PA RT

25
Architectural, Structural,
and Electrical Information

H V A C E Q U AT I O N S , D ATA , A N D R U L E S O F T H U M B
372 PA RT 25

25.01 Building Structural Systems

A. Standard Nominal Structural Steel Depths:

1. W-Shapes (Wide Flange Beams): 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 40, 44.
2. S-Shapes (I beams): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 24.
3. C-Shapes (Channels): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15.

B. Standard Nominal Joist Depths as Manufactured by Vulcraft:

1. K-Series: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30.
2. LH-Series & DLH-Series: 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 84.

C. Building mechanical equipment support points should not deflect more than 0.33
inch for cooling towers and no more than 0.25 inch for all other mechanical equipment.

D. Maximum Duct and Pipe Sizes that may pass through steel joists are given in the
following table:

Notes:
1. Table based on Vulcraft K Series Joists. For LH or DLH Series Joists consult with Vulcraft.
2. Above values are maximum sizes; designer must consider duct insulation or duct liner thickness.
3. Do not run ductwork through joists or between joists because it generally becomes a problem in
the field. If you must run ductwork through joists or between joists, notify structural engineer and
verify locations of joist bridging.
Architectural, Structural, and Electrical Information 373
E. Floor Span vs. Structural Member Depths is given in the following table:

Floor-Structural Member Depth (1)

Notes:
1. Floor spans generally do not exceed 40 feet.
2. Assumed Floor Dead Load (DL) = 50 psf; Live Load (LL) = 50 psf.
3. Assumed Floor Dead Load (DL) = 50 psf; Live Load (LL) = 150 psf.
4. Assumed Spacing = 5′-0″.
5. Assumed Spacing = 30′-0″.
6. Assumed Spacing = 2′-0″.
7. Assumed Steel Grade 50 ksi.
8. Assumed Steel Grade 36 ksi.
9. K Series Joists for 20′ and 30′ spans; LH Series for 40′ spans.

F. Roof Span vs. Structural Member Depths is given in the following table:

Roof-Structural Member Depth

Notes:
1. Assumed Roof Dead Load (DL) = 20 psf; Live Load (LL) = 20 psf.
2. Assumed Roof Dead Load (DL) = 35 psf; Live Load (LL) = 50 psf.
3. Assumed Spacing = 5′-0″.
4. Assumed Spacing = 30′-0″.
5. Assumed Steel Grade 50 ksi.
6. Assumed Steel Grade 36 ksi.
7. K Series Joists for 20′ and 30′ spans; LH Series for 40′, 50′, and 60′ spans.

25.02 Architectural and Structural Information

A. Equipment Weights. Provide equipment weights, sizes, and locations to Architect

and Structural Engineer. Architect does not normally need the weights of equipment,
but information is needed by Structural Engineer. Obtain weights and sizes from
374 PA RT 25

Manufacturer’s catalogs or Manufacturer’s Representative. Equipment weights

should include the following information as a minimum:
1. Item designation.
2. Location.
3. Size—length, width, height—include curb height if required.
4. Weight. Operating weight if substantially different from installed weight.
5. Floor/Roof openings. Wall openings if load bearing or shear walls are used.
6. Special remarks.

B. Ductwork Weight. Coordinate all ductwork with Structural Engineer, especially when
ductwork weight is 20 Lbs./Lf. or more. Provide ductwork weight and drawings show-
ing location of ductwork and sizes. See Appendix A for ductwork weight information.

C. Piping Weight. Coordinate all piping with Structural Engineer especially pipe sizes 6
inches and larger. Provide piping weight, location of anchors and forces and drawings
showing location of piping and pipe sizes. See Appendix for pipe weight information.

25.03 Electrical Information

A. Provide electrical information for all mechanical equipment requiring electrical

power to the Electrical Engineer. Electrical information should include the following
information as a minimum:
1. Item designation.
2. Location.
3. Voltage-Phase-Hertz.
4. Horsepower, Full Load Amps, Locked Rotor Amps, KW, Minimum Circuit Amps: Pro-
vide 1 or more.
5. Is equipment to be on emergency power?
6. Who provides starter? Who provides disconnect switch?
7. Control Type, HOA, Manual, etc.
8. Special Requirements?

25.04 Mechanical/Electrical Equipment Space Requirements

A. Commercial Buildings:
1. 8 to 20% of Gross Floor Area. Most of the mechanical equipment is located indoors (i.e.,
no rooftop AHUs).
2. 1⁄4 to 1⁄3 of Total Building Volume. This includes the ceiling plenum as mechanical/electri-
cal space.

B. Hospital and Laboratory Buildings:

1. 15 to 50% of Gross Floor Area. Most of the mechanical equipment is located indoors
(i.e., no rooftop AHUs).
2. 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of Total Building Volume. This includes the ceiling plenum as mechanical/electri-
cal space.

C. The original building design should allow from 10 to 15 percent additional shaft
space for future expansion and modification of the facility. This additional shaft
space will also reduce the initial installation cost.
Architectural, Structural, and Electrical Information 375
D. Minimum recommended clearance around boiler and chillers is 36 inches. Mini-
mum recommended clearance around all other mechanical equipment is 24 inches.
Maintain minimum clearances for coil pull, tube pull, and cleaning of tubes as rec-
ommended by the equipment manufacturer. This is generally equal to the length or
width of the tubes or piece of equipment. Maintain minimum clearance as required
to open access and control doors on equipment for service, maintenance, and
inspection.

E. Minimum recommended clearance between top of lights and deepest structural

member is 24 inches.

F. Mechanical and electrical rooms should be centrally located to minimize duct-

work, pipe, and conduit runs (size and length). Centrally locating mechanical and
electrical spaces will minimize construction, maintenance, and operating costs.
Additional space is quite often required when mechanical and electrical equipment
rooms cannot be centrally located or when space requirements are fragmented
throughout the building. In addition, centrally located equipment rooms will sim-
plify distribution systems and will in some cases decrease above ceiling space
requirements.

G. Mechanical rooms with fans and air handling equipment should have at least 10
to 15 square feet of floor area for each 1,000 CFM of equipment air flow.

H. Mechanical rooms with refrigeration equipment must have an exit door which
opens directly to the outside or through a vestibule type exit equipped with self-
closing, tight-fitting doors.

I. Mechanical rooms must be clear of electrical rooms, elevators, and stairs on at

least two sides, preferably on three sides.

J. Electrical rooms must be clear of elevators and stairs on at least two sides,
preferably on three sides.

K. In general, mechanical equipment rooms require from 12 to 20 feet clear from

floor to underside of structure.

L. Mechanical and electrical shafts must be clear of elevators and stairs on at least
two sides. Rectangular shafts with aspect ratios of 2:1 to 4:1 are easier to work
mechanical and electrical distribution systems in and out of the shafts than square
shafts.

M. The main electrical switchgear room should be located as close as possible to the
incoming electrical service. If an emergency generator is required, the emergency
generator room should be located adjacent to the main switchgear room to mini-
mize electrical costs and interconnection problems. The emergency generator room
should be located on an outside wall, preferably a corner location to enable proper
ventilation, combustion air, and venting of engine exhaust.

N. A mechanical equipment room should be located on the first floor or basement

floor to accommodate the incoming domestic water service main, the fire protection
service mains, and the gas service. These service mains may include meter and regu-
lator assemblies if these assemblies are not installed in meter vaults or outside the
building. Consult you local utility company for service and meter/regulator assembly
requirements.
376 PA RT 25

O. The locations and placement of mechanical and electrical rooms must take into
account how large pieces of equipment (chillers, boilers, cooling towers, transform-
ers, and other large pieces of equipment) can be moved into and out of the building
during initial installation and after construction for maintenance and repair and/or
replacement.

25.05 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A. ADA Titles:
1. Title I—Equal Employment Opportunity.
2. Title II—State and Local Governments.
3. Title III—New and Existing Public Accommodations and new Commercial Facilities.
4. Title IV—Telecommunications.
5. Title V—Miscellaneous Provisions.

B. Drinking Fountains:
1. Where only one drinking fountain is provided on a floor, a drinking fountain with two
bowls, one high bowl and one low bowl, is required.
2. Where more than one drinking fountain is provided on a floor, 50% shall be handi-
capped accessible and shall be on an accessible route.
3. Spouts shall be no higher than 36 inches above finished floor or grade.
4. Spouts shall be located at the front of the unit and shall direct the water flow parallel or
nearly parallel to the front of the unit.
5. Controls shall be mounted on the front or side of the unit.
6. Clearances:
a. Knee space below unit 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 17 to 9 inches deep and a
minimum front clear floor space of 30 inch × 48 inch.
b. Units without clear space below: 30 inch × 48 inch clearance suitable for parallel
approach.

C. Water Closets:
1. Height of water closet shall be 17 to 19 inches to the top of the toilet seat.
2. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic. Controls shall be mounted on the
wide side of toilet areas no more than 44 inches above the floor.
3. At least one toilet shall be handicapped accessible.

D. Urinals:
1. Urinals shall be stall-type or wall hung with and elongated rim at a maximum of 17
inches above the floor.
2. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic. Controls shall be mounted no more
than 44 inches above the floor.
3. If urinals are provided, at least one shall be handicapped accessible.

E. Lavatories:
1. Lavatories shall be mounted with the rim or counter surface no higher than 34 inches
above the finished floor with a clearance of at least 29 inches to the bottom of the apron.
2. Hot water and drain pipe under lavatories shall be insulated or otherwise configured to
protect against contact.
3. Faucets shall be lever operated, push-type, and electronically controlled. Self-closing
valves are acceptable provided they remain open for a minimum of 10 seconds.
Architectural, Structural, and Electrical Information 377
F. Bathtubs:
1. Bathtub controls shall be located toward the front half of the bathtub.
2. Shower unit shall be provided with a hose at least 60 inches long that can be used both
as a fixed shower head and a hand-held shower head.

G. Shower Stalls:
1. The shower controls shall be opposite the seat in a 36 inch × 36 inch shower stall and
adjacent to the seat in a 30 inch × 60 inch shower stall.
2. Shower unit shall be provided with a hose at least 60 inches long that can be used both
as a fixed shower head and a hand-held shower head.

H. Forward Reach:
1. Maximum High Forward Reach: 48 inches.
2. Minimum Low Forward Reach: 15 inches.

I. Side Reach:
1. Maximum High Side Reach: 54 inches.
2. Minimum Low Side Reach: 9 inches.

J. Areas of Rescue Assistance:

1. A portion of a stairway landing within a smokeproof enclosure.
2. A portion of an exterior exit balcony located immediately adjacent to an exit stairway.
3. A portion of a one-hour fire-resistive corridor located immediately adjacent to an exit
enclosure.
4. A portion of a stairway landing within an exit enclosure which is vented to the exterior
and is separated from the interior of the building with not less than one-hour fire-
resistive doors.
5. A vestibule located immediately adjacent to an exit enclosure and constructed to the
same fire-resistive standards as required for corridors.
6. When approved by the authorities having jurisdiction, an area or room which is sepa-
rated from other portions of the building by a smoke barrier.
7. An elevator lobby when elevator shafts and adjacent lobbies are pressurized as required
for a smokeproof enclosures by local regulations and when complying with the require-
ments herein for size, communication and signage.
8. Size:
a. Each Area of Rescue Assistance shall have at least two accessible areas 30″ × 48″
minimum.
b. Area shall not encroach on the exit width.
c. The total number of areas per floor shall be one for every 200 persons. If the occu-
pancy per floor is less than 200, the authorities having jurisdiction may reduce the
number of areas to one.
9. A method of two-way communication, with both visible and audible signals, is required
between the primary fire entry and the areas of rescue assistance.
10. Each area must be identified.

K. Stairway Width, 48 inches between handrails minimum.

L. Protruding Objects:
1. Objects protruding from wall with their leading edges between 27 and 80 inches above
the finished floor shall protrude no more than 4 inches into walks, halls, corridors, pas-
sageways, or aisles.
378 PA RT 25

2. Objects mounted with their leading edges at or below 27 inches above the finished floor
may protrude any amount.
3. Protruding objects shall not reduce the clear width of an accessible route or maneuver-
ing space.
4. Walks, halls, corridors, passageways, aisles, or other circulation spaces shall have 80 inch
minimum clear head room.

M. Controls and Operating Mechanisms:

1. The highest operable part of controls, dispensers, receptacles, and other operable equip-
ment shall be placed within at least one of the reach ranges.
2. Electrical and communication system receptacles on walls shall be mounted no less than
15 inches above the floor.
3. Controls and operating mechanisms shall be operable with one hand and shall not
require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate
shall be no greater than 5 lbf.