shahin wrote:Constructed in 1963, 4 story, type I, Fully Automatic Sprinklered, Uniform Building Code
Corridor walls are not rated at the present time.
The current scope is to:
a)- Add circuits to rooms.
b)- Increase panel sizes.
c)- Increase transformer sizes.
d)- Changing lighting to LED.
Am I required to rate corridor walls, which will be very difficult and expensive to do.
Ah, now I am on the same page you are:
a) - Only if required by your Existing Building code (if there is an Existing Building code), in the last 10 to 15 years these are adopted using the ICC Existing Buildings code as their base code, then local amendments are made to the base code.
b) - Or only if required by a Property Maintenance code (similar in adoption to the an Existing Buildings code over the last 10 to 15 years except based on ICC Property Maintenance code).
c) - Only if required by the Fire Marshal (possible if they use a Fire Prevention code with such a requirement).
d) - All of the above typically base their upgrade requirements on structural changes or changes to walls/horizontal assemblies which are now required to be rated ... typically ... such upgrades are not required for electrical, mechanical, plumbing (MEP) upgrades unless done at the same time as structural changes or changes to walls/horizontal assemblies.
e) - There may be requirements based on the total value of the work versus the before-work appraised value of the structure/building in that if the total value of the work exceeds 50% of the value of the structure (before the work is done), then, yes, it is quite possible that the ENTIRE STRUCTURE may be required to be brought to the code as applicable for new construction (current code).
If only your electrical work is being done, the value of the work likely does not meet the 50% threshold. However, if you are doing that much work, it is likely that other work is also being performed, and the total value of all work would likely be used to calculate the 50% threshold.
Keep in mind that some AHJ track the work for 1 year to 10 year periods, or whatever time periods they elect to use ... and some do not even apply a time period, they simply take each work at its own value. There is no consistency in how this is addressed across the country, or even how it is addressed within one state, and sometimes not even addressed the same throughout one county.
With so many variables in play between all the possible codes, local amendments to those codes, the Fire Marshal, the value of the work ... the only specific answer to your question can come from your local AHJ and/or Fire Marshal.
I suspect that their answer will be that if no work is being done on those walls, other than you possibly making penetrations into or through those walls, that those currently unrated walls will not be required to be made into rated walls ... due to your work.
Please let me know what you find out.