Shorter Building Next to Now Taller Building? 1

[JoshH726]

Looking at the attached photo, if client wants to add 2 stories to the stone building on the left, who's responsible for the new drifted snow (pg = 60 psf) for wood facade building on the right if they’re owned by separate business entities?

 

[dik]

Same here...

Dik

 

[BAretired]

That being the case, I am surprised that the authority having jurisdiction didn't demand that the roof be brought into compliance with the code.

BA

 

[dik]

BART: Even when the AHJ is wrong, there is likely nothing that can be done.

Dik

 

[BAretired]

Dik,

That makes no sense.

BA

 

[Settingsun]

Do the authorities generally make old buildings comply with new codes if the building isn't otherwise being modified? I don't think it would generally be triggered by a neighbouring development. IME buildings that complied with the requirements at the time of construction (assumed to have been covered by the original authority approval) are left alone structurally - plenty wouldn't comply with current requirements. Fire safety upgrades do however get enforced in some cases.

 

[Canuck65]

In my experience, whether or not the adjacent roof will be upgraded is determined at the preliminary stages. If the adjacent owner is unwilling, the project dies. If the project proceeds I have always been engaged by my client to add reinforcing of the neighbours roof to my scope of work (doesn't always have to be that way). It would be possible that the adjacent owner wants to use their own engineer and that is fine too.

In my opinion, if an engineer is designing additional stories that will result in drifting, it is imperative that the snow drift loading for the adjacent roof be noted on the plans along with a note indicating that the adjacent roof needs to be structurally reviewed and possibly upgraded. In my area, generally the AHJ would withhold issuing a permit for the additional stories until such a time as they had an engineers report saying the adjacent roof was ok for the additional drifting or an engineered design for the upgrading of the roof. Occupancy for the additional stories would not be granted until such time as all the work was completed on both projects.

 

[dik]

...must be another Canuck, pretty much my experience, too. The affected property owner is informed and offered engineering services, or, alternatively suggested that he can retain his own engineer. I've never encountered a situation where the affected property owner has refused to upgrade.

Dik