Construction Specifications

FOOTER GROUND: where reinforcing rods are used, a #4 solid copper wire must be clamped to a full 20 ft. Rod and stubbed out of the footer to go to the ground rod and then the meter base.

SLAB: The minimum slab thickness is 3 1/2”. Anchor bolts spaced not more than 32” apart must be embedded in concrete at least 7”. A minimum 6-mil vapor barrier is required with termite treatment to soil before placement.

BRICK VENEER: Metal ties must be used every 16” vertically and 32” horizontally to anchor brick to supporting wall.

GUARDRAILS: All enclosed porches, decks and similar structures if more than 30” above grade shall have a guardrail. Guardrails are required to be a minimum of 36” high for dwelling units and shall have intermediate rails or ornamental pattern such that a 4” diameter sphere cannot pass.

WINDOWS: All bedrooms shall have at least one window approved for emergency egress. The maximum sill height for egress windows is 44 inches above the floor. The clear opening height is 22”, the clear opening width is 20” and the net clear opening area is 5 sq. ft for a ground floor window and 5.7 sq. ft for a second story window.

ATTICS: Attic access openings shall be a minimum of 22”x 36”. Access is not required for attics with a clear height of less than 24 inches. If used for storage, all attics must have at least 1 light installed that is controlled at the point of entry. All electrical wiring installed within 6 ft of the attic entry should be protected by guard strips.

CRAWL SPACE: Usable crawl spaces under buildings shall be provided with a minimum of one access opening not less than 18” x 24”.

FIRE STOPPING:: Fire-stopping shall be provided to cut off all vertical and horizontal concealed draft openings such as: concealed spaces in soffits, drop ceilings, cove ceilings, between stair stringers at the top and bottom and openings around vents and pipes. Firestopping, if of wood, shall consist of 2-inch nominal wood or 2 thickness of 1-inch nominal wood.

SANITARY FACILITIES: Sanitary facilities for the convenience of all workmen shall be provided. Temporary toilets shall be enclosed and weatherproofed and shall be connected to a sewer. The temporary facility may be a portable, enclosed, chemically treated, tank-tight unit

BORED HOLES IN JOISTS: Holes shall not be within 2” of the top or bottom of a joist, the diameter of any hole shall not exceed 1/3 of the depth of the joist.

NOTCHING STUDS: Exterior wall and bearing studs shall not be notched more than 25% of their width. Interior nonbearing studs shall not be notched more than 40% of their width.

BORED HOLES: A hole not greater than 40% of the stud width can be drilled in any wood stud. Holes not greater than 60% of the width of the stud are permitted in nonbearing studs and in any wall where each stud is doubled provided not more than 2 such successive double studs are so bored.

EDGE OF STUD: In no case shall the edge of the bored hole be nearer than 5/8” to the edge of the stud. Bored holes shall not be located at the same section of stud as a cut or notch.

ANCHOR BOLTS: Minimum 5/8”, embedded min. 7”, min. Washer 3” x 3” x 1/8”

HURRICANE CLIPS: Hurricane clips are required on all trusses and rafters. If plywood or OSB sheathing does not cover top plate, hurricane clips must cover both top plates.

UPLIFT PROTECTION: Plywood or OSB covering entire exterior of home with nails spaced 3” on center at top and bottom, 6” on center on edges and the remainder at 12” on center.

Plywood or OSB at corners, with hurricane strapping on every exterior stud, cripple, jackstud etc. At top and bottom.

PIER FOUNDATIONS: Piers in excess of 48” must be designed by a design professional. Pier foundations shall be solid poured, with hurricane strapping from the bottom of the pier to the girder. The maximum spacing for piers is 6 ft on center.

METAL ROOFING: Metal roofing and wood stripping for the attachment of metal roofing shall be fastened with screws.

SHINGLE ROOFS: The minimum pitch for a shingle roof shall be 2” in 12”. Any roof with a slope less than 4” in 12” shall have a minimum of 30 LB felt under lament, or its equivalent.

GABLE WALLS: Gable walls with cathedral ceilings must be balloon framed (studs all the way to rafters).

METER BASE: Check with Power Company about location of meter can on house. Height should be approximately 5 1/2 ft to center.

ELECTRICAL PANELS: Panels are not allowed to be placed in clothes closets or bathrooms. A minimum clearance or 36” deep and 30” wide shall be provided in front of panels for working space. All unused holes for breakers, pipes, etc. shall be closed to give protection equivalent to the wall of the equipment. If electrical panels are more than 20 ft from the meter can, there must be a main disconnect located adjacent to the meter can.

BORED HOLES: If the edge of a hole is within 1 1/4” of the edge of a stud, a 1/16” steel plate shall be installed to cover the area of the wiring. Wiring run along the side of the stud must be stapled so that the edge of the wire is a minimum of 1 1/4” from the edge of the stud.

STAPLES: Wiring shall be stapled within 8” of plastic boxes, 12” of metal boxes and every 4 1/2 ft after that.

SMOKE DETECTORS: Smoke detectors shall be located near all sleeping areas, and shall be permanently wired with battery back up.

CONDUIT: All underground PVC conduit shall be gray in color and UL listed as electrical conduit.

CONNECTIONS: Electrical connections shall be made with wire nuts or split bolt connectors. Tape is not approved as the sole connection method. Copper and aluminum shall not be spliced together except with a split bolt connector listed for that use.

RANGE AND DRYER: Range and Dryer outlets must be 4 wire, and be fed with a 4-wire circuit. 2 hots, 1 neutral, 1 ground.

RECEPTACLES: Receptacles in all habitable rooms shall be installed so that they are not more than 6 ft from the edge of a door and not more than 12 ft apart along an unbroken wall space. There shall be a receptacle at each wall space 24” or more in width.

COUNTER TOP RECEPTACLES: in the kitchen shall be installed so that they are not more than 4 ft apart along the countertop and not more than 24” from the edge of a sink, range, refrigerator etc. All kitchen countertop receptacles shall be GFCI protected. All kitchen counter spaces 12” and wider shall have at least one receptacle.

BATHROOMS: There shall be at least one receptacle adjacent to each bathroom lavatory, all bathroom receptacles shall be GFCI protected. Bathroom receptacles shall be on a separate circuit that feeds no other type of plug.

OUTDOOR RECEPTACLES: There shall be at least one receptacle at each entry of a residence, all outdoor receptacles shall be GFCI protected.

LAUNDRY AREAS: The washing machine outlet shall be on a dedicated circuit that serves no other outlets. This must be a 20-amp circuit.

GARAGES: At least one outlet is required in the garage, all garage receptacles shall be GFCI protected, except single outlets that serve a washer or freezer.

SMALL APPLIANCE: Two or more circuits are required to serve the kitchen countertop receptacles.

GENERAL: At least one wall switch controlled light shall be installed in every habitable room, bathroom, stairway, attached garage and every outdoor entrance or exit. In other than kitchens and bathrooms, switch controlled receptacles are permitted instead of lights. A vehicle door in a garage is not considered an entrance.

ATTICS: At least one light, controlled at the point of entrance, is required in any attic used for storage.

CLOTHES CLOSETS: Open bulb incandescent fixtures are not allowed in clothes closets. Enclosed bulb incandescent fixtures are allowed above the door and where there is a minimum clearance of 12” between the fixture and a storage area. Surface mount fluorescent fixtures and recessed incandescent fixtures with enclosed lamp are allowed with a minimum clearance of 6” between the fixture and the nearest storage area.

PROTECTION: Direct buried cables or conductors shall be protected from 18” below grade to a point at least 8 ft above finished grade. Single conductors shall be in conduit down to 18” below grade and at all times above grade. Direct buried cables shall be listed and marked as suitable for direct burial.

UNDER BUILDINGS: Underground cables installed under a building shall be in a raceway that extends beyond the outside walls of a building.

ALUMINUM	(2)	(1)	COPPER	(2)	(1)
SIZE	HOT WIRES	NEUTRAL	SIZE	HOT WIRES	NEUTRAL
100 AMP	#2	#4	100 AMP	#4	#6
150 AMP	2 / 0	1 / 0	150 AMP	1 / 0	#2
200 AMP	4 / 0	2 / 0	200 AMP	2 / 0	1 / 0

14	15 amp	14	15 amp	14	15 amp	14
12	20 amp	12	20 amp	12	20 amp	12
10	30 amp	10	30 amp	10	30 amp	10
8	40 amp	8	50 amp	8	50 amp	10
6	60 amp	6	60 amp	6	70 amp	10

WATER SUPPLY: PVC is not allowed as interior water piping, it is allowed for water supply lines outside of the home. CPVC is allowed for interior and exterior use. The minimum size water supply line for a home is 3/4”.

WATER HEATERS: Water heaters must have a shutoff valve in the cold water line within 3 ft of the heater or tank. Gas water heaters shall not be installed in bathrooms or bedrooms. All water heaters shall have a pressure relief valve that is piped full size to the outside of the building.

SEWER: The water supply line shall be separated from the building sewer at least 5 ft. Unless it is run at least 12” above the sewer line.

TESTING: Water lines shall be tested by water pressure not less than the working pressure of the system or by air at not less than 50 PSI.

SLOPE: The minimum slope for drainage piping is, 1/4 inch per ft up to 2 1/2” and 1/8 inch per ft for 3” and larger.

CLEANOUTS: Cleanouts shall be provided for horizontal drains, building sewers, changes of direction in the building drain and at the junction of the building drain and building sewer. Cleanouts shall be the same nominal size as the pipe they serve.

TYPE OF FITTING	HORIZONTAL TO VERTICAL	VERTICAL TO HORIZONTAL	HORIZONTAL TO HORIZONTAL
SIXTEENTH BEND	X	X	X
EIGHTH BEND	X	X	X
SIXTH BEND	X	X	X
QUARTER BEND	X	X (a)	X (a)
SHORT SWEEP	X	X (a) (b)	X
LONG SWEEP	X	X	X
SANITARY TEE	X (c)
WYE	X	X	X
WYE WITH 1/8 BEND	X	X	X

MAIN VENT: Every building shall have at least one vent not less than 3” in diameter.

LOCATION: Vents shall extend through the roof at least 6 inches. Vents shall not be located within 10 ft of any building opening unless 2 ft above such opening. Where a roof is used for any purpose other than weather protection the vent shall extend 7 ft above the roof

AIR ADMITTANCE VALVES: Air admittance valves shall be located at least 4” above the drain being served. Access shall be provided to all air admittance valves. Valves shall be located with adequate ventilation to allow air to enter the valve. Valves shall not be located in spaces utilized as supply or return air plenums.

TRAP SIZE (INCHES)	DRAIN SIZE (INCHES)	SLOPE (INCHES PER FT)	DISTANCE OF VENT FROM TRAP (FT)
1 1/4	1 1/4	1/4	3 1/2
1 1/4	1 1/2	1/4	5
1 1/2	1 1/2	1/4	5
1 1/2	2	1/4	8
2	2	1/4	6
3	3	1/8	10
4	4	1/8	12

PROHIBITED: Bell vented traps, crown vented traps and “S” traps are prohibited.

A-ZONE: Structures in A-zones must be elevated 24 inches to the lowest horizontal member (girder / joist).

A1-A30 (NUMBERED A-ZONE): Structures in numbered A-zones must be elevated to the base flood elevation listed on the FEMA flood maps. This zone requires a benchmark survey prior to permitting and an elevation certificate before power will be turned on.

V1-V30 (VELOCITY ZONE): Structures in Velocity zones must be elevated to the base flood elevation listed on the FEMA flood maps. Structures in a velocity zone must be designed by a Florida registered Engineer or Architect. This zone requires a benchmark survey prior to permitting and an elevation certificate before power will be turned on.

SPAN TABLES

RAFTER SPANS
2 x 6			2 x 8			2 x 10			2 x 12
Spacing			Spacing			Spacing			Spacing
12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”
15-6	13-11	11-5	20-5	18-0	14-8	24-10	21-6	17-6	29-1	25-2	20-7

FLOOR JOIST SPANS (40 LB Live Load)
2 x 6			2 x 8			2 x 10			2 x 12
Spacing			Spacing			Spacing			Spacing
12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”
10-9	9-9	8-6	14-2	12-10	11-0	18-0	16-1	13-2	21-9	18-10	15-4

CEILING JOIST SPANS (Drywall)
2 x 6			2 x 8			2 x 10			2 x 12
Spacing			Spacing			Spacing			Spacing
12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”	12”	16”	24”
15-6	13-6	11-0	20-1	17-5	14-2	24-0	20-9	17-0	28-1	24-4	19-10

HEADER SPANS (Includes support for pole barns, open sheds, etc.)
HEADER SIZE	ROOF ONLY	ONE STORY	TWO STORY
2-2 x 4	4 feet	0	0
2-2 x 6	6 feet	4 feet	0
2-2 x 8	8 feet	6 feet	0
2-2 x 10	10 feet	8 feet	6 feet
2-2 x 12	12 feet	10 feet	8 feet