Florida Building Commission

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE RIVERFRONT

225 EAST COASTLINE DRIVE

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA  32202

Legal Report

STRUCTURAL TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC)

DS 2018-076 by Lorenzo Cobiella of Lineaire Deigns, LLC

(1) Is Section 1607.8.1 the applicable Section of the Florida Building Code for the design of glass handrail and guards assembly in an interior installation?

Answer:

Yes. However, in addition to meeting the design requirements of section 1607.8.1 of the 6th Edition (2017) FBC, Building, the interior glazed handrail/guards in question must also meet the applicable requirements of Chapter 24 of the 6th Edition (2017) FBC, Building.

(2) Since the project address resides within a High Velocity Hurricane Zone as defined by the Florida Building Code, is Chapter 16, Section 1618.4.6.3, High Velocity Hurricane Zones Special Load Considerations, the applicable section of the Florida Building Code for the design of a glass handrail and guards in an interior installation?

Answer: No. The requirement of Section 1618.4.6.3 of the 6th (2017) FBC, Building is a wind-resistant requirement which does not apply to the interior glazed handrail/guards in question.

PRODUCT APPROVAL PROGRAM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (POC)

DS 2019-001 by Jalal Farooq of Al-Farooq Corporation.

Question: Given that it is likely that ASTM E1996-17 will be incorporated into future versions of the Florida Building Code, and since this revision implies that it is not a structural issue for this type of substitution, is it acceptable to follow the new exemption in ASTM E1996-17 section A1.9.2 for spacers, even though Florida Building Code 6th Edition, Chapter 35 currently only lists ASTM E1996-05, 06, 09, 2012a, or 2014a as reference standards?

Answer: As per Rule 61G20-3.015(5), Equivalence of product standards for specific application, ASTM E 1996 -2017 is permitted to be used to update the current product approval for FL 28367 as long as the said standard is certified by an approved entity (i.e. an approved certification agency, an approved test lab, an approved evaluation entity, Florida licensed professional engineer or architect, or a nationally recognized standard writing organization) as meeting or exceeding the performance of the standard (i.e. ASTM E 1996-05, 06, 09, 012a or 014a) as referenced by the 6th Edition (2017) FBC.