Code Facts

1. Footings: Must be 36” below finished grade. Concrete for footings must be poured into forms or against undisturbed earth. Re-bar will be necessary if soil conditions warrant, upon site inspection. 6” minimum bars block 2” from bottom of footings. Section 403

2. Foundation Drains: Drains must be provided on the outside perimeter of foundations. Sub-soil drains must be bedded in clean gravel. All drains must be at or below area to be drained. An individual dedicated branch electrical circuit must be provided for each sump pit. Sump pit must have secure cover. An opening in the foundation wall must be provided for discharge piping. Drains shall discharge by gravity or mechanical means. Section 405.1

All exterior perimeter drains must be covered by an approved filter membrane material, i.e., tobacco paper, 2” of straw, or filter paper. b. Each interior sump pit must be discharged a minimum often (10) feet from the house and ten (10) feet from any property line. c. Minimum measurements for an interior sump pit shall be 20 x 20 in diameter by 2’ deep. All basements below grade must be damp-proofed or waterproofed. Section permitted below grade. Type N is not permitted. Table404.1 Note A406.

4. Height of unbalanced fill against hollow un-reinforced masonry walls shall not

exceed the following: Table 404.1.1

Height of unbalanced fill may be increased against foundation walls if an approved design satisfies all pressures, loads and uplifts. Method of reinforcing wall must be indicated on plans.

5. Where hollow block walls decrease in thickness, a course of solid masonry or concrete filled units shall be interposed between thicker and thinner sections. Section 606.2.3

6. Foundation anchorage: Anchor bolts shall be a minimum of ~” diameter bolts and shall be embedded in foundations where constructed of concrete not less than 8” and in grouted masonry units not less than 15” and a minimum of 2 anchor bolts are required on each section of plate. Anchor bolts shall be placed 12” from all comers and intermediate bolts spaced a maximum of 8’ on center or an approved equal. Section 403.1.6

8. Crawl space areas: other than those used as an underfloor plenum, shall be ventilated by an approved mechanical means or by openings in exterior foundation walls. Ventilators must be on at least 2 opposite sides; opening must be 1 square foot per 150 square feet of foundation space or an approved equal. Section 408.1

9. Site grading adjacent to the foundation wall shall be sloped away from the building at a slope not less than 6 inches in the first 10 feet. Section 401.3

10. Sill plates: All sill plates placed on concrete or masonry exterior wall must be naturally-durable or pressure treated wood, with a minimum 8” clearance between finished grade and sill plate. Section R-319

11. Beam pockets: Beam pockets must be provided with 4 inches of solid masonry. FHA block is not approved as solid masonry for beam pockets. Section 606.13

12. Headers: Provide double headers above basement openings in bearing walls not covered by masonry lintels. Section 502

13. Firestopping required: Connections between horizontal and vertical spaces: At all interconnections between vertical and horizontal spaces such as occur at soffits, over cabinets, drop ceilings, cove ceilings, cold air returns, and similar locations. Section 602.8

14. Notching: Notches in joists, rafters, and beams may not exceed 1/6 of the depth of the member, and shall not be located in the center 1/3 of the span. Section 602.6

Borings: Holes bored or cut into joists, rafters, and beams shall not be closer than 2 inches to the top or bottom of joists or to any other hole. The diameter of the hole in joists shall not exceed ~ of the member. Section 602.6

Stud Notching and Borings: In bearing walls or partitions, notches or bored holds shall not be more than ~ of the depth of the stud. 602.6

Pre-engineered Trusses: May not be bored, cut, altered, or damaged during construction. Section 502.8

15. Joist Hangers: Wood beams or floor joists must have 4 inches of bearing or be supported in approved hangers or on ribbon boards lX4. Section 502.6

16. Combustible framing shall be at least 2 inches for all flues, chimneys, and fireplaces. Section 1001.15

17. Pre-engineered trusses shall be designed in accordance with TPI-85 standards. Bottom chords shall be designed for the required live loads. Trusses may no be bored, cut, altered or damaged during construction. Section 502.11

18. Bridging: There shall be not less than one line of bridging for each 8 feet of span for all floor joist framing. Section 502.7.1

19. Garages: The garage shall be separated from the resident and its attic by no less than ½”drywall. Garages with habitable areas above shall be separated by minimum 5/8” type “X” drywall. Section 309.2

20. One approved emergency rescue window or exterior door is required in each sleeping room. Basements with habitable space shall have a second means of egress. Section 310

21. Glass over 9 square feet located within 18” of a walking surface below must have safety glazing or provide 1-1/2” horizontal members between 24” and 36” high. Section 308

22. All stairways shall be constructed as follows” 36 minimum width, 6 feet 8 inch headroom, 7 ¾ inch maximum riser, and 10 inch minimum tread depth, exclusive of nosing (measured nose to nose). Section 311.5

23. Guardrail system required for all open side of elevated walking surfaces. Guardrail height shall be a minimum of 36 inches and intermediated rails constructed with no opening greater than 4”, includes all open sides of stairs with a total rise of more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards not less than 34 inches (864 mm) in height measured vertically from the nosing of the treads. Section 312

24. Handrails are required to be 30” minimum and 38” maximum, measured vertically above the nosing of the tread. Section 311.5.6

25. Smoke alarms shall be installed in each sleeping rooms, outside each separate sleeping area, and on each floor level. Section 313

Alteration: When interior alterations, repairs, or additions requiring a permit occur or when sleeping rooms are added, individual smoke alarms shall be installed as per new construction. Section 313

26. All electrical fixtures shall be listed with and approved by an approved testing agency. Section 3303.3

27. No building or structure may be used or occupied without obtaining a Certificate of Use and Occupancy that has been issued by the Code Official. Section 110

28. Approved plans must remain on the job site until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. Section 106

29. Please refer to Contractor, Building Permit Number, Address and Inspection when calling for inspections or in any correspondence.

30. The permit holder is responsible for making arrangements for inspection and insuring that the required inspections have been performed by an authorized inspector representing the municipality. Construction shall not proceed until each phase of construction has been approved. Section 109.3

31. NOTE: Permit approval requires construction in accordance with all codes and ordinances in the appropriate municipality. Section 105

32. Building permit shall be posted and visible from the right of way. Section 105.7

33. Premises identification. Approved numbers or addresses shall be provided for all new buildings in such a position as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or road fronting the property. Section 321

34. Foam plastic shall be protected against ignition by 3/8” gypsum. Section 314

35. Dwelling units in two family dwellings shall have one hour separation. Section 317

36. Townhouses shall have a minimum 1 hour separation on each side or a two hour common separation wall. Section 317

37. Townhouses shall be separated by a 30” high parapet wall or one hour rated roof decking (with minimum class “C” shingles) extending a minimum of four feet back from the common wall. Skylights, vents and other penetrations are not permitted within the rated sheathing. Section 317

38. Masonry chimneys shall meet the minimum clearances, sizes and anchorage set forth in Table 1003.1

COMMONWEALTH CODE INSPECTION SERVICE, INC.

176 Doe Run Road

Manheim, Pennsylvania 17545

TEL: 800-732-0043 or FAX 717-664-4953