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-00-00-20.1 - Chapter 1: Administration

Current through June 14, 2024
20.1.1
101.0
Purpose and
							Intent
101.1 The purpose of
							this code is to encourage the continued use or reuse of existing buildings and
							structures. This code is intended to permit repairs, renovations, alterations,
							reconstructions, additions, and/or changes of occupancy that maintain or
							improve the health, safety and welfare in existing buildings, without requiring
							full compliance with the construction requirements of the Building Code,
							Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island
							Fire Prevention Code, Electrical Code, Boiler Safety Code, Energy Code,
							Elevator Code, or Accessibility Code, except for proportional additional work
							as specified in this code. Existing buildings, subject to this code, shall
							continue to be subject to the administrative, maintenance and operational
							requirements of the above-referenced codes. Building owners shall further
							comply with the regulations adopted by the Rhode Island Department of Health
							and all other public bodies charged with protecting the public health and
							safety. This code shall only apply to buildings in existence for at least ten
							(10) years prior to the application for a permit under this code. This code
							shall have an effective date of May 1, 2002.
101.1.1 Uses not covered: All repairs,
							renovations, alterations, reconstruction, additions and/or conversions (changes
							of occupancy) to health care facilities, nursing homes, child day care centers,
							community residences, educational occupancies, detention and correctional
							occupancies, high hazard occupancies, and one, two, and three family homes
							shall not be covered or enforced by this code at this time and shall comply
							with the applicable provisions of the Building Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing
							Code, Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, Rhode Island Fire Prevention Code,
							Electrical Code, Boiler Safety Code, Energy Code, Elevator Code, or
							Accessibility Code.
101.1.2 The
							fire code element of this code generally addresses means of egress, fire
							detection systems, fire suppression systems, and fire-related mechanical,
							electrical and plumbing systems. In general, the fire code element incorporates
							national rehabilitation code philosophies by coupling many of the passive fire
							protection elements of Nationally Applicable Recommended Rehabilitation
							Provisions developed by HUD and the newly drafted NFPA 5000 Chapter 54 for
							existing buildings. To achieve a level of active fire protection acceptable to
							the Fire Service of Rhode Island, this code further incorporates the fire
							protection elements of the current Rhode Island fire alarm, sprinkler system
							and related active fire safety systems.
101.1.3 The building code element of this
							code generally addresses structural, energy, accessibility, boiler and elevator
							requirements along with all non-fire related mechanical, electrical and
							plumbing systems. In general, the building code elements incorporate the
							underlying philosophy of Nationally Applicable Recommended Rehabilitation
							Provisions developed by HUD and the newly drafted International Existing
							Building Code and NFPA provisions for the rehabilitation of existing
							buildings.
101.2 All
							work shall be classified into six categories: repair, renovation, alteration,
							reconstruction, addition, and change of occupancy. Specific requirements are
							established for each work category in this code. Work of more than one category
							shall be permitted to be part of a single work project.
101.2.1 Where a project includes one category
							of work in one building area and another category of work in a separate area of
							the building, each project area shall comply with the requirements of the
							respective category of work.
101.2.2 Where a project consisting of
							alterations and reconstruction is performed in the same work area, or in
							contiguous work areas, the project shall comply with the requirements
							applicable to a reconstruction.
Exception: Where the reconstruction work area is less than
								ten (10%) percent of the modification work area, the two shall be considered as
								independent work areas, and the respective requirements shall apply.
101.2.3 Nothing in this chapter
							shall be interpreted as requiring the repair, renovation, alteration or
							reconstruction of existing buildings which are in compliance with the Building
							and Fire Codes. If a building was originally inspected and determined not to be
							in compliance with either the Fire or Building Code, the owner shall have three
							options: first, the owner may correct the cited deficiencies and bring the
							building into compliance with the Fire or Building Code provisions in question.
							The second option would be to apply for an appropriate variance, with either
							the Fire Board or Building Board. The third option would be to present the
							authority having jurisdiction a plan of action bringing the facility into
							compliance with the provisions of this Code. In the case where an owner plans
							to unilaterally proceed with a repair, renovation, alteration or reconstruction
							of an existing building, the owner shall submit plans under this Code. Nothing
							herein shall prevent the owner from submitting plans for review under the
							current Building Code and Fire Code.