🆕 TOPIC 6 | More about the 5 ingredients (CON8413)

Summary

In this lecture, Franchesco reviews key concepts from topic five and delves deeper into the five essential ingredients affecting building construction: major occupancy, building area, building height, streets, and whether the building is sprinklered. He explains how to apply these elements, especially in cases where a building has multiple occupancies, using Ontario Building Code regulations. The session also covers the importance of identifying the first story and mezzanines in buildings, as well as factors influencing fire safety and compliance. This lesson helps students prepare for question two in homework two.

Takeaways

• 📚 Topic six delves deeper into the five building elements from topic five, adding further details crucial for construction analysis.
• 🏢 The five elements reviewed include major occupancy, building area, building height, number of streets faced, and sprinkler system presence.
• 📝 In topic six, the review covers a multi-occupancy building example, illustrating how to apply each major occupancy type (like C and D) individually and determine the most stringent construction requirements.
• 🚒 Construction standards must meet the strictest requirements found across all occupancy types, specifically for materials and fire resistance ratings.
• 📐 The topic reviews 'building area' as the ground projection area, defining the floor layout that touches grade.
• 🏗️ 'Building height' in the Ontario Building Code (OBC) is defined by the number of stories, not vertical measurement, stressing the importance of identifying the first story accurately.
• 🏛️ The concept of the 'first story' is clarified in the OBC by the floor closest to grade and ceiling height being over 1.8 meters above grade.
• 🏢 Mezzanines can sometimes count as stories based on their area and partition height, as specified in the OBC.
• 🛣️ The number of streets a building faces (with 9-meter minimum width) impacts rescue access and overall safety compliance.
• 🚿 Sprinkler systems are a clear, critical safety element to evaluate, either present or absent, in determining fire safety requirements.

Q & A

What are the five ingredients discussed in topic five that are revisited in topic six?

The five ingredients discussed are major occupancy, building area, building height, the number of streets the building faces, and whether or not the building is sprinklered.

How does the Ontario Building Code address buildings with multiple major occupancies?

For buildings with more than one major occupancy, the Ontario Building Code requires that each major occupancy be analyzed separately. You assume the building has one major occupancy at a time, apply the rules, and then take the most restrictive requirements for construction and fire resistance.

What is the process for determining construction requirements for a building with multiple major occupancies?

First, analyze the building as if it has one major occupancy, apply the rules for that occupancy, and note the results. Then, repeat the process for the other occupancies. Finally, take the most restrictive requirements in terms of combustibility and fire resistance for the entire building.

How is building area defined according to the Ontario Building Code?

Building area is defined as the area of the building that you would get if you pressed it down into the ground. It's the horizontal projection of the building.

What does the Ontario Building Code specify about building height?

Building height is defined as the number of stories a building has, not the vertical measurement. The number of stories is important because it determines which building code regulations apply.

Why is identifying the first story important, and how is it defined?

Identifying the first story is important because it affects the building classification and the regulations it must follow. According to the Ontario Building Code, the first story is the one where the floor is the closest to grade, and the ceiling is at least 1.8 meters above grade.

What is the difference between North American and European definitions of the first story?

In North America, the first story is called the ground floor in Europe. The floor above it is the second story in North America but the first story in Europe.

What are mezzanines, and how do you determine if they count as a story?

A mezzanine is a partial floor or balcony inside a building. To determine if it counts as a story, check if it has partitions or walls under 1.8 meters high, and whether its area is more than 10% or 40% of the floor below. If it meets these conditions, it may be considered a story.

How does the Ontario Building Code define streets, and why is this important?

A street is defined as being at least 9 meters wide and allowing access to fire and rescue vehicles. This is important because the number of streets a building faces affects its classification and safety requirements.

What does it mean for a building to be sprinklered or non-sprinklered?

A sprinklered building has automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers) installed in the ceiling, while a non-sprinklered building does not. This distinction is important because it affects the fire safety requirements of the building.