SDCI recently published a new 2018-SBC code interpretation, SBC 2902.1 Minimum Number of Fixtures Reduction for Facilities Serving R-2 Amenity Areas. This interpretation explains that SDCI will allow a 1 water closet and 1 lavatory reduction in the minimum number of fixtures required at plumbing facilities serving apartment building amenity spaces like lounges, fitness rooms, and roof decks when these spaces are only used by the building’s residents and their private guests.
New Code Interpretation for Fire Wall Continuity at Offsets
Fire walls are the most robust form of fire-rated assemblies in the Building Code and have strict rules for their construction and continuity. In Seattle, fire walls are being used more frequently for a variety of reasons, including: Fire walls are required for compartmentalization when building 6 stories of wood construction using the Seattle amendment to promote more affordable housing (SBC 510.10); and Fire walls are used to subdivide a building into separate “buildings,” either to change the occupancy designation or to separate new construction from existing.
New Risk Category Occupant Load Calculations Code Interpretation
On February 27, 2020, SDCI issued a code interpretation of Seattle Building Code section 1604.5, Risk Category Occupant Load Calculations. This code interpretation will help applicants calculate the building occupant load to determine the building’s risk category. The code interpretation allows a reduction in gross area for certain occupancy groups. It allows for some areas to be excluded from the calculation based on non-simultaneous occupancy. A code modification is required to use this code interpretation.
January Publication Updates
We updated a Tip on code interpretation appeals and developed a draft Directors Rule on RRIO inspection selection methods.
