Codes And Plastic Lumber Deck And Railing Craig

Codes And Plastic Lumber - Deck And Railing Craig H. Wagner, P. E. Chief Engineer – Certification Services

Biography Craig H. Wagner, P. E. Chief Engineer • 35+ years experience • 20 years – Engineering firm in Baltimore involving design, inspection, testing, forensics, expert testimony and standards development • Joined ATI (Intertek) in 1999 • Member ICC, ASTM, AISC • Active in code and technical committees with various industry associations

Overview • Intertek Introduction • Building Codes – Fundamental Understanding • Code Requirements • Product Testing • Special Considerations • Quality Control and Inspections • Certification Mark 3

Intertek Global Footprint Over 100 countries, 1, 000 locations & 41, 000 employees www. intertek. com/building www. psiusa. com

US - B & C Footprint 100+ Labs / Offices www. intertek. com/building www. psiusa. com

Building Products – North America • 2014 Architectural Testing > Intertek • A complete testing and certification organization independently accredited by IAS for all fundamental areas of service to the building products industry • • ISO/IEC 17025 accredited Testing and Calibration Laboratories • ISO/IEC 17065 accredited Certification Body • ISO/IEC 17020 accredited Inspection Body All major disciplines of building product testing and evaluation: • 6 Structural, Fire, Thermal, Acoustical, Blast, Materials, etc. • Traditional product certification (listing & labeling) to individual standards • Research Reports for building code compliance • Florida state Evaluation Agency • Leadership in certification and code compliance evaluation: • Mike Beaton, P. E. – V. P. of Certification Services, L. A. • Craig Wagner, P. E. – Chief Engineer of Certification Services, York, PA • Kal Kooner, P. Eng – Director of Certification Services N. A. , Intertek Vancouver, B. C.

BUILDING CODES

Building Codes • Building Codes are government's laws and ordinances enacted through legislation to facilitate the regulation of building construction for the purpose of protecting life, safety and welfare of the public • Building Codes are established and enacted at the state level – Powers reserved for the states / U. S. Constitution 10 th amendment • Codes establish “minimum” requirements • States may, and commonly will, allow adoption and modification of State Code by lower jurisdictions (counties, cities or other municipalities)

Model Building Codes • Model Codes are developed by nongovernmental organizations through interaction with construction industry experts representing government, labor, manufacturers, design professionals, developers, etc. • The International Code Council (ICC) develops model codes. • Building Codes (Ordinances) are established by adoption of “Model Codes” through legislation. • Model Codes are adopted in whole or in part and adopted by reference or by republishing in entirety. • The Model Codes adopted throughout the United States are: The International Building Code (IBC) and, The International Residential Code (IRC) • Unless otherwise specified, the code requirements and references made throughout this presentation are with respect to the model codes.

CODE REQUIREMENTS 10

Building Codes Model Codes • 2015 IBC - International Building Code • 2015 IRC - International Residential Code for One and Two-Family Dwellings State Codes of Significance • 2014 Florida Building Code Additional requirements for approved plastics • North Carolina State Building Code Proposed changes pending code development process

Terminology • Guardrails (Guards) - Open walking surfaces elevated more than 30" above grade or lower floor • Decks, porches, balconies • Open sided stairs and landings • Handrails Grasping for guidance or support • Stairs and Ramps • Separate or top rail of guard • Grab Bars Accessibility requirements • • Support body weight - toilets, tubs & showers Fence – Pools and Spas (Barrier)

Terminology Handrail Guard Grab Bar 13

Handrails Dimensional Requirements • Height: 34 to 38 in. measured vertically from leading edge of the stair nosing or the landing • Handrail Graspability Diameter 1. 25” – 2” or, perimeter dimension of 4” – 6. 25” with a max. dimension of 2. 25 in. • ADA Slightly Different From Building Code 1. 25” – 1. 5” or equal gripping surface.

Handrails Design Loads • 200 lbs. Concentrated load at any location and in any direction. • 50 plf. Uniformly distributed load in any direction. Not required for one- and two-family dwellings (IRC) • Test plan must consider worse case loading conditions for lineal handrail elements and brackets • Normally requires multiple tests for multiple load cases

Guardrails (Guards) Dimensional Requirements • Minimum overall height of guards = 42 in. Exception: one- and two-family dwellings (36" / IRC) • Openings < 4” up to 34” height and, < 8” above 34” Exception: Stairs clearance beneath rail < 6“ diameter • Handrail graspability when the top rail serves as handrail in locations where a handrail is required • Secondary rail required for handrail when top rail of guard does not meet graspability requirements

Guardrails (Guards) Design Loads • 50 lbs. concentrated load at any location (12” x 12”) • 200 lbs. concentrated load at any location and in any direction along top rail • 50 plf. Uniformly distributed load in any direction. Not required for one- and two-family dwellings (IRC) • Requires multiple tests for multiple load cases

Deck Boards Design Loads For Decks and Balconies • Live Load Same As Occupancy Served • 40 psf Residential • 100 psf covers all typical uses • 300 lbs. concentrated Load on Stair Treads – applied to 2” x 2” area at any location • Worse case is normally mid-span at the leading edge of the stair tread • Difficult to meet with typical 1” nominal deck boards at typical stair construction spans (36” stair width with 3 stringers = 18” tread span). Excessive deflection is very common in testing. Often requires special tread installation that provides additional support.

IBC Chapter 26 - Plastic Section 2612 Plastic Composites: • Applies to wood/plastic composites and plastic lumber • Deck boards, stair treads, handrails and guards > ASTM D 7032, Standard Specification for Establishing Performance Ratings for Wood-Plastic Composite Deck Boards and Guardrail Systems (Guards or Handrails) • Requires a Label as evidence of conformance with the code that incudes identification of an approved agency. i. e. Certification

Additional Requirements Not Directly Specified By Code ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria For Deck Board Span Ratings And Guardrail Systems, AC 174 • Historically needed for evaluation as an alternative material. • Still required by many building officials throughout the U. S. • Mostly covered by ASTM D 7032

Code Developments Proposed Changes to North Carolina Building Code for Guardrails • Openings must resist passage of a 4 inch sphere with a minimum force of 50 lbs. • Maximum clearance from deck shall not exceed 2 inches.

Plastic Composites Code Permitted Uses Building Code Construction Types And Permitted Uses For Plastic Composites 22

Construction Types General: Type I and II – Building elements are noncombustible Type III – Exterior walls are noncombustible Type IV – Heavy Timber Type V – Any material permitted by the code …except as allowed elsewhere in the code 23

Permitted Uses / Construction Types History Alt. to Wood AC 174 Type VB 24 Current Alt. to Wood AC 174 Other Types per IBC 1406. 3 2015 IBC Code Recognized Material IBC 2612 ASTM D 7032 Type VB Code Permitted Type VB and, Type III, IV & V (sprinkler protected) Alt. to Wood Type I & II per IBC 1406. 3

Combustible Materials in Noncombustible Construction SECTION 603 COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN TYPES I AND II CONSTRUCTION 603. 1 Allowable materials. Combustible materials shall be permitted in buildings of Type I or II construction in the following applications and… 13. Combustible exterior wall coverings, balconies and similar projections and bay or oriel windows in accordance with Chapter 14. SECTION 1406 COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ON THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF EXTERIOR WALLS 1406. 1 General. Section 1406 shall apply to exterior wall coverings; balconies and similar projections; and bay and oriel windows constructed of combustible materials. 25

IBC Section 1406. 3 Balconies and similar projections of combustible construction other than fire-retardant-treated wood shall be fireresistance rated where required by Table 601 for floor construction or shall be of Type IV construction in accordance with Section 602. 4. The aggregate length of the projections shall not exceed 50 percent of the building’s perimeter on each floor. Exceptions: 1. Allows FRT wood on buildings of Type I and II construction (with limitations) 2. Untreated wood is permitted for pickets and rails or similar guardrail devices that are limited to 42 inches (1067 mm) in height. 3. Balconies and similar projections on buildings of Type III, IV and V construction shall be permitted to be of Type V construction, and shall not be required to have a fire-resistance rating where sprinkler protection is extended to these areas. 4. Sprinkler protection exempts length limitation. 26

2015 IBC - NEW SECTION 1410 PLASTIC COMPOSITE DECKING 1410. 1 Plastic composite decking. Exterior deck boards, stair treads, handrails and guardrail systems constructed of plastic composites, including plastic lumber, shall comply with Section 2612. SECTION 2612 PLASTIC COMPOSITES 2612. 5 Construction requirements. Plastic composites shall be permitted to be used as exterior deck boards, stair treads, handrails and guards in buildings of Type VB construction. 27

Summary • 2015 IBC explicitly permits use for Type VB construction. • IBC permits use in Type III, IV and V construction w. o. /fire -resistance rating where sprinkler protection is provided. Section 1406. 3 Exception 3. • Use in buildings of construction Type I & II must be recognized as approved alternatives to wood. Section 1406. 3 Exception 2. Guardrails only. Does not apply to floor const. (i. e. decking) 28

PRODUCT TESTING 29

Testing – End Use Factors Tests for strength and stiffness of structural elements conditioned for end use evaluation. Properties compared with values from same tests at standard laboratory conditions • Temperature and Moisture Effect – Physical tests at 20°F, +125°F and, after moisture cycling • Weathering / UV Resistance – Physical tests after 2000 hours of accelerated weathering exposure • Freeze-Thaw Resistance – Three cycles of 24 hrs. water submersion → 24 hrs. freezing → 24 hrs. room temperature

Adjustment Factors For End Use Evaluation Adjustment factors applied to structural performance ratings or test loads to account for end use conditions effect on material properties. • Temperature and Moisture Effect - Most restrictive effect taken from temp and moisture (not both) • For deck boards performance rating reduced for most restrictive effect. • For Guardrails, test loads increased for most restrictive effect in excess of 25% • UV and Freeze-Thaw Resistance • For deck boards, performance rating reduced for amount of loss exceeding 10% • For Guardrails, test loads increased for amount of loss exceeding 10%

Additional Material Tests • Fire Performance / ASTM E 84 Flame Spread ≤ 200 • Termite and Decay Resistance – required for products containing wood, cellulosic, or other biodegradable materials. • Resistance to Formosan termites tested in accordance with ASTM D 3345 or AWPA E 1 • Fungal decay tests in accordance with ASTM D 2017, D 1413, or APWA E 10 • Tested concurrently with wood control specimens - shall be at least equivalent to pressure treated or naturally durable wood.

Testing For Guardrails Per AC 174 Structural Performance of Guardrails – Minimum unadjusted ultimate test loads are 2. 5 x design loads • 125 lb. on balusters, in-fill panels and intermediate rails • 500 lb. concentrated load at mid-span of the top rail. • 125 plf distributed along the entire top rail • 1000 lb. / 8 -ft. Rail • 1250 lb. / 10 -ft. Rail • 500 lb. minimum concentrated load at brackets and top of support posts. (Higher if rail length exceeds 8 -ft and use not limited to 1 & 2 family dwellings) • All test loads shown above must be increased by applicable End Use Adjustment Factors

Testing for Guardrails Per AC 174 Infill Load Test Concentrated Top Rail Load Test – Mid-span Uniform Top Rail Load Test - Vertical 34 Uniform Top Rail Load Test - Horizontal Concentrated Top Rail Load Test - Brackets

Additional Requirements Not Directly Specified By Code ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria For Handrails and Guards, AC 273 • Used to evaluate metal and wood components • Not necessarily enforced but could be required by building officials

Testing For Guardrails Per AC 273 Structural Performance of Guardrails – Test loads are 2. 5 x design loads • 125 lb. applied over a 1 sq. ft. area on balusters, in-fill panels or intermediate rails • 125 plf maximum uniform load along the entire top rail • Tested vertically and horizontally (New June 2017) • 500 lb. concentrated load at mid-span of the top rail and at end rail adjacent to bracket. • Tested vertically and horizontally (New June 2017) • 500 lb. minimum concentrated load on post (Higher load if rail length exceeds 8 -ft and use not limited to 1 & 2 family dwellings) 36

Testing For Guardrails Per AC 273 New Requirements Effective June 2017 • Deflection limit applies to uniform load case as well as concentrated load • Top rail net deflection (between posts) • Total Defl ≤ H/24 + L/96 or H/12 • Net Defl ≤ L/96 • 3. 0 Safety factor for wood components 37

Testing for Guardrail Per AC 273 Infill Load Test Uniform Load Top Rail Load Test Concentrated Top Rail Load Test - Brackets 38 Concentrated Top Rail Load Test at Mid-span Concentrated Load Test on Support Post

Special Considerations Weathering / UV Resistance • AC 174 requires testing each different color. • Reasoning – UV inhibitor content in material compounds commonly varies with color FBC HVHZ (Dade and Broward County) – Approved Plastics • ASTM D 1929 Self-Ignition Temperature • ASTM D 635 Flammability • ASTM D 638 Rate of Burn • 4500 hours of accelerated weathering followed by tensile and impact tests • No change in tensile properties exceeding 10% • No loss in impact resistance exceeding 25%

QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTIONS CERTIFICATION 40

Quality Control and Follow Up Inspections • Products manufactured under an approved quality control system • On-going QC tests required to verify threshold values are maintained consistent with originally tested product • Unannounced inspections quarterly by Intertek • Periodic verification testing by Intertek • Samples selected during quarterly inspections • Flexural tests by Intertek in accordance with ASTM D 6109 and compared with values obtained in original product qualification tests

Product Label – Certification Marks • Certified products are identified by a mark of conformity (aka certification mark) included with the product labeling. • Certification body authorizes and controls use of the mark. • Certified products are listed on the agencies web based directory. www. whdirectory. Intertek. com www. ati-es. com

Code Compliance Research Report (CCRR) 43

Code Compliance Research Report Requirements • Testing establishes performance in compliance with code requirements. • Quality Control assures the product being produced is the product that was tested and qualified for code compliance. • Independent Inspections (Quality Assurance) verify that the product produced and labeled is the same as the product tested and evaluated. • Mark Of Conformity – Intertek certification mark identifies the product as code compliant

Thank You! Craig Wagner craig. wagner@intertek. com (717) 764 -7700