Section BC 2608: Light-Transmitting Plastic Glazing

2608.1 Buildings of Type VB construction.

Openings in the exterior walls of buildings of Type VB construction, where not required to be protected by Section 705, shall be permitted to be glazed or equipped with light-transmitting plastic. Light-transmitting plastic glazing shall comply with Section 2606.

2608.2 Buildings of other types of construction.

Openings in the exterior walls of buildings of types of construction other than Type VB, where not required to be protected by Section 705, shall be permitted to be glazed or equipped with light-transmitting plastic in accordance with Section 2606 and all of the following:

   1.   The aggregate area of light-transmitting plastic glazing shall not exceed 25 percent of the area of any wall face of the story in which it is installed. The area of a single pane of glazing installed above the first story above grade plane shall not exceed 16 square feet (1.5 m 2 ) and the vertical dimension of a single pane shall not exceed 4 feet (1219 mm).

      Exception: Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, the area of allowable glazing shall be increased to not more than 50 percent of the wall face of the story in which it is installed with no limit on the maximum dimension or area of a single pane of glazing.

   2.   Approved flame barriers extending 30 inches (762 mm) beyond the exterior wall in the plane of the floor, or approved vertical panels not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) in height, shall be installed between glazed units located in adjacent stories.

      Exception: Approved vertical panels not less than 3 feet (914 mm) in height or flame barriers extending 30 inches (762 mm) beyond the exterior wall shall be installed between glazed units located in adjacent stories in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

   3.   Light-transmitting plastics shall not be installed more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above grade level.

      Exception: Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

Section BC 2609: Light-Transmitting Plastic Roof Panels

2609.1 General.

Light-transmitting plastic roof panels shall comply with this section and Section 2606. Light-transmitting plastic roof panels shall not be installed in Groups H, I-2 and I-3. In all other groups, light-transmitting plastic roof panels shall comply with any one of the following conditions:

   1.   The building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

   2.   The roof construction is not required to have a fire-resistance rating by Table 601.

   3.   The roof panels meet the requirements for roof coverings in accordance with Chapter 15.

2609.2 Separation.

Individual roof panels shall be separated from each other by a distance of not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) measured in a horizontal plane.

   Exceptions:

      1.   The separation between roof panels is not required in a building equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

      2.   The separation between roof panels is not required in low-hazard occupancy buildings complying with the conditions of Section 2609.4, Exception 2 or 3.