3-hour horizontal assembly

[Prestressed Guy]

I have a project that requires a 3-hour horizontal assembly between the 1st and 2nd level and the 1st level is type IA construction. I have assumed that to meet this requirement I would need to design the floor framing system with the primary framing members as 3 hour rated and the secondary members would be 2-hour rated as listed in IBC Table 601 type IA.

The architect of record is insisting that a "3-hour Horizontal Assembly" must have all elements with a 3 hour rating.

Do I need to provide 3-hour rated concrete joists in addition to the 3-hour girders and columns of the primary framing system and slab in order to meet this requirement?

 

[Bagman2524]

How can you have a horizontal assembly between floors at 2 different levels? Is it a ramp?

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” MLK

 

[Bagman2524]

Looks to me you are correct. The definition in IBC-2012 section 2.2 describes what a secondary member is. Good luck convincing the AOR.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” MLK

 

[Prestressed Guy]

The ramp is provided by exterior access via a frontage road. To go from one level to the other, you leave the building, drive up the hill and reinter. the building is cut into a hill so on one end of the building the first level is at grade and at the other, the 3rd level is at grade.

The issue is with convincing the Architect which I have been successful in. It has now been taken to the AHJ but given the documentation I supplied I am not expecting a challenge.