Are Power Plants subjected to building codes? 1

[StrP88]

Designing a steel stair and came up that the height between floors is 18 ft, OSHA doesnot requirea landing and I can run the stringers between two levels with 18 feet vertical distance however, IBC may require landing? What is the governing OSHA since I am dealing with an industrial building or IBC?

Anywhere in IBC says about industrial buildings?

Thanks

 

[DaveAtkins]

IBC certainly does apply to industrial buildings. I think a power plant building would also be governed by IBC.

Plus, an 18' flight of stairs without an intermediate landing is not going to be comfortable for the users...

DaveAtkins

 

[JedClampett]

It's easier to comply with IBC from the beginning than have a plan review gig you for it and have to modify your design.
But we don't always follow IBC in factory type buildings. For instance, if we have a tank in a building, the stairs up to the tank are not for fire egress, so we follow OSHA. This allows shorter runs and higher risers.

 

[SwinnyGG]

If the stairs you're working on are a fire egress path, than IBC controls their design.

 

[BUGGAR]

And consider future use.
We're stuck with our San Onofre plant (delightfully named "Songs" for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station) that can't be used to generate power anymore and they have to find something to do with it, besides being the West Coast tribute to Dolly Parton.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

In the USA, check the state law. In my state, power plants are explicitly exempted (by law) from complying with any building code. We (electric utility) use building code requirements as a general (voluntary) outline for design and construction. Design is based on accepted engineering principles and good practice, not code requirements.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[ATSE]

I've had more problems with the local fire department than the building department over stairs. Fire chiefs seem to have the last word. And they can be arbitrary. And there's no recourse.
In Nevada, I had to redesign 3 flights of stairs in an industrial building (essentially non-occupied process building) because the risers where 7.125" tall (instead of 7.0" or less).

 

[SAIL3]

I had a similar problem a few years ago...initial rise was 13'-7"...IBC 1009.6 requires 12' max....because the project was a super-fast schedule I decided upfront to bite the bullett and redesign the stairs....do a search on this site for full info...

 

[SAIL3]

that should be IBC 2009...section 1009.7

 

[JStephen]

Another issue, some areas just don't have building codes. Around here, the cities do, the counties generally don't. There's a state building code, but it applies to "commercial buildings" only. So if you're outside the city limits and not building a commercial building, there's no code.