Am I out of touch? Am I going nutty?


dshall
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This question is for Perry or any other experienced designer.  I received a plan check comment that says if my roof eave on my house if less than 5' from property line it needs to be one hour  protected.

 

My house is 5' from property line,  I have a 2' eave,  my eave is min 30" from property line and the plan checker cites section R302.1 and says I need to have 5/8" type x gyp bd at underside of eave for 1 hour protection.  In 40 plus years I have never had to do this.  Has anybody else had to deal with this?

 

I spoke with JC about this,  and he has been doing this stuff for about 237 years,  and he has never seen it......  anybody else has some insight to this?

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Yes, one hour protected if less than 5' feet in Seattle.

Okay,  I am still not convinced,  someone might have to hit me over the head with a anvil,  check out the attached pic and see if this changes your mind.  Bill,  if you are correct,  for the last 35 years in San Diego we have been doing it wrong.

 

See pic.....  it takes about walls less than 3 feet etc......

post-50-0-36843300-1446498413_thumb.png

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There are very few places here in Alaska where we would build houses that close to the lot line so I haven't personally run into this, but I just opened up the 2012 IRC to read it through and it seems pretty clear to me...

 

The 1 hr. fire assembly WOULD be required, but ONLY if the adjacent building was closer than 5ft.  (not the lot line).  The only potentially applicable mention of lot lines are in connection with accessory structures. 

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Scott,

 

As I read that it says 3'.  Your walls are 5' and the eave is 2'.  So the eave is 3' from the property line and shouldn't have to be protected. 

 

However, if the city has adopted a 5' distance then that's more restrictive than IRC302.1

 

Of course, the code you posted is 2003 and current code may be more restrictive.

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Okay,  I am still not convinced,  someone might have to hit me over the head with a anvil,  check out the attached pic and see if this changes your mind.  Bill,  if you are correct,  for the last 35 years in San Diego we have been doing it wrong.

 

See pic.....  it takes about walls less than 3 feet etc......

 

Scott,

 

As I read that it says 3'.  Your walls are 5' and the eave is 2'.  So the eave is 3' from the property line and shouldn't have to be protected. 

 

However, if the city has adopted a 5' distance then that's more restrictive than IRC302.1

 

Of course, the code you posted is 2003 and current code may be more restrictive.

 The 2012 IRC is definitely more restrictive. 

 

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_3_par041.htm

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There are very few places here in Alaska where we would build houses that close to the lot line so I haven't personally run into this, but I just opened up the 2012 IRC to read it through and it seems pretty clear to me...

 

The 1 hr. fire assembly WOULD be required, but ONLY if the adjacent building was closer than 5ft.  (not the lot line).  The only potentially applicable mention of lot lines are in connection with accessory structures. 

 

Fire Separation Distance IS measured to the Lot Line, or to an imaginary line between two buildings on the SAME LOT. Very important.

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Fire Separation Distance IS measured to the Lot Line, or to an imaginary line between two buildings on the SAME LOT. Very important.

 

Not saying you're wrong, but where in the code do you get that idea from? 

 

As I understand it, the intent of the code is structure separation, not lot line setback. 

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Not saying you're wrong, but where in the code do you get that idea from? 

 

As I understand it, the intent of the code is structure separation, not lot line setback. 

 

Section R202, Definitions. It is the same definition as the IBC Chapter 7.

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Yes, I have had to do this for about a year now but not every city catches it yet so I just leave the detail for that off unless they call for it. Most cities around here use the 5' rule.

just another bs rule.

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This is my take on it.....  the distance they are talking about is BETWEEN BUILDINGS....  not from BUILDING TO PROPERTY LINE......  at least that is where I think the confusion lies.

 

Imagine an apartment project with multiple buildings on the same lot....  

 

anyway,  I will let you guys know if I am correct or if I have been wrong for the past 35  plus years.

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Yes,  thanks Ben,  again if we look closely at what you posted I will assume the minimum distance is between buildings and not from building to property line.

 

I see where you are going.  I concede that it isn't specific, but I think it's vague by design so that each municipality can determine what "the line used to determine the fire separation distance" is, however, throughout section 302 including exceptions, the 'lot line' is sprinkled into the wording.  So most places define or interpret that line to be the lot line.  Incorrectly or not.  Good luck fighting them on it.  Hope you win.

 

---

 

R302.1 Exterior walls. 

Construction, projections, openings and penetrations of exterior walls of dwellings and accessory buildings shall comply with Table R302.1(1); or dwellings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section P2904 shall comply with Table R302.1(2). 

Exceptions: 

 

1. Walls, projections, openings or penetrations in walls perpendicular to the line used to determine the fire separation distance. 2. Walls of dwellings and accessory structures located on the same lot. 3. Detached tool sheds and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures exempted from permits are not required to provide wall protection based on location on the lot. Projections beyond the exterior wall shall not extend over the lot line. 4. Detached garages accessory to a dwelling located within 2 feet (610 mm) of a lot line are permitted to have roof eave projections not exceeding 4 inches (102 mm). 5. Foundation vents installed in compliance with this code are permitted. 
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I think it's based on the property line because in the future if the neighbor decides to build closer to the shared property line, then there would be a fire separation issue if the structure isn't protected. It's all about keeping fires contained to properties, and the best way to do that is to base the regulation on the property line. Structures come and go.

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Isn't this funny,  we really do not have a definitive answer....  I don't think we have a definitive answer....  and Andy,  what you are saying does not specifially talk about the property line ......  

 

anyway,  all I know is that for the last 133 years I have never had to do it out here in the land of fruits and nuts.....  but I will get to the bottom of this until I have the answer that I want to hear....

 

attached is some more code stuff,  again it does not talk specifically about distance to property line......  

 

 

post-50-0-73648800-1446508329_thumb.png

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