International Building Code 2012 - Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy - a PDH Online Course for Engineers and Architects

2012 International Building Code - Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy

Course Outline

Life safety considerations for building occupants vary depending on the building types and usages. This course highlights the special detailed requirements based on use and occupancy, and helps engineers and architects get familiar with the latest building code. The course materials are based entirely on IBC 2012: Chapter 4 - Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy, which contains requirements for buildings and conditions that apply to one or more groups, such as high-rise buildings, underground buildings or atriums. In addition, Chapter 4 contains provisions that may alter requirements found elsewhere in the International Building Code. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will understand the special design requirements for:

Covered mall buildings;
High-rise buildings;
Atriums;
Underground buildings;
Motor-vehicle-related occupancies
Hospitals and nursing homes;
Detention and correctional facilities;
Motion picture projection rooms;
Stages and platforms;
Special amusement buildings;
Aircraft-related occupancies;
Combustible storage; and
Hazardous material related occupancies.

Background Information

The International Code Council (ICC) was founded in 1994 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The founders of the ICC are Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI).

The first draft of International Building Code was prepared in 1997. The first edition of International Building Code (IBC 2000) was officially published in March 2000 following several public hearings in 1998 and 1999 and a public comment forum in 1997. As of July 2013, 11 states have adopted IBC 2012; 30 states and territories have adopted IBC 2009; and the remaining states and territories have adopted IBC 2006.

Course Content

The purpose of this course is to help engineers and architects get familiar with the special detailed requirements based on use and occupancy defined in IBC 2012. In this course, you are required to study Chapter 4 of International Building Code 2012. If you or your office do not have this publication, you may order a copy from the Online Store of ICC or access the code provisions from the following weblink:

ICC eCode Free Viewing Access - International Building Code

or you may download a copy of the IBC 2012 using the link below:

2012 International Building Code (PDF, 728 pages)

Chapter 4 of IBC 2012 covers special design requirements for malls, high-rise and underground buildings, parking garages, hospitals, heliports, theaters, and control rooms/areas containing combustible and hazardous materials. There special requirements are related to, among other things,

1. fire resistance rating,
2. means of egress,
3. minimum clear heights,
4. adequate ventilation,
5. lighting control,
6. emergency voice/alarm communication system,
7. fire detection and prevention, and
8. fire command center.

It is very important for engineers to understand these special requirements so that they can work effectively with architects.

The following contains the outline (table of contents) of Chapter 4 of IBC 2012:

Chapter 4 - Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy

Section 401 Scope
Section 402 Covered Mall And Open Mall Buildings
Section 403 High-Rise Buildings
Section 404 Atriums
Section 405 Underground Buildings
Section 406 Motor-Vehicle-Related Occupancies
Section 407 Group I-2
Section 408 Group I-3
Section 409 Motion Picture Projection Rooms
Section 410 Stages, Platforms And Technical Production Areas
Section 411 Special Amusement Buildings
Section 412 Aircraft-Related Occupancies
Section 413 Combustible Storage
Section 414 Hazardous Materials
Section 415 Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 And H-5
Section 416 Application Of Flammable Finishes
Section 417 Drying Rooms
Section 418 Organic Coatings
Section 419 Live/Work Units
Section 420 Groups I-1, R-1, R-2, R-3
Section 421 Hydrogen Cutoff Rooms
Section 422 Ambulatory Care Faciilities
Section 423 Storm Shelters
Section 424 Children’s Play Structures

Course Summary

To protect the safety and welfare of the public, all engineers must get familiar with the latest building code requirements. This course and its quiz questions highlight the important special requirements based on use and occupancy in IBC 2012.

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.org or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.