Question to all,

IRC limits wall lenght to 60' and  my understanding you can have overall dimentions larger then 60' with off sets and more corners in out and  T walls. as long as one straigth run is less then 60' you do not need engineer.

Our permit app. is denied and inspector wants engineer  work. because overall dimention is more then 60' 

Do you think I need engineer?

Thanks

Frank  

Frank,

IRC 611.2 Applicability Limits is the area of the code that governs. It states, " The provisions of this section shall apply to the construction of insulating concrete form walls for buildings not greater than 60 feet (18 288 mm) in plan dimensions, and floors not greater than 32 feet (9754 mm) or roofs not greater than 40 feet (12 192 mm) in clear span.

So your total envelope can be 60X60 to do it perscriptively. If you go beyond this you need an engineer. There are some other limiting factors to this section. You may want to purchase an IRC 2003 yourself.

ICF Contractor

ICF Contractor,
I just check IRC 2006 and you are correct. It calls for plan dimensions. But it is missing something ( maybe clarification) IRC will let me build rectangle 60' x 32' and 10' high even two story.

If you picture three 30'x30' squares and space them 20' a part and connect them with 20'x20' squares now plan dimension is 130'x 30' and I think this 130x30 will be stronger the 60'x32' because no wall length is more then 30' long.

In my real life situation i will have to hire engineer unless I can convince them.
Thanks
Frank

Frank, the IRC was based on the first edition of the Prescriptive methods, since prescriptive methods 2 has came out and deleted the 60' rule. The code as read in the IRC can be by-passed with a letter from your manufacture stating that they use prescriptive as a sound engineering manual. Most inspectors don't follow this rule when a little common sense is applied. There are however areas in the US that haven't seen allot of ICF and go strictly by the book. Click on my company name to the left and send me a personal Email and I'll try to help out, otherwise I only check this site about every 7-10 days in the summer.

Dave