Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 510 - Building Code Commission › Chapter 00 - N/A › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 20 - RISRC-1 State Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code for Existing Structures › Section 510-RICR-00-00-20.5 - Chapter 5: Alterations

Current through June 14, 2024
20.5.1
501.0
General
							Requirements
501.1
							Alterations are defined as the reconfiguration of any space, the addition or
							elimination of any door or window, the reconfiguration or extension of any
							system, or the installation of any additional equipment. All alterations shall
							comply with the requirements of Chapters 5 and 4.
Exception: As modified in Part 904.0 for historical
								buildings.
501.2 Extensive
							Alterations
501.2.1 The alteration of an
							entire building or an entire occupancy within a building shall be considered as
							a reconstruction and shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 6 for the
							applicable occupancy. BFO
Exception: Alteration work that is exclusively either
								plumbing, mechanical, fire protection system or electrical shall not be
								considered a reconstruction, regardless of its extent.
501.2.2 When the total area of all the
							rehabilitation work areas included in an alteration exceeds fifty (50%) percent
							of the area of the building the work shall be considered as a reconstruction
							and shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 6 for the applicable
							occupancy. BFO
Exception: Rehabilitation work areas in which the
								alteration work is exclusively either plumbing, mechanical, fire protection
								system or electrical shall not be included in the computation of total area of
								all rehabilitation work areas.
501.3 All newly constructed elements,
							components and systems, including the installation of new elevators and
							boilers, shall comply with the requirements of the Building Code, Mechanical
							Code, Plumbing Code, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code for new construction, Electrical
							Code, Boiler Safety Code, Energy Code, Elevator Code, and Accessibility Code as
							applicable. BFO
Exceptions:
1.
							Openable windows may be added without requiring compliance with the light and
							ventilation requirements of the Building Code.
2. Newly installed electrical equipment shall
							comply with the requirements of Part 504.0.
501.4 The alteration work shall not make the
							building less conforming with the building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical or
							fire codes of the jurisdiction, or with alternative materials, design and
							methods of construction or any previously approved plans, modifications,
							alternate methods or compliance alternatives, than it was before the alteration
							was undertaken. BFO
501.5 Interior
							Space Dimensions
501.5.1 In Groups R-1 and
							R-2, when habitable spaces as defined in Chapter 2 of the Building Code are
							created in previously unoccupied space, other than a kitchen, they shall not be
							less than seven (7') feet in any plan dimension. B
501.5.2 In Groups R-1 and R-2, when habitable
							spaces as defined in Chapter 2 of the Building Code are created in previously
							unoccupied space, they shall have a ceiling height of not less than seven (7')
							feet. B
Exceptions:
1.
							Beams, girders, ducts or pipes spaced not less than four (4') feet on center
							and projecting not more than six (6") inches below the required ceiling
							height.
2. For rooms with a sloped
							ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height is required for at least 35 square feet
							of the floor area of the room. Any portion of the room measuring less than five
							(5') feet from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall not be
							considered usable floor area and shall not be included in any computation of
							the minimum area thereof.
501.5.3 In Groups R-1 and R-2, when habitable
							spaces as defined in Chapter 2 of the Building Code are created in previously
							unoccupied space, other than a kitchen, they shall have a net floor area of not
							less than 70 square feet. B