Recent News
Ryan Bierwerth Presents Educational Seminar “Building and Fire Code Issues for Existing Buildings” to AIA-Minnesota
September 2010
The Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-MN) recently requested the Ryan Bierwerth, PE, CFPS, present an educational seminar to its members. The ˝-day seminar was held on September 29, 2010, at the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota. The seminar was described as follows:
As re-use of buildings becomes more and more popular and necessary, complications due to building and fire code compliance are becoming more and more prevalent. Because buildings designed and constructed in the past were done so using older codes (or none at all!), Architects can often find themselves with extremely challenging issues. Which codes apply? From a code perspective, does the project need to be treated as a “new building?” Is that a reasonable approach? Code issues can affect the building's aesthetics by impacting the building’s structure, finishes, and appearance of systems (i.e. fire sprinklers, fire alarms, ventilation components, etc.) Oftentimes, a building’s key architectural features can end up playing a leading role in the code compliance of the building—such as monumental stairs, exposed structural framing members, and openness of floors.
Summit Fire Consulting is a division of Summit Fire Protection that provides fire protection engineering and code consulting services to Architects, Engineers, General Contractors, Subcontractors, and Building Owners. Our professional services include building and fire code consulting, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke control, structural fire protection, means of egress, and hazardous materials. Learn more about Summit Fire Consulting at www.summitfire.com/fire_consulting.
