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The impact of fire code compliance in historic preservation : a guide to fire code compliance in the adaptive reuse of historic commercial buildings

This creative project has explored the relationship between fire codes and adaptive reuse of historic commercial architecture. The goals of historic preservation and fire codes are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The goals of preservation are to save and reuse historic spaces and materials that are frequently in conflict with the fire codes. Fire codes seek to ensure the health, safety and property of the community by regulating the design and materials of buildings in the community. Many of the buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places were built before building codes were implemented. As a result, it is difficult to apply modern code standards to these buildings without destroying the spaces and elements that make them unique.Finding compromises that best satisfy the intent of the fire codes and the goals of historic preservation has been the objective of this creative project. Fire codes vary widely from model code to model code. This problem is compounded by the adoption of the codes: many municiplities choose to exercise the right of home rule and alter the model codes to the need of the comm. This has resulted in fire codes that vary widely from community to community. This creative project has, therefore, dealt with general issues which are most likely to arise in the adaptive reuse of historic commercial architecture.In addition, this creative project has used the W. A. McNaughton Department Store (Ball Stores) as the test building. The McNaughton building is scheduled for demolition in the spring of 1989. As a result of this creative project, the exterior and interior of the McNaughton building have been thoroughly documented. / Department of Architecture

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/183815
Date January 1989
CreatorsWood, Scott Benton
ContributorsBall State University. Dept. of Architecture., Costello, Anthony J.
Source SetsBall State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Formatvii, 95 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.
SourceVirtual Press
Coveragen-us---

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