IBC Section 1603?

[SteelPE]

Am I the only one out there that does their best to comply with this section of the building code?

I just received a set of drawings in from a large engineering company to help a fabricator out with some connection designs. While the drawings look great (we have a nice 3D BIM model shown on the plans) they are missing the entire compliance section of section 1603. I have no idea how the building was designed (is the building suppose to be a greenhouse, a movie theater a hospital?).... which makes it difficult to design the connections.

The also have stub outriggers with no moment connections and knee braces with no dimensions showing how to place the knee brace within the frame.

If the job goes forward, I'm sure this is going to be straightened out with a few phone calls. However, it is very frustrating.

 

[SrVaro]

I cannot reply for anyone else, but every company I have worked for supplies the required information (at least as best as possible). I would be surprised that the drawings could get past permitting without that information.

If you are struggling to tell if it is a greenhouse or hospital, maybe it is time to look into a new profession. Maybe architecture?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Construction Documents does not exclusively mean drawings.... I worked for a company that put a lot of information into their project specifications. Contractors, fabricators, et cetera were all expected to read and comply with the specifications. The drawings had some information as well. But, some other engineers that I've met were sometimes shocked that we did not put all the info into the construction drawings.

 

[SteelPE]

Josh,

I didn't think of that, but what happens when the specifications get lost and the owner would like to make a change to the building in the future and has a set of drawings but not the specifications. He would either have to go back to the original designer or get someone to reinvent the wheel.

 

[JedClampett]

We always try to put wind and seismic on the drawings. As far as snow, we're in Arizona, so it's not a applicable load (well it's not in Phoenix) and I leave that out. It's one of my favorite comments (put on the base shear and wind loads!) during review. And to the point of putting in information in the specifications, it's technically OK, but the plan reviewers absolutely will not open them. They say if it's not on the drawings, they are not going to look at it. So after having that conversation a lot of times, I've given in. We have complete specifications and replicate a lot of the information on the drawings.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I don't think this process works very well for commercial buildings.... for exactly the reason you mention. We worked mostly on industrial structures where the owner was a large company (think Shell, Exxon, et cetera). They have a lot of liability associated with those plants and are expected to maintain their records well.

An engineering company with a lot of experience with these types of projects, may adopt these sorts of practices for other jobs as well. Not realizing that a company which specializes in commercial construction would be unlikely to do so.

Not defending the practice... just pointing out that it doesn't violate 1603.

 

[woodman88]

"Construction Documents does not exclusively mean drawings"

Correct, but what are Construction Documents?

Per the 2009 IBC Section 202
"CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS. Written, graphic and
pictorial documents prepared or assembled for describing the
design, location and physical characteristics of the elements of
a project necessary for obtaining a building permit."
And Section 104
"DUTIES AND POWERS OF BUILDING OFFICIAL
104.1 General. The building official is hereby authorized and
directed to enforce the provisions of this code. The building official
shall have the authority to render interpretations of this
code and to adopt policies and procedures in order to clarify the
application of its provisions. Such interpretations, policies and
procedures shall be in compliance with the intent and purpose
of this code. Such policies and procedures shall not have the effect
of waiving requirements specifically provided for in this
code."

It is up to the building official to provide an interpretation of what is required.
Whether, they allow the calculations to be considered part of the "CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS" or only to be required as part of the "Submittal documents" per Section 106 is rarely clear IMHO.

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.