Opinion: Calculating 20% costs of alterations

Subject: 

Calculating 20% costs of alterations

Code:

1999 MSBC 1341.0448, Subpart 2

Submitted By:

MN B. O. Uniformity Committee

Approved By:

Thomas R. Joachim, State Building Official

Issue Date: 

May 3, 1999

Question:  

Are all costs associated with an alteration to a primary function area considered when determining the 20% cost to be applied to the accessible route?

Answer:

Yes. All costs directly associated with the alteration of the primary function area are to be considered when calculating the 20% cost figure. Costs for non-accessibility items such as heating, cooling, electrical, etc., shall not be deducted from the alteration costs for purposes of determining the amount to be applied to the accessible route.

When unrelated work is combined into a single project, costs of the portion(s) of the project which are not associated with the primary function area may be deleted when calculation the 20% cost. For example; costs for curb and gutter or landscaping work done at the same time but unrelated to the alteration to the primary function area may be deleted.

Approved by the Building Codes and Standards Interpretation Committee