IBC Code performance based design questions

[tonyiggy]

I have submitted structural plans for permit for a 4 story townhouse project. The county reviewer came back and said per IBC 2308.11.1 "Structures of conventional light-frame construction and assigned to seismic category C shall not exceed two stories above grade plane". I am not sure how to respond to this comment. In my opinion IBC 2308.11.1 only applies to prescriptive design, however everything is engineered (stud walls, headers, shear walls...etc). Is there somewhere in the code that states that engineered design (performance based)overrides this section of the code?

Thanks

 

[JAE]

If you have an engineer seal on it and include your design requirement notes, the reviewing is simply wrong to assume 2308 even applies.

 

[sandman21]

Additionally, being engineered is not performance based design.