Residential vs Commercial Code? 3

[SteelPE]

My coworker and I have had a disagreement as of late. It revolves around when you are allowed to use the residential code and when you are allowed to use the commercial code. I have always said that the residential code is to be used for 1 and 2 family dwellings (hence the name). He says that if the project is residential then you can ignore the commercial code and go straight to the residential. The project in question is a 3 family dwelling with an issue regarding calculation of seismic loads. Does anyone have any opinion on the matter? When are you allowed to use the residential code vs the commercial code?

 

[BAretired]

In Canada, we have a Residential code and a Commercial code as well. Personally, I think there should be one code dealing with all buildings. There is simply no justification IMHO to applying different rules to different types of building.

BA

 

[woodman88]

I (here in the USA) do not feel that there are two different rules for buildings with the IBC vs the IRC. The IRC (residential code) is merely a simplification IMHO of the IBC to reflect just the conventional framing aspects for three stories or less construction. Whether this is the same in Canada I could not say. But such a simplification of the code for this reason is a good idea in my opinion.

Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.

 

[BAretired]

In Canada, there are many differences between Part 4 (Structural Design) and Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings), not the least of which is the basic snow load.

One wonders why the snow load should vary according to the type of building upon which it is falling.



BA

 

[msquared48]

Follow the money BA... Follow the money.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com