| Author |
Message |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 774
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009 - 01:08 pm: |    |
I have a question regarding the Fair Housing requirements as relates to balcony thresholds in residential (high rise) projects and the wind load/water penetration requirements.
Essentially, you can't comply with both. We face the same problem in the DC area, you can comply in some instances, and in some its just not possible.
We have heard, but can't find any specific reference, that the state of Florida passed a law (?) or something that for these conditions, its required to comply with wind load/water penetration requirements in lieu of Fair Housing threshold configuration requirements.
But I can't find anything specific about it - only rumors or comments that 'something' (?) exists.
Any help out there from Florida specifiers with high rise residential experience? Looking for hard evidence, not conjecture.
Thanks!
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, SCIP Affiliate
WDG Architecture, Washington, DC | Dallas, TX |
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec
Post Number: 627
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 09:27 am: | |
William
try contacting FDCA with that question:
Mo Madani/Betty Stevens
Building Codes and Standards Office
Florida Department of Community Affairs
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Betty 850-922-6864
Mo 850-921-2247
850-487-1824
Fax: 850-414-8436
Mo.madani@dca.state.fl.us
Betty.stevens@dca.state.fl.us
www.floridabuilding.org |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 775
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 10:51 am: | |
Thanks, Jerome.
Whatever comes of this, I will post the response back here.
Anyone with specific references on this please let me know.
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, SCIP Affiliate
WDG Architecture, Washington, DC | Dallas, TX |
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec
Post Number: 628
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 01:03 pm: | |
William
we have never had any problems as we require compliance with wind load/water penetration of current FBC (or wind tunnel results, whichever is more restrictive) - we have prepared specifications on over 70 completed Florida high rise projects and many more unbuilt and have yet to receive a query on this...so we recommended talking to Mo at FDCA. |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 776
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 01:25 pm: | |
Thanks again.
The problem is, and more as relates to sliding balcony doors and swinging, though under severe enough conditions they can also be a problem, that Federal Fair Housing requirements trump anything else. Even on a 10 story project up here in the DC area you can end up with a threshold condition that as required to meet wind loads fails the Federal Fair Housing requirements. I vaguely remember that a few years ago (?) the issue came to a head in FL and that state of FL put it the other way round. Whether that was through something with the code, or if it was legislation, I don't know.
Up here in DC, if the only way to prevent water from getting into a balcony door would be to violate fair housings threshold requirements, you would choose to let it leak and go with fair housing as you would just end up in a law suit otherwise. There are groups that come around to do Fair Housing compliance reviews when a property is being sold by the developer. Very nasty.
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, SCIP Affiliate
WDG Architecture, Washington, DC | Dallas, TX |
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec
Post Number: 629
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 01:48 pm: | |
William, I have some email out to some code consultant buddies, when I hear something valid I will post here or forward to you directly. |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 777
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 02:15 pm: | |
Super, thanks!
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, SCIP Affiliate
WDG Architecture, Washington, DC | Dallas, TX |
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