{"id":957,"date":"2015-09-22T20:29:18","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T20:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/fishcampdc\/?p=846"},"modified":"2022-01-25T07:38:50","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T07:38:50","slug":"summers-over-are-your-building-decks-and-terraces-still-up-to-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/summers-over-are-your-building-decks-and-terraces-still-up-to-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer\u2019s Over \u2013 Are Your Building Decks and Terraces Still Up to Code?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that Fall is here, it\u2019s a good time for building owners to check the end-of-season condition of decks and terraces and confirm that these building features \u00a0continue to meet today\u2019s strict building and structural guidelines.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get time-consuming inspections, bids and plans for improvement completed now and you\u2019ll be ready to move quickly with any necessary structural improvements or plan design changes once next Spring arrives.<\/p>\n

Here are five of the most common rooftop deck code violations that you should watch out for:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Are you sure your deck is permitted?
    \n<\/strong>If you have acquired a building with an existing rooftop deck \u2013 or if you or the previous owners built the rooftop deck by hand \u2013 you need to ensure that the structure has the right permits. If not, you could be facing some expensive code violations and repair fees.\u00a0 How can you be sure you have the right permits?\u00a0 The Freedom of Information Act<\/a> allows you to contact the city and obtain any documents pertaining to your building structure. \u00a0Go to FOIA.gov<\/a> to locate the agency handling building structure permits in your city. \u00a0If you don\u2019t find a rooftop deck permit, contact an architect or structural engineering firm who can identify and address any potential violations and help you obtain the permits you need.<\/li>\n
  2. Maintain, maintain, maintain.<\/strong>
    \nOften considered strictly aesthetic, rooftop decks with worn or peeling paint and encroaching rust signal much more than a reluctance to repaint. These signs mean that corrosion is present and undermining the integrity of your structure.\u00a0 These conditions open the door to wood rot and metal deterioration \u2013 and are commonly cited by building inspectors.\u00a0 It\u2019s a lot easier to keep paint and stain refreshed than it is to repair or replace your deck structure.<\/li>\n
  3. Do you need a second exit?
    \n<\/strong>Many building managers aren\u2019t aware that factors such as building height, proximity to other structures, and construction type (metal, concrete, wood) impact what you\u2019re allowed to do with your rooftop deck. Based on these conditions, you may require more than one rooftop exit.\u00a0 If you\u2019re unsure if this impacts your building, your best bet is to consult with an architect who can perform a code search to see if your structure is at risk for this violation.<\/li>\n
  4. Combustibility could be a factor.
    \n<\/strong>At building heights of 55 feet and higher, strict material combustibility codes apply. This means that certain kinds of decking are not permitted based on structure, proximity to other buildings and construction type (wood, metal, concrete).\u00a0 Again, check with an architect or structural engineer to see if these restrictions apply and determine what, if any, deck modifications are required to achieve code compliance.<\/li>\n
  5. Is your rooftop deck properly supported?
    \n<\/strong>This is a BIG one.\u00a0 If a professional structural analysis was not performed prior to building your rooftop deck, you could be facing much worse than a simple code violation.\u00a0 Your entire structure could be at risk if the roof load exceeds what the underlying roof supports are able to handle.\u00a0 The roof could crack and leak or, worse, collapse onto the floors beneath.\u00a0 Check building records to ensure a structural analysis was performed on your rooftop deck and, if you\u2019re unable to confirm this, contact a qualified structural engineer who can perform an evaluation for you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Your rooftop deck or terrace is a much loved bonus for your tenants.\u00a0 By making sure you remain building code compliant, they can enjoy the benefits of these outdoor amenities for many years to come.\u00a0 The architects, engineers and roof consultants at K2N Crest <\/a>\u00a0offer professional architectural and structural design and evaluation services to building owners and managers throughout Illinois and Hawaii.\u00a0 www.k2n.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Now that Fall is here, it\u2019s a good time for building owners to check the end-of-season condition of decks and terraces and confirm that these building features \u00a0continue to meet today\u2019s strict building and structural guidelines. Get time-consuming inspections, bids and plans for improvement completed now and you\u2019ll be ready to move quickly with any necessary structural improvements or plan design changes once next Spring arrives. Here are five of the most common rooftop deck code violations that you should watch out for: Are you sure your deck is permitted? If you have acquired a building with an existing rooftop […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=957"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1105,"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/957\/revisions\/1105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theloopdemo.com\/k2n\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}