Experience
I am a voting delegate to the American National Standards Institute that writes accessiblity standards used by the International Building Code and are the basis for the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). I am also a member of the Access Advisory Committee to the California State Building Standards Commission, among other positions.
Publications
Signs and the ADA (a manual I have written that is used across the country), and articles in many trade journals.
Education/Credentials
BA, Reed College
Graduate work, University of Munich (Germany) and University of California, Irvine
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