N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FGC 302: Section FGC 302: Structural Safety

302.1 Structural safety.

The building shall not be weakened by the installation of any gas piping. In the process of installing or repairing any gas piping, finished floors, walls, ceilings, tile work or any other part of the building or premises which is required to be changed or replaced shall be left in a safe structural condition in accordance with the requirements of the New York City Building Code.

302.1.1 Loading.

Alterations resulting in the addition of loads to any member, such as HVAC equipment and water heaters, shall not be permitted without verification that the members are capable of supporting such additional loading.

302.2 Penetrations of floor/ceiling assemblies and fire-resistance-rated assemblies.

Penetrations of floor/ceiling assemblies and assemblies required to have a fire-resistance rating shall be protected in accordance with the New York City Building Code.

302.3 Cutting, notching and boring in wood members.

The cutting, notching and boring of wood members shall comply with Sections 302.3.1 through 302.3.5.

302.3.1 Solid non-engineered joist notches and holes.

Notches on the ends of the solid non-engineered joists shall not exceed one-fourth the joist depth. Notches in the top or bottom of joists shall not exceed one-sixth the depth, shall not be longer than one-third the depth and shall not be located in the middle third of the span. Holes bored in joists shall not be within 2 inches (50.8 mm) of the top or bottom of the joist, and the diameter of any such hole shall not exceed one-third the depth of the joist. Holes bored in the middle third of the span shall be located at the center of the joist depth. Clear distance between holes and notches shall be a minimum of 2 inches (50.8 mm). See Figure 2308.5.8 of the New York City Building Code.

302.3.2 Stud cutting and notching.

In exterior walls and bearing partitions, wood studs are permitted to be cut or notched to a depth not exceeding 25 percent of the width of the stud. Cutting or notching of studs to a depth not greater than 40 percent of the width of the stud is permitted in nonbearing partitions supporting no loads other than the weight of the partition. See Figure 2308.5.8 of the New York City Building Code.

302.3.3 Bored holes in studs.

Bored holes not greater than 40 percent of the stud width are permitted to be bored in any wood stud. Bored holes not greater than 60 percent of the stud width are permitted in nonbearing partitions or in any wall where each bored stud is doubled, provided not more than two such successive doubled studs are so bored. In no case shall the edge of the bored hole be nearer than 5/8 inch (15.9 mm) to the edge of the stud. Bored holes shall not be located at the same section of stud as a cut or notch. See Figure 2308.5.8 of the New York City Building Code.

302.3.4 Engineered wood products.

Cuts, notches and holes bored in trusses, structural composite lumber, structural glued-laminated members and I-joists are prohibited except where permitted by the manufacturer's recommendations or where the effects of such alterations are specifically considered in the design of the member by a registered design professional.

302.3.5 Drilling and notching of top plate.

When piping is placed in or partly in an exterior wall or interior load-bearing wall, necessitating cutting, drilling or notching of the top plate by more than 50 percent of its width, a galvanized metal tie not less than 0.054 inch thick (1.37 mm) (No. 16 gage) and 1 1/2 inches (38.1 mm) wide shall be fastened across and to the plate at each side of the opening with not less than eight 10d (0.148 inch diameter) nails having a minimum length of 1 1/2 inches (38.1 mm) at each side or equivalent. The metal tie must extend a minimum of 6 inches (152.4 mm) past the opening. See Figure 2308.5.8 of the New York City Building Code.

Exception: When the entire side of the wall with the notch or cut is covered by wood structural panel sheathing, additional fastening is not required.

302.4 Trusses.

Truss members of any material and components shall not be cut, drilled, notched, spliced or otherwise altered in any way without the written concurrence and approval of a registered design professional.

302.5 Cutting, notching and boring in steel framing.

The cutting, notching and boring of steel framing members shall comply with Sections 302.5.1 through 302.5.4.

302.5.1 Structural steel framing.

The cutting, notching and boring of holes in structural steel framing members shall be as prescribed by the registered design professional.

302.5.2 Cold-formed steel framing.

Flanges and lips of load-bearing, cold-formed steel framing members shall not be cut or notched. Holes in webs of load-bearing, cold-formed steel framing members shall be permitted along the centerline of the web of the framing member and shall not exceed the dimensional limitations, penetration spacing or minimum hole edge distance as prescribed by the registered design professional.

302.5.3 Nonstructural cold-formed steel wall framing.

Flanges and lips of nonstructural cold-formed steel wall studs shall be permitted along the centerline of the web of the framing member, shall not exceed 1 1/2 inches (38.1 mm) in width or 4 inches (101.6 mm) in length, and the holes shall not be spaced less than 24 inches (609.6 mm) center to center from another hole or less than 10 inches (254 mm) from the bearing end.

302.5.4 Steel floor and roof decking.

Cutting, notching and boring holes in steel floor and roof decking shall be as prescribed by the registered design professional.

302.6 Cutting, notching and coring into concrete.

The cutting, notching or coring of concrete must comply with provisions of Chapter 19 of the New York City Building Code and is not permitted without prior approval of the registered design professional.

302.7 Protection of footings.

Trenching installed parallel to footings and walls shall not extend into the bearing plane of a footing or wall. The upper boundary of the bearing plane is a line that extends downward, at an angle of 34 degrees (1:1.5 slope) from horizontal, from the outside bottom edge of the footing or wall.

302.8 Piping materials exposed within plenums.

Piping materials exposed within plenums shall comply with the provisions of the New York City Mechanical Code.