Chapter 9

Guidelines and Required Codes That Affect Building Design

Introduction• Guidelines and codes that affect home

design– Traditionally from home-owner associations– Many attempt to follow green building

guidelines• Building codes

– Required laws intended to protect the public– Minimum guidelines for construction and

inspection of a structure

Green Building Guidelines• Green building

– Incorporation of environmental considerations and resources into the construction process

• Green or environmentally friendly building– Designed, built, operated, renovated, recycled

ecologically, and in a resource-efficient manner• Meet certain objectives (e.g., protecting health, using

resources efficiently, etc.)

Green Building Guidelines (cont’d.)• LEED Green Building Rating System

– Designed to help improve building quality and minimize environmental impact

– Developed by U.S. Green Building Council– Requires a minimum number of points

• Certified: 26–32 points• Silver: 33–38 points• Gold: 39–51 points• Platinum: 52 points or more

Green Building Guidelines (cont’d.)• LEED Green Building Rating System key

areas:– Sustainable sites– Water efficiency– Indoor environmental quality– Energy an atmosphere– Material and resources– Innovation and design process

Green Building Guidelines (cont’d.)• National Green Building Standard ICC 700

– Developed by NAHB and ICC– Whole-house systems approach – Intended to increase home’s performance and

efficiency

Green Building Guidelines (cont’d.)• National Green Building Standard ICC 700

key areas:– Site design and development– Lot Design, preparation, and development– Resource efficiency– Energy efficiency– Water efficiency– Indoor environmental quality

Green Building Guidelines (cont’d.)• National Green Building Standard ICC 700

key areas (cont’d.):– Operation, maintenance, and owner education

• Levels of certification:– Bronze– Silver– Gold– Emerald

National Building Codes• Regulation of buildings

– Can be traced back more than 4000 years• George Washington and Thomas Jefferson

• Building codes – Now used throughout most of U.S. – Regulates issues (e.g., fire, structural ability,

health, security, energy, new materials and technology)

National Building Codes (cont’d.)• Model code organizations

– Oversee accredited laboratories and testing facilities• Material suppliers may have their own testing

facilities

• Many jurisdictions adopt building codes with local amendments– Vary according to location

National Building Codes (cont’d.)• National code options

– Most states adopted building codes published by International Code Council (ICC)

– Some might still be using one of the legacy codes of the ICC• Each municipality and state has the right to adopt

all, or a portion, of the indicated code

National Building Codes (cont’d.)• International code family

– International Code Council (ICC)• International Building Code (IBC) • International Residential Code (IRC)

• Choosing the right code– Responsibility of the architect and engineer

Basic Design Criteria for Building Planning

• Building codes influence design and construction methods– Understand ICC markings

• Space is subdivided into:– Habitable space– Nonhabitable space

Basic Design Criteria for Building Planning (cont’d.)

• Location on the property– Exterior walls of residential building cannot be

located within 5′ of property lines • Unless special provisions are met• Zoning regulations may further restrict location• Made from materials with one-hour fire rating

Basic Design Criteria for Building Planning (cont’d.)

• Egress and accessibility requirements for a residence– Means of egress

• Egress doors• Emergency egress openings• Halls• Stairs• Handrails and guardrails

Basic Design Criteria for Building Planning (cont’d.)

• Room dimensions– Affect the size and ceiling height of rooms

• At least one room with 120 sq ft of total floor area• Other habitable rooms except kitchens are required

to have a minimum of 70 sq ft and not less than 7′• Minimum ceiling height of 7′0″ (some exceptions)

Basic Design Criteria for Building Planning (cont’d.)

• Light and ventilation requirements– Major effect on window size and placement

• Natural light• Alternative light and ventilation methods

• Heating and sanitation requirements– Minimal

• Rarely affect design process

Basic Design Criteria for Building Planning (cont’d.)

• Safety equipment– Automatic fire sprinkler system– Smoke detectors– Carbon monoxide alarms

Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria

• Key elements to design a safe structure:– Air freezing index– Flood hazard– Ground snow load– Mean annual temperature– Ice barrier underlayment– Seismic design category

Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (cont’d.)

• Key elements to design a safe structure (cont’d.):– Susceptibility to damage by:

• Frost line depth• Termites• Weathering

– Wind design: speed and topographic effects– Winter design: temperature

International Energy Conservation Code

• Published by ICC and is updated every three years

• Regulates:– Design and construction of exterior envelope– Selection of heating, ventilation, and air-

conditioning, water heating, electrical distribution and illuminating systems, and equipment

International Energy Conservation Code (cont’d.)

• Determining required envelope– Exterior envelope comprises exterior walls,

ceiling, openings in walls and ceiling, and floor• Construction depends on climate zones based on

wet-bulb temperature

International Energy Conservation Code (cont’d.)

• General requirements for building the envelope:– Insulation

• Material used to restrict flow of heat, cold, or sound

– Fenestration• Openings in envelope• Solar heat gain coefficient and solar heat gain

International Energy Conservation Code (cont’d.)

• Specific requirements:– Ceilings with or without attic storage– Mass walls– Floor/crawl space walls– Basement walls– Slab-on-grade floors