Key Project Terms: Educational and Institutional (Renovations)

The following is a list of useful terms to use when researching additional Residential & Community Facilities information on each of the topics discussed:

Adult Home

An adult care facility established and operated for the purpose
of providing long-term residential care, room, board, housekeeping, personal care and supervision to five or more adults unrelated to the operator.

Building Systems Work

The installation, modification, or upgrade of existing building systems; including plumbing, boiler, sprinkler, standpipe, fire alarm, HVAC, and fire suppression systems; these repairs must be included in the scope of work of the project.

Commissioning

Refers to quality assurance testing process that verifies and documents the selected building systems have been designed, installed, and function according to the Owner’s project requirements and construction documents, and to minimum Code requirements. Mandatory when the total permitted equipment is greater than or equal to a total heating input capacity of 600,000 BTU/h and/or a total cooling capacity of 480,000 BTU/h, as per NYCECC C408.

Educational

Educational occupancy classification, which includes, but is not limited to daycare for children, academies and schools (through 12th grade)

Elevation in Flood Zones

Elevating a building to ensure that lowest occupied floor is above the flood levels per FEMA flood maps and as described in BC Appendix G and ZR Article VI.

High Rise Building  

A building with an occupied floor located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Institutional

Institutional occupancy classification, which includes, but is not limited to buildings or spaces for people capable or not capable of self-preservation and who live in a supervised, restrained, or secured environment.

Layout Changes

Changes to floor layouts that add, relocate, remodel, enlarge or reduce the size of interior spaces while maintaining the same building envelope.

Lot Line Windows

Windows of a building exterior wall located on the side or rear property zoning or tax lot lines. Such lot line windows require special code compliance review, dependent on the building type and building construction class, to determine the allowable window sizes, quantity, and fire protection needed.

Natural Light and Air

The amount of natural light and natural air ventilation derived from passive openings such as operable and openable windows and skylights; this is required for certain spaces in residential and community facility buildings to ensure compliance with Code, Zoning and Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL).

Partial Demolition

Maintaining the same building envelope, any construction that involves the removal, replacement or repair of load bearing and/or non-load bearing interior partitions, changes to structural elements (interior or exterior), and facade changes or other upgrades.

Renovations

Changes to an existing building, including the remodeling or replacing of outdated or damaged structure and materials, and the partial demolition of interior partitions, building renovations can also include the installation or replacement of building systems, devices or equipment, materials or parts as part of regular maintenance of the building. Renovation projects do not impact the existing means of egress, do not change the use of the building or space, and do not increase the occupant load.

Use

The purpose for which a building, structure, building area/space or open tract of land is designed, arranged maintained or occupied.

Use Group

The Use Group is based on the use, as defined in ZR section 12-10, which is any purpose for which a building or other structure, or an open tract of land, may be designed, arranged, intended, maintained or occupied; furthermore the use is any activity, occupation, business or operation carried on, or intended to be carried on.

Key Points & Project Terms Categories

  1. Alterations

  2. Building Systems Installation & Modifications

  3. Construction Equipment

  4. Demolition COMING SOON!

  5. New Buildings COMING SOON!

  6. Renovations

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