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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 12. CONSTRUCTION CODES SUPPLEMENT OF 2013 |
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SubTilte 12-A. BUILDING CODE SUPPLEMENT OF 2013 |
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Chapter 12-A7. FIRE-RESISTANCE-RELATED CONSTRUCTION |
Section 12-A705. EXTERIOR WALLS
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Insert new Section 705.8.7 in the Building Code to read as follows:
705.8.7 Openings on or near adjacent construction or property lines. Exterior walls of buildings that contain occupancies other than Group H, and that are equipped throughout with sprinklers in accordance with Section 903, shall be permitted to have openings, subject to the restrictions of Sections 705.8.7.1 through 705.8.7.7, if those walls have a fire separation distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) or less. Nothing in this code shall be construed to allow mechanical openings in exterior walls that would not otherwise be allowed by this code or by the Mechanical Code. Openings allowed pursuant to this section shall not be counted towards natural light, natural ventilation, or smoke control requirements.
705.8.7.1 Abutting buildings. When approved, a limited number of door openings between two abutted buildings, protected in accordance with Section 705.8 shall be permitted.
705.8.7.2 Horizontal exposure. Those stories that directly face another building or structure located either on the same lot or on an adjacent lot, having a distance between buildings of 3 feet (914 mm) or less, shall have no openings on the portion of the exterior wall that faces, horizontally, the building or structure.
705.8.7.3 Vertical exposure. The portions of exterior walls with a distance between buildings of 3 feet (914 mm) or less, that are less than 12 feet (348 mm) vertically above the roof of an adjoining building or adjacent structure when such roof has any portion within a horizontal distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) of the exterior walls shall have no openings. The portions of exterior walls that are greater than 3 feet (914 mm) from the opposing exterior wall, and above the roof of an adjoining building or structure shall comply with Section 705.8.6, except that the provisions shall apply to a building on an adjacent lot.
Exceptions:
1.If a registered architect or engineer has certified that the adjacent roof assembly provides a fire rating no less than that required for the exterior wall of the proposed building or a 1-hour rating, whichever is greater, and that the roof is not used for storage, the 12 foot vertical separation required above may be reduced to 3 feet (914 mm). Where there are skylights or other openings in the adjacent roof that are less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from the exterior wall of the opposing building, the percentage of openings allowed in Section 705.8 shall be as follows:
A: 0 to 3 feet separation between buildings: 0 percent.
B: 3 to 5 feet separation between buildings: 15 percent.
C: 5 to 10 feet separation between buildings: 25 percent.
2. If a registered professional engineer has submitted a written report of inspection certifying that the adjacent building is protected throughout with a fire sprinkler system conforming with Section 903, the 12 foot (3658 mm) vertical separation required above may be reduced to 3 feet (914 mm).
705.8.7.4 Allowable openings. In portions of the exterior wall, other than those specified in Sections 705.8.7.1 through 705.8.7.3, openings up to the maximum of 45 percent, story by story, for each wall face shall be allowed. When such openings are less than 40 feet (12192 mm) above the roof of an adjoining building or adjacent structure when such roof has any portion within a horizontal separation distance of 15 feet (4572 mm) of the wall in which the openings are located, the openings shall be protected in accordance with Section 705.8.2 or with tempered, wired, or laminated glass, installed in compliance with Section 716.6. Mechanical and door openings shall be protected in compliance with Section 716.5.
705.8.7.5 Owner’s responsibility. The owner of the building where openings are allowed pursuant to Sections 705.8.7.1 through 705.8.7.4 is responsible for making any changes in the exterior wall or its appurtenant protective systems, to maintain the building compliance with this code, whenever changes occur in the exterior envelope of any building within a distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) or less of that wall, when those changes might affect compliance with this code. The responsibility of the owner shall include but not be limited to, the following: blocking of openings; upgrading of opening protectives; removal or extension of parts of the required sprinkler system protecting the openings; or any other provisions deemed necessary by the code official to restore the level of safety provided by this code at the time the openings were permitted.
705.8.7.6 Required covenants. Prior to issuance of building permit, a covenant in accordance with the requirements of Section 106 shall be required where openings in exterior walls closer than 10 feet (3048 mm) from interior lot lines are allowed pursuant to Sections 705.8.7.1 through 705.8.7.4, to ensure that compliance with the minimum requirements of those sections will be maintained for as long as the building shall exist, and to ensure that responsibility for the maintenance of those conditions will be conveyed to any future owner of the building.
705.8.7.7 Abatement of unsafe conditions. If the owner of a building or structure where any openings in exterior walls were allowed pursuant to Sections 705.8.7.1 through 705.8.7.4 fails to maintain in working order the protective systems required, or fails to proceed to make any changes required by the code official under the authority of Section 705.8.7.5, the code official is authorized to cause the necessary work to be done, in the interest of safety and welfare of the public, in accordance with D.C. Official Code §§ 6-801, et seq. (2012 Repl.) and other applicable laws and regulations. The cost of work shall become a lien against the property of the offending owner, to be recovered by the District of Columbia through appropriate action.