Our project will be governed by the standard code referred to as
the Uniform Building Code (UBC),
which is widely adopted in the western U.S.
The code requirements given below are interpreted and much abbreviated from
the full UBC for reference for our project, although some points included may
not be relevant to this current project.
Fire Resistance of Exterior Walls and Openings
At property lines adjoining private property:
-- Less than 5' from property line: 4-hour fire wall required; no openings
permitted. (6" concrete or 8" masonry provides a 4-hr firewall).
-- More than 5' but less than 10' from property line: 2-hour firewall; only
"protected" openings permitted. (Incombustible construction provides a 2-hr
firewall; wire or tempered glass with less than 50% of wall area and no single
opening more than 80 sf. are defined as "protected").
-- More than 10' from property line; no restrictions.
At property lines adjoining public property:
-- Same as above except that property
line is assumed at the center of an adjoining street or alley.
Exits
Not less than 2 exits required from any floor or space occupied by more than 10
persons. An elevator does not count as an exit. Where 2 or more exits are
required they shall be spaced apart not less than a distance equal to 1/2 the
longest diagonal of the floor or space, measured in a straight line; such a
distance may be measured along the line of travel if the exitway is enclosed.
Exitways shall lead to an exterior public way; no part of an unprotected exitway
or stairway may be closer than 10' from a private property line. Exit doors
minimum 3' wide; exitways minimum 4' wide; exitway dead end maximum 20'.
Stairs
Risers maximum 7"; treads minimum 11", with a maximum 12' vertical rise between landings. No open risers, no open metal 'fire escapes" permitted. Stairs connecting only two adjacent floors need not be enclosed; stairs connecting more than two adjacent floors in an atrium need not be enclosed if smoke reservoir drops and smoke flushing are provided.
If an atrium is provided (as defined by the UBC),
its least horizontal dimension must be a minimum of 20'.
Handicapped Access
All parts of the building except mechanical and service areas shall be accessible
to handicapped persons. Ramps, if provided shall have a maximum slope of 1' in 12'.
Ramps shall have no more than 2' of rise before a landing.
Assembly Spaces with Fixed Seats
AISLES
In assembly occupancies with fixed sets:
A. With standard seating, every aisle shall be not less than 3
feet when serving seats on only one side and not less than 42 inches
wide when serving seats on both sides. Such minimum width shall be
measured from the point furthest from the exit, cross aisle or foyer
and such minimum width shall be increased by 1 1/2 inches for each 5
feet of length toward the exit, cross aisle or foyer.
B. With continental seating side aisle shall be provided and
be not less than 44 inches in width.
AISLE AND SEAT SPACING
With standard seating, aisles shall be so located that there will be no more than six intervening seats between any seat and the nearest aisle. With continental seating, the number of intervening seats may be increased provided the seating configuration conforms with the following requirements:
The spacing of unoccupied seats shall provide a clear width between rows of seats measured horizontally as follows (automatic or self-rising seats shall be measured in the seat-up position, other seats shall be measured in the seat down position):
18 inches between rows for 1 to 18 seats
20 inches between rows for 19 to 35 seats
21 inches between rows for 36 to 45 seats
22 inches between rows for 46 to 59 seats
24 inches between rows for 60 seats or more
SLOPE
The slope portion of aisles shall not be steeper than 1 vertical in 8 horizontal.
http://www.dil.uoregon.edu/courses/96.2/studios/a584.s96.matthews /projectcode.html - Posted 96.04.27 KMM, rev. 96.04.27