DEC REQUEST DS2015-092 STAFF ANALYSIS

 

 

ISSUE: DS2015-092. Petitioner, Bracken Engineering, Inc, represented by Andrew Lovenstein, PE, seeks a Declaratory Statement on the Preface and sections 1603.1, 1603.1.3 and 1603.1.5 of the Florida Building Code, Building.

 

Petitioner seeks clarification of the following questions:

 

Question 1: Does the statement within the Florida Building Code – Building Preface govern even though it’s not within the body of the Code?

 

Question 2: Does the statement within the Preface exempt all of the code requirements that address Roof/Snow Load Data and Earthquake Design Data within sections 603.1.3 and 1603.1.5?

 

Background:

 

Situation: The Petitioner, Bracken Engineering, Inc., as represented by Andrew Lovenstein, P.E., Vice President of Production, is a consulting engineering firm located and licensed with the state of Florida. Bracken Engineering is currently in the design process with restoration plans for a house located at 690 E. 44th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013 that was damaged by a vehicle.  Petitioner seeks clarification as to whether Roof Snow Load Data and Earthquake Design Data is required on construction documents as specified with the Florida Building Code – Building, section 1603.1.

 

Specifically, the Florida Building Code – Building states within the Preface, section 1603.1, 1603.1.3, and 1603.1.5, as indicated below:

 

Preface: The Florida Building Code is based on national model building codes and national consensus standards which are amended where necessary for Florida’s specific needs.  However, code requirements that address snow loads and earthquake protection are pervasive; they are left in place but should not be utilized or enforced because Florida has no snow load or earthquake threat.

 

1603.1 General: Construction documents shall show the size, section and relative locations of structural members with floor levels, column centers and offsets dimensioned.  The design loads and other information pertinent to the structural design required by Sections 4603.1.1 through 1603.1.9 shall be indicated on the construction documents.

 

1603.1.3 Roof snow load data.
The ground snow load, Pg, shall be indicated. In areas where the ground snow load, Pg, exceeds 10 pounds per square foot (psf) (0.479 kN/m2), the following additional information shall also be provided, regardless of whether snow loads govern the design of the roof:

1. Flat-roof snow load, Pf.
2. Snow exposure factor, Ce.
3. Snow load importance factor, Is.
4. Thermal factor, Ct.

 

1603.1.5 Earthquake design data.
The following information related to seismic loads shall be shown, regardless of whether seismic loads govern the design of the lateral force-resisting system of the structure:

1. Risk category.
2. Seismic importance factor, Ie.
3. Mapped spectral response acceleration parameters, SS and S1.
4. Site class.
5. Design spectral response acceleration parameters, SDS and SD1.
6. Seismic design category.
7. Basic seismic force-resisting system(s).
8. Design base shear(s).
9. Seismic response coefficient(s), CS.
10. Response modification coefficient(s), R.
11. Analysis procedure used.

 

Staff analysis:

 

Question 1:      Does the statement within the Florida Building Code – Building Preface govern even though it’s not within the body of the Code?

 

Answer:          Yes, the “Preface” in question is an integral part of the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code as adopted by Rule 61G20-1.001 FAC. 

 

 

Question 2:     Does the statement within the Preface exempt all of the code requirements that address Roof Snow Load Data and Earthquake Design Data within sections 1603.1.3 and 1603.1.5?

 

Answer:          Yes, the “Preface” in question is an integral part of the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code as adopted by Rule 61G20-1.001 FAC and as such the roof snow load data and earthquake design data within section 1603.1.3 and 1603.1.5 do not apply to the project in question.