CHAPTER 5. ALTERATIONS

501.0 General Requirements
502.0 Structural Requirements
503.0 Accessibility
504.0 Electrical Equipment and Wiring
505.0 Plumbing Fixtures
506.0 Mechanical

501.0 General Requirements

501.1 -- Alterations, as defined in Chapter 2, shall comply with the requirements of this Chapter.

Exception:

1. As modified in Section 904.0 for historic buildings.

501.2 -- Work shall comply with all the requirements of Chapter 4.

This requirement ensures that all existing elements involved in the work must comply only with the materials and methods requirements of the Building Code, and eliminates the need for repetition of the general, additional, structural and accessibility requirements in Chapter 4.

501.3 -- All newly constructed elements, components and systems shall comply with the requirements of the Building Code.

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 Section 504.0.

Section 501.3 is included in this chapter because there are no newly constructed elements in a renovation (Chapter 4). Chapter 4 includes an exception for replacement doors and windows in Section 401.3 because replacement doors and windows (that is, doors and windows installed in existing openings) are not considered to be newly constructed elements. The addition of a door or window, as specifically included in the definition of alteration in Chapter 2, are considered to be newly constructed elements. Hence the need for the exception in Section 501.3. Some additional clarification on what is or is not a newly constructed element: Alteration of an existing tenant separation is covered by Section 501.2, but construction of a new tenant separation at a different location is covered by Section 501.3. A new enclosure of an existing shaft (not a stair, which would be a reconstruction) is covered by Section 501.2. A new enclosure of a new shaft is covered by Section 501.3.

501.4 -- The alteration work shall not increase the extent of non-compliance with the requirements of Chapter 6 of these provisions or create a non-conformity with those requirements which did not previously exist.

Chapter 6 establishes requirements for minimal life safety improvements in buildings undergoing reconstruction, that are, for the most part, lower than requirements in the Building Code. This requirement is needed here because alteration work involves reconfiguration of space that could, under certain conditions, increase nonconformity with the Chapter 6 requirements.

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501.5  Extensive Alterations

501.5.1 -- 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 of these provisions for the applicable Use Group.

Exception:

1. Alteration work that is exclusively plumbing, mechanical or electrical shall not be considered a reconstruction, regardless of its extent.

501.5.2 -- When the total area of all the work areas included in an alteration exceeds 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 of these provisions for the applicable Use Group.

Exception:

1. Work areas in which the alteration work is exclusively plumbing, mechanical or electrical shall not be included in the computation of total area of all work areas.

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502.0 Structural Requirements

502.1 -- The minimum design loads for the structure shall be the loads applicable at the time the building was constructed, provided that no dangerous condition is created. Structural elements which are uncovered during the course of the alteration and which are found to be unsound or dangerous, shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Building Code.

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503.0 Accessibility

503.1 -- Alterations shall comply with Section 404.0.

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504.0 Electrical Equipment and Wiring

504.1 -- All newly-installed electrical equipment and wiring relating to work done in any work area shall comply with the materials and methods requirements as defined in Chapter 2.

Exception:

1. Electrical equipment and wiring in newly installed partitions and ceilings shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Electrical Code.

504.2 -- Existing wiring in all work areas in Use Groups A-1, A-2, A-5, H, and I shall be upgraded to meet the materials and methods requirements as defined in Chapter 2.

504.3  Service and/or Feeder in Use Groups R-2, R-3 and R-4 -- Service to existing dwelling units in any work area shall be a minimum of one hundred ampere, three-wire capacity, and service equipment shall be dead front having no live parts exposed whereby accidental contact could be made. Type "S" fuses shall be installed when fused equipment is used.

Exception:

1. Existing service of sixty ampere three-wire capacity, and feeders of thirty ampere or larger two- or three-wire capacity, shall be accepted if adequate for the electrical load being served.

This is from the HUD Rehabilitation Guidelines/1980 No. 6, Appendix 9 - Detroit Electrical Code.

504.4 -- In Use Groups R-2, R-3 and R-4, when the work area includes any of the following areas within a dwelling unit, the following requirements shall apply:

504.4.1 -- All enclosed areas, other than closets, kitchens, basements, garages, hallways, laundry areas and bathrooms shall have a minimum of two duplex receptacle outlets or one duplex receptacle outlet and one ceiling or wall type lighting outlet.

504.4.2 -- Kitchen areas shall have a minimum of two duplex receptacle outlets.

504.4.3 -- Laundry areas shall have a minimum of one duplex receptacle outlet located near the laundry equipment and installed on an independent circuit.

504.4.4 -- Ground fault circuit interruption shall be provided on newly installed receptacle outlets if required by the Electrical Code.

504.4.5 -- At least one lighting outlet shall be provided in every bathroom, hallway, stairway, attached garage and detached garage with electric power, and to illuminate outdoor entrances and exits.

504.4.6 -- At least one lighting outlet shall be provided in utility rooms and basements where these spaces are used for storage or contain equipment requiring service.

504.4.7 -- Clearance for electrical service equipment shall be provided in accordance with the Electrical Code.

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505.0 Plumbing Fixtures

505.1 -- Where the work area is more than 20 percent of the floor area, and the building official determines that the occupant load will be increased as a result of the alteration, plumbing fixtures in all work areas shall be provided in quantities specified in the Plumbing Code based on the increased occupant load.

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506.0 Mechanical

506.1 -- All reconfigured spaces intended for occupancy and all spaces converted to habitable or occupiable space in any work area shall be provided with either natural or mechanical ventilation.

506.1.1 -- Natural ventilation shall comply with the requirements of the Mechanical Code.

506.1.2 -- Newly-installed mechanical ventilation systems shall comply with the requirements of the Mechanical Code.

Exception:

1. Existing mechanical ventilation systems shall comply with the requirements of Section 506.2.

506.2 -- In mechanically ventilated spaces, existing mechanical ventilation systems that are altered, reconfigured or extended shall provide not less than 5 cubic feet per minute (cfm) per person of outdoor air and not less than 15 cfm of ventilation air per person; or not less than the amount of ventilation air determined by the Indoor Air Quality Procedure of ASHRAE 62-89.

506.3 -- All newly-introduced devices, equipment or operations that produce airborne particulate matter, odors, fumes, vapor, combustion products, gaseous contaminants, pathogenic and allergenic organisms, and microbial contaminants in such quantities to adversely affect or impair health, or cause discomfort to occupants shall be provided with local exhaust.

These requirements are intended to allow spaces to be reconfigured and, if these spaces are equipped with existing ventilation systems, to allow them to be upgraded rather than requiring the installation of new systems.

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