Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Transferability of credit depends entirely upon the institution to which the student wishes to transfer.  

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Analyze plans for compliance with code requirements for commercial structures, as related to fire protection and egress systems, accessibility, sanitation, and building materials.

• Analyze construction for compliance with codes for commercial structures, as related to fire protection and egress systems, accessibility, sanitation, and building materials.

• Communicate commercial code requirements to design and construction professionals.

Activities include in-class illustrated lectures showing code concepts related to egress, accessibility, and fire protection; supported by collaborative group review of case studies.  In-class work will be supported by out-of-class individual reading, research of codes and application to mock problems. 

·        Course materials will be presented in a lecture and discussion format, using multimedia presentations (slides, overheads, videos) showing examples of code applications for egress, accessibility, and fire protection in various buildings, and online building codes.

·        Discussions will be supplemented by posting of additional references and resources, on the PCC Course Tools files. 

·        Weekly assignments will provide an opportunity for student to apply class information to actual building examples.

·        Short answer  exams will cover a summary of information from the Building Codes.

Student will work on projects where they will use sample commercial plans, identify codes related to egress, accessibility, and fire protection, and apply to the design and construction details.  Assessment will include review of projects, along with exams requiring ability to find and cite code requirements for egress, accessibility, and fire protection. Student to demonstrate willingness and ability to work in small groups during class to provide input and solve in-class assignments, and articulate findings to class.  Student to demonstrate time management skills by completion of projects by assigned deadlines and by meeting specific objectives for each phase of class projects.

• Commercial building codes regulate the design and construction of commercial structures, specifying the minimum requirements for fire and life safety in public and multi-family structures.

• Building Inspectors need to understand their role in interpreting and applying commercial building code requirements.

• Skills:  Review plans and construction to determine:

Egress requirements, including exit corridor and stairwell location and size

Fire protection systems, including sprinklers

Accessiblity requirements complying with ADA standards

Sanitation requirements, including calculating for restroom provisions

Fire-resistive standards for building materials