Sometimes growing your business means moving to another location. But it can also mean adding on to your existing building.
If you’re thinking about completing commercial building additions in Bucks County, you need to be sure you’ve covered all your bases. That’s why we’ve put together this commercial building addition checklist.
Every community has different rules, but when putting together a commercial building addition checklist, it’s better to have too much information than not enough.
This checklist is modeled on the very detailed list required for commercial building and zoning permits in the borough of Doylestown.
Do your plans show:
Zoning/Site Plans:
- The zoning/site plan information and the sheet/page number where it’s listed.
- The name, address and phone number for the applicant and owner.
- The address of the site where the work is happening.
- A north arrow and drawing scale
- Streets and alleys that are labeled
- Sidewalks, curbs, curb cuts, ramps, street lights and parking meters
- Property lines and measurements
- Existing and proposed improvements on the land and their dimensions
- Distances from any existing and proposed structures
- Location and square footage of all structures
- The total square footage of existing spaces/proposed additional spaces
- Trees with a trunk diameter of more than six inches planted within 50 feet of the proposed addition
- All accessible parking spaces, signage, curb cuts, ramps and access ways to the building. You may need to submit a separate accessibility plan with this information.
- All buffer/screen landscaping
- Trash enclosure and location
- All required parking and loading spaces
Building Plans:
- Drawing scale
- Building elevations for each side of structure
- Floor plan for each floor (including basement and attic) including square foot and room use identification
- Smoke detector placement is indicated in the floor plans
- Necessary egress windows are labeled as such the floor plans
- Foundation plans including vapor barriers, insulation, and construction materials
- Crawlspace/attic ventilation information
- Type and location of all anchorage hardware
- Beam, header , girder, columns and post sizes and material
- Directions, size, support, placement, and spacing for all ceiling, framing, and roofing members
- Window and door schedule showing all sizes and energy efficiency information
- Stairways/handrails with measurements
- Wall/floor assemblies and treatment of any penetrations
- Fire separations/ratings
- Sectional view showing detail of footings through roof
- Header sizes and materials, include design calculations for any header longer than 6 foot
- Dimensions of all required access openings
- Identify all construction materials
- All required energy efficiency features
- Basement percentage‐below‐grade calculations
- Roof slopes/drainage systems
- Fixed seating for assembly occupancy to allow determination of occupancy posting required by International Building Code.
- All penetrations of fire‐rated construction must be per manufacturer’s details. The details shall meet or exceed the rating of construction being penetrated
- Show required ventilation louvers and vent sizes.
- All hazardous material control areas, fire barriers and the required fire‐resistance ratings for these barriers when appropriate
Plumbing Plans:
- The page/sheet numbers with the plan information and riser diagram
- All fixtures, pipe and venting, as well as dimensions of all required access openings
- Manufacturers specifications for any mechanical events
Mechanical and Electrical Plans:
- Manufacturers spec sheets for any equipment being installed
- Location, type and fuel source for all mechanical equipment
- Location and CFM of all mechanical ventilation
- Size and location of all ventilation openings
- Diagrams of duct work
- Design and/or operation for any of fire/safety systems. You should also include a complete sprinkler system data sheet with as much information as possible.
- Provide panel schedules with circuit and feeder loading, overcurrent protection, and NEC load summaries for all new and/or affected panels and services (loading has to be evaluated by highest phase); include fault current data, short circuit ratings and fault current protection co‐ordination.
- Location and type of all outlets, switches and fixtures
- Diagram showing all new and/or affected services, feeders, wire sizes and insulation types, and conduit sizes and types.
If you’re about to embark on any project involving commercial building additions in Bucks County, be sure you have a contractor who’s consistent and reliable. Souder Brothers Construction Inc. has provided its skills, commitment and experience to commercial business owners in the Bucks County area for more than 36 years.
Contact us today and we’ll help you mark off the items on your commercial building addition checklist together.