550
Laws and Regulations
551
CODES
551.1
The Building System Prototype Design has been developed in
complete compliance with the NFPA National Fire Codes, The
Uniform Building Code, the National Building Code, and the
National Plumbing Code. It is the intent of the design Manual that
all detailed system and building designs developed from the
Prototype Design maintain this compliance unless specifically
determined otherwise by appropriate authority.
551.2
Codes differ from each other many items, and are all subject to variable
interpretation and modification. From the point of view of the building
system, which must have nationwide applicability over a reasonable
period of time, the spirit is more important than the letter. Regardless of
how a particular regulation may be interpreted, the overall objective is a
safe, functional building that provides an environment appropriate to its
programmed activities. No point in the description of the Prototype Design
should be construed as a release from this general responsibility.
551.3
A chief difficulty in the application of codes to the design of buildings in
general, and systems building in particular, is that they tend to be reactive
rather than anticipatory. That is, they may scrupulously regulate
traditional modes of construction, but they can become confusing or
misleading, or simply fail to provide guidance, when new modes are
introduced.
551.4
This problem has become quite apparent in regard to the increasing use
of "adaptable" building components and "interstitial" space. The issue is
not that these relatively new concepts violate the codes in some way, but
simply that the codes do not refer to them at all. Under these
circumstances, a safe building cannot be produced solely on the basis of a
"correct" interpretation. The A/E and the authorities having jurisdiction
must take the systems approach to an overall fire safety "strategy" for
each individual project in accordance with its unique characteristics of
program, site, building configuration, etc.
551.5
When this approach is taken, the Prototype Design provides the
opportunity for certain innovations. The organization of the building into
mechanically independent service modules which coincide with fire
sections and which concentrate all vertical shafts in special bays at the
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