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If you are a building owner, business owner or property manager,

you have difficulties to get your building permit approved,
you are not sure whether your architectural plans are overkilled or not,
you are recommended to have an alternative solution,

please ASK BING.
I will be happy to help you out.

#thirdpartyplansreview #buildingowner #businessowner #propertymanager #buildingpermit #alternativesolution

The Right Expectation to a Building Code Consultant

As a Sr. Building Code Consultant with 13 years experience of code enforcement, the definition of a Building Code Consultant in my mind is that: A person who has more experience than other professionals (architects, engineers) in enforcing the building code and is able to give accurate interpretation on code articles. A Building Code Consultant is neither an architect, nor an engineer.

It is strange to see building code consultants in the market provide design guides to architects for detailed architectural design, from building classification to sidewalk width. This usually results in confusion for architects at the design stage. The projects are usually overkill and/or are not complying to the code at all, because these code consultants have no experience of code enforcement and knowledge of building design. 

My question is: 

 What will you expect from a building code consultant if he offers to provide you a code compliance report or an architectural design guide, if he never enforced the code and designed a building? 

My recommendation is:

Check the individual experience on LinkedIn before making a hiring decision. 
#design #experience #engineer #architect #architecturaldesign #codeconsultants

My Profile Picture

I told my little daughter that I need a profile picture for my linkedin homepage. She spent less than 10 minutes and presented me with this green running man. I like it! It is good to have my own artist.
#runningman #profile

Covered Vehicular Passageway

 Ask Bing--The ONLY TRUE BUILDING CODE CONSULTANT, AFFORDABLE, FAST and ACCURATE

587-215-2099, askbing@yahoo.com

Quiz

A covered vehicular passageway serves as a shipping and receiving area. The fire resistance rating of the fire separation between the passageway and the adjoining building shall be not less than:

a) 45min

b) 1h

c) 1.5h

d) 2h

Please have your answer by comments.

#building #passageway

Location of Firewall

Can we put firewalls on any location we like to build one huge building?
There are 3 firewalls on the floor plan below. What are the implications of these firewalls in our design?
#design #building #firewalls

Firewall vs Fire Separation

On the following two floor plans, one has a 1h fire separation and the other has a 2h firewall at the same location.
What shall we consider differently in designing? Please give your list of differences by comments.
#firewalls #fireseparation

Tell the Difference

2015 National Building Code

9.10.4.4. Roof-Top Enclosures

1) Roof-top enclosures provided for elevator machinery, stairways or service rooms, used for no purpose other than for service to the building, shall not be considered as a storey in calculating the building height.

2018 BC Building Code

9.10.4.4. Roof-Top Enclosures

1) A roof-top enclosure shall not be considered as a storey in calculating the building height if the roof-top enclosure is provided for

a) elevator machinery,

b) a service room,

c) a stairway used for no purpose other than for access or egress,

d) an elevator lobby used for no purpose other than for access or egress, or

e) a combination thereof

The difference is:

If you are designing a 3 storey townhouse with a roof top patio and stairway, it will be 3 storey in BC, but 4 storey in other provinces, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan.

I Am a Building Code Consultant

Don't be shy if you don't know something.

Everybody is an expert in his own area.

I am not a plumber. I call a plumber to fix my clogged sink.
I am not a carpenter. I pay for a carpenter to frame my deck.

I am a building code consultant. I know Alberta Building Code, BC Building Code, Ontario Building Code, National Building Code and International Building Code. If you are designing or improving a building, I will be your helper.
#building #codeconsultant #buildingcode

Insight of Alternative Solutions

 

There are two ways to comply with the building Code: Comply with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B or using alternative solutions that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B

Some people think that they can use alternative solutions whenever they want if they don't like the requirements in Division B. The facts are:

1. Alternative solutions are not easy solutions.
It is Division B, not alternative solutions, that sets the minimum standard of the Code. Alternative solutions shall be not "well enough", but "as well as" the acceptable solutions. To achieve the minimum level of performance required by Division B, deviation of one way in Division B shall be compensated by another way in alternative solutions.

2. Alternative solutions are not cheap solutions
To compensate the deviation of Division B, the technology and construction method will usually cost more than the traditional way. Besides this, It is extremally expensive to have a detailed fire analysis and modelling when preparing alternative solution itself.

3. 99% of alternative solutions are not required
It is not hard to comply with the requirements of Division B. Unless you are encouraged to try a totally new construction material or technology which is not covered by Division B, alternative solutions are not required. Something must be wrong if you think you need an alternative solution.

4. Professional’s opinions are not acceptable alternative solutions.
Every professional is an expert only at his own professional area. An architect is an expert of building space and appearance; a structural engineer is an expert of structural design. One of their responsibilities is to comply with the code, not to make the code. Their opinions are not alternative solutions recognized by the Code, unless evidences are provided to prove their solutions are equal or better than that required by Division B.
#architect #design #technology #structural #engineer #alternativesolutions