14R-5-501 The provisions of Section 501 of IEBC are adopted by reference without modification.
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
The provisions of this chapter shall control the alteration, addition and change of occupancy of existing buildings and structures, including historic buildings and structures as referenced in Section 301.3.1.
Exception: Existing bleachers, grandstands and folding and telescopic seating shall comply with ICC 300.
Alterations, additions and changes of occupancy to existing buildings and structures shall comply with the provisions of this chapter or with one of the methods provided in Section 301.3.
Where approved by the building official, in buildings where an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 of the Chicago Building Code has been added, and the building is now sprinklered throughout, the required fire-resistance ratings of building elements and materials shall be permitted to meet the requirements of the current building code. The building is required to meet the other applicable requirements of the Chicago Building Code.
Plans, investigation and evaluation reports, and other data shall be submitted indicating which building elements and materials the applicant is requesting the building official to review and approve for determination of applying the current building code fire-resistance ratings. Any special construction features, including fire-resistance-rated assemblies and smoke-resistive assemblies, conditions of occupancy, means of egress conditions, fire code deficiencies, approved modifications or approved alternative materials, design and methods of construction, and equipment applying to the building that impact required fire-resistance ratings shall be identified in the evaluation reports submitted.
14R-5-502 The provisions of Section 502 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Additions to any building or structure shall comply with the requirements of the Chicago Building Code for new construction. Alterations to the existing building or structure shall be made to ensure that the existing building or structure together with the addition are not less complying with the provisions of the Chicago Building Code than the existing building or structure was prior to the addition. An existing building together with its additions shall comply with the height and area provisions of Chapter 5 of the Chicago Building Code.
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A building assigned to Seismic Design Category D that has sustained disproportionate earthquake damage shall be subject to the requirements for buildings with substantial structural damage to vertical elements of the lateral force-resisting system.
Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element for which an addition and its related alterations cause an increase in design dead, live or snow load, including snow drift effects, of more than 5 percent shall be replaced or altered as needed to carry the gravity loads required by the Chicago Building Code for new structures. Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element whose vertical load-carrying capacity is decreased as part of the addition and its related alterations shall be considered to be an altered element subject to the requirements of Section 503.3. Any existing element that will form part of the lateral load path for any part of the addition shall be considered to be an existing lateral load-carrying structural element subject to the requirements of Section 502.5.
Exception: Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy where the existing building and the addition together comply with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code.
Where the addition is structurally independent of the existing building, existing lateral load-carrying structural elements shall be permitted to remain unaltered. Where the addition is not structurally independent of the existing building, the existing building and its addition acting together as a single structure shall be shown to meet the requirements of Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code using full seismic forces.
Exceptions:
- Any existing lateral load-carrying structural element whose demand-capacity ratio with the addition considered is not more than 10 percent greater than its demand-capacity ratio with the addition ignored shall be permitted to remain unaltered. For purposes of calculating demand-capacity ratios, the demand shall consider applicable load combinations with design lateral loads or forces in accordance with Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. For purposes of this exception, comparisons of demand-capacity ratios and calculation of design lateral loads, forces and capacities shall account for the cumulative effects of additions and alterations since original construction.
- Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy where the existing building and the addition together comply with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code.
Where an addition is made to a building or structure of a Group R or I-1 occupancy, the existing building shall be provided with smoke alarms in accordance with Section 504.8 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings or shown to be in compliance with these requirements.
Where an addition is made to a building or structure of Group E, I-1, I-2, I-4 or R occupancy, the existing building shall be provided with carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with Section 504.9 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings or shown to be in compliance with these requirements.
14R-5-503 The provisions of Section 503 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Except as provided by Section 302.4, 302.5 or this section, alterations to any building or structure shall comply with the requirements of the Chicago Building Code for new construction. Alterations shall be such that the existing building or structure is not less complying with the provisions of the Chicago Building Code than the existing building or structure was prior to the alteration.
Exceptions:
- An existing stairway shall not be required to comply with the requirements of Section 1011 of the Chicago Building Code where the existing space and construction does not allow a reduction in pitch or slope.
- Handrails otherwise required to comply with Section 1011.11 of the Chicago Building Code shall not be required to comply with the requirements of Section 1014.6 of the Chicago Building Code regarding full extension of the handrails where such extensions would be hazardous because of plan configuration.
- Where provided in below-grade transportation stations, existing and new escalators shall be allowed to have a clear width of less than 32 inches (815 mm).
Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element for which an alteration causes an increase in design dead, live or snow load, including snow drift effects, of more than 5 percent shall be replaced or altered as needed to carry the gravity loads required by the Chicago Building Code for new structures. Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element whose gravity load-carrying capacity is decreased as part of the alteration shall be shown to have the capacity to resist the applicable design dead, live and snow loads including snow drift effects required by the Chicago Building Code for new structures.
Exceptions:
- Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy where the altered building complies with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code.
- Buildings in which the increased dead load is due entirely to the addition of a second layer of roof covering weighing 3 pounds per square foot (0.1437 kN/m2) or less over an existing single layer of roof covering.
Except as permitted by Section 503.13, where the alteration increases design lateral loads, results in a prohibited structural irregularity as defined in ASCE 7, or decreases the capacity of any existing lateral load-carrying structural element, the structure of the altered building or structure shall meet the requirements of Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. Reduced seismic forces shall be permitted.
Exception: Any existing lateral load-carrying structural element whose demand-capacity ratio with the alteration considered is not more than 10 percent greater than its demand-capacity ratio with the alteration ignored shall be permitted to remain unaltered. For purposes of calculating demand-capacity ratios, the demand shall consider applicable load combinations with design lateral loads or forces in accordance with Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. Reduced seismic forces shall be permitted. For purposes of this exception, comparisons of demand-capacity ratios and calculation of design lateral loads, forces and capacities shall account for the cumulative effects of additions and alterations since original construction.
Where the intended alteration requires a permit for reroofing and involves removal of roofing materials from more than 25 percent of the roof area of a building assigned to Seismic Design Category D that has parapets constructed of unreinforced masonry, the work shall include installation of parapet bracing to resist out-of-plane seismic forces, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of such items. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D and the building's structural system includes concrete or reinforced masonry walls with a flexible roof diaphragm, the alteration work shall include installation of wall anchors at the roof line, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of existing wall anchorage. Use of reduced seismic forces shall be allowed.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D and the building's structural system includes unreinforced masonry bearing walls, the alteration work shall include installation of wall anchors at the floor and roof lines, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of existing wall anchorage. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, and where the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D parapets constructed of unreinforced masonry shall have bracing installed as needed to resist out-of-plane seismic forces, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of such items. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, and where the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D unreinforced masonry partitions and nonstructural walls within the work area and adjacent to egress paths from the work area shall be anchored, removed or altered to resist out-of-plane seismic forces, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of such items. Use of reduced seismic forces shall be allowed.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area and where work involves a substantial structural alteration, the lateral load-resisting system of the altered building shall satisfy the requirements of Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed.
Exceptions:
- Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy that are altered based on the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code.
- Where the intended alteration involves only the lowest story above grade plane of a building, only the lateral load-resisting components in and below that story need comply with this section.
Structural alterations that are intended exclusively to improve the lateral force-resisting system and are not required by other sections of this code shall not be required to meet the requirements of Section 1609 or Section 1613 of the Chicago Building Code, provided that all of the following apply:
- The capacity of existing structural systems to resist forces is not reduced.
- New structural elements are detailed and connected to existing or new structural elements as required by the Chicago Building Code for new construction.
- New or relocated nonstructural elements are detailed and connected to existing or new structural elements as required by the Chicago Building Code for new construction.
- The alterations do not create a structural irregularity as defined in ASCE 7 or make an existing structural irregularity more severe.
Individual sleeping units and individual dwelling units in Group R and I-1 occupancies shall be provided with smoke alarms in accordance with Section 504.8 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings.
Carbon monoxide alarms shall be provided to protect sleeping units and dwelling units in Group I-1, I-2, I-4 and R occupancies and classrooms in Group E and I-4 occupancies in accordance with Section 504.9 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings.
Exceptions:
- Work involving the exterior surfaces of buildings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, the replacement of windows or doors, or the replacement of porches or decks.
- Installation, alteration or repairs of plumbing or mechanical systems, other than fuel-burning appliances.
Where alterations affect the configuration of an area utilized as a refuge area, the capacity of the refuge area shall not be reduced below that required in Sections 503.16.1 through 503.16.3.
In Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies, the required capacity of the refuge areas for smoke compartments in accordance with Sections 407.5.1 and 408.6.2 of the Chicago Building Code shall be maintained.
In ambulatory care facilities required to be separated by Section 422.2 of the Chicago Building Code, the required capacity of the refuge areas for smoke compartments in accordance with Section 422.3.2 of the Chicago Building Code shall be maintained.
The required capacity of the refuge area for horizontal exits in accordance with Section 1026.4 of the Chicago Building Code shall be maintained.
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14R-5-504 The provisions of Section 504 of IEBC are not adopted. The following language shall be inserted as Section 504:
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Fire escapes shall comply with Section 307.
14R-5-505 The provisions of Section 505 of IEBC are not adopted.
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
14R-5-506 The provisions of Section 506 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
A change of occupancy shall not be made in any building unless that building is made to comply with the requirements of the Chicago Building Code for the use or occupancy. Changes of occupancy in a building or portion thereof shall be such that the existing building is not less complying with the provisions of this code than the existing building or structure was prior to the change. Where approved by the building official, changes of occupancy shall be permitted without complying with all of the requirements of this code for the new occupancy, provided that the new occupancy is no more hazardous than the existing occupancy in accordance with Tables 1011.4, 1011.5 and 1011.6.
Exception: The building need not be made to comply with Chapter 16 of the Chicago Building Code unless required by Section 506.4.
A change of use or creation of an incidental use with no change of occupancy shall not be made to any structure that will subject the structure to any special provisions of the applicable Chicago Construction Codes, without obtaining a permit from the building official to comply with the special provisions. Compliance shall be only as necessary to meet the specific provisions and is not intended to require the entire building be brought into compliance with requirements for new construction.
An existing stairway shall not be required to comply with the requirements of Section 1011 of the Chicago Building Code where the existing space and construction does not allow a reduction in pitch or slope.
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Any building undergoing a change of occupancy shall satisfy the requirements of this section.
Structural elements carrying tributary live loads from an area with a change of occupancy shall satisfy the requirements of Section 1607 of the Chicago Building Code. Design live loads for areas of new occupancy shall be based on Section 1607 of the Chicago Building Code.
Exception: Structural elements whose demand-capacity ratio considering the change of occupancy is not more than 5 percent greater than the previous demandcapacity ratio.
Where a change of occupancy results in a structure being assigned to a higher risk category, the structure shall satisfy the requirements of Sections 1608 and 1609 of the Chicago Building Code for the new risk category.
Exception: Where the floor area of the change of occupancy is less than 10 percent of the building area, compliance with this section is not required. The cumulative effect of occupancy changes over time shall be considered.
Where a change of occupancy results in a building being assigned to Risk Category IV, the building shall satisfy the requirements of Section 1613 of the Chicago Building Code for the new risk category using full seismic forces.
Any structure that provides operational access to an adjacent structure assigned to Risk Category IV as the result of a change of occupancy shall itself satisfy the requirements of Sections 1608, 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. For compliance with Section 1613, the full seismic forces shall be used. Where operational access to the Risk Category IV structure is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from either an abutting property line or from another structure, access protection from potential falling debris shall be provided.
14R-5-507 The provisions of Section 507 of IEBC are not adopted.
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Editor's Note—The ordinance adopted February 19, 2020 changed Section 507 (Historic Buildings) from adopted to not adopted.