×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

(OP)
I just did a structural peer review on a one-level light-frame building for a city.  The footings are continuous and were designed using 3000 psi.  The structural design engineer didn't have testing required for the building.  This brought up a discussion of code interpretation with the building official.  The building officials interpretation is that testing and special inspection are not required per 2006 IBC 1704.4.2. if a building is three stories or less and meets any one of the three (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) exceptions.  My interpretation is that either 2.1 and 2.2 must be met or 2.1 and 2.3 must be met to receive an exception, not just one of them.  What is your interpretation of this?  I appreciate your comments.  Thanks in advance.

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

I read it as "2.1 or 2.2 or 2.3".  I think that if it were intended as you stated, 2.2 and 2.3 would be 2.2.a and 2.2.b instead.  However, there is certainly some room for interpretation here, and the commentary doesn't address the question.

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

I think it is 2.1 or 2.2 or 2.3.

2.1 through 2.3 is to be read like a sentence....

2.1, 2.2, or 2.3.

A code will use the word "AND" if multiple items are required together.

 

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

I agree with ronstruc...2.1 & 2.2 or 2.1 & 2.3. However, I do see how it can be interpretted differently. From my experience/observations as a contractor and geotechnical/construction materials testing engineer, I happen to believe the exceptions are too liberal and all construction should be tested so my interpretation may be skewed in that direction. It's a minimal cost that will be the best insurance you can buy.

Ryan Coggins, P.E., S.I.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancoggins

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

I guess I don't see the word AND in there to combine them like that.

 

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

(OP)
There isn't the word AND, but what I think links them together is that there is a semicolon and not a period at the end of each item like there is elsewhere throughout the code when each item is independent.  The other reason is that there is an OR between the 2.2 and 2.3 and there isn't an OR after 2.1.  It definitely could have been worded better to take out the guessing.

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

I will pick bachelor no. 1, bachelor no. 2, OR bachelor no. 3.

There is only one "or" but you pick only one.

RE: Concrete Special inspection and Testing IBC 1704.4.2

The OR is not between the 2nd and third, it is before the last. The means any one of the criteria, unfortunately.

We use the same set up (numbered, semi-colon delimited lists) in our proposals, but we use AND to mean all of it.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources