Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures

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Barbering & Cosmetology Academies

June 11, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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‘The Barber of Seville’ by Luis Alvarez Catalá

Codes, standards and licensing for barbering schools and cosmetology academies are governed by local regulations; or local adaptations of national standards-setting organizations.  

Northern Michigan University | Marquette County

Building Codes

  1. Minimum Floor Space
    • Schools must provide adequate space for instruction and practice. For example, California requires a minimum of 3,000 square feet for cosmetology schools (which often include barbering), with at least 2,000 square feet dedicated to working, practice, and classroom areas. Additional space (e.g., 30 square feet per student beyond the first 50) may be required as enrollment increases.
    • Rooms for practical work must be sized appropriately, such as at least 14 feet wide for one row of barber chairs or 20 feet for two rows (California standard).
  2. Ceiling Height
    • Practice and classroom areas often require a minimum ceiling height, such as 9 feet, to ensure proper ventilation and comfort (e.g., California Building Code).
  3. Floor Finish
    • Floors in areas like restrooms or workspaces must be made of nonabsorbent materials (e.g., tile) to facilitate cleaning and maintain hygiene.
  4. Separation from Other Uses
    • Barbering schools must be distinct entities, not combined with residential spaces or unrelated businesses (e.g., Nevada’s NAC 643.500).
  5. Compliance with Local Building and Zoning Codes
    • Facilities must adhere to local ordinances for construction, occupancy, and zoning, ensuring the building is structurally sound and legally permitted for educational use (e.g., Virginia’s 18VAC41-20-270).
  6. Accessibility
    • Buildings must comply with accessibility standards (e.g., ADA in the U.S.), providing ramps, wide doorways, and accessible restrooms.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Bloodborne Pathogen Safety Standards


Safety

  1. Fire Safety
    • Compliance with the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (e.g., New York’s 19 NYCRR Parts 600-1250) or equivalent, including fire exits, extinguishers, and alarms.
    • Emergency exits must be clearly marked and unobstructed.
  2. Electrical Safety
    • All electrical equipment (e.g., clippers, dryers) must be regularly inspected (e.g., PAT testing in some regions) to prevent shocks or fires.
  3. Ventilation and Temperature Control
    • Adequate ventilation systems are required to maintain air quality and a safe working temperature, protecting students and instructors from fumes or overheating.
  4. First Aid and Emergency Preparedness
    • A stocked first aid kit must be available, and schools should have protocols for handling accidents or emergencies.
  5. Equipment Safety
    • Tools and workstations (e.g., chairs, sinks) must be maintained in good condition to prevent injuries. Hazardous tools like razor-edged implements for callus removal are often prohibited (e.g., California regulations).
  6. Occupational Safety
    • Compliance with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or state equivalents, such as Virginia’s Department of Labor and Industry standards, to protect against workplace hazards like chemical exposure or repetitive strain.


Hygiene

  1. Sanitation of Facilities
    • Schools must be kept clean and sanitary at all times, including floors, walls, furniture, and workstations (e.g., Virginia’s 18VAC41-20-270).
  2. Disinfection of Tools
    • Each student or instructor must have a wet disinfection unit at their station for sterilizing reusable tools (e.g., combs, shears) after each use. Disinfectants must be EPA-registered and bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal.
    • Single-use items (e.g., razor blades) must be discarded after each client in a labeled sharps container.
  3. Hand Hygiene
    • Practitioners must wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before services (e.g., Texas Rule 83.102).
  4. Client Protection
    • Sanitary neck strips or towels must be used to prevent capes from contacting clients’ skin directly (e.g., California regulations).
    • Services cannot be performed on inflamed, broken, or infected skin, and practitioners with such conditions on their hands must wear gloves.
  5. Product Safety
    • Cosmetic products containing FDA-banned hazardous substances are prohibited, and all products must be used per manufacturer instructions (e.g., Virginia’s 18VAC41-20-270).
  6. Waste Management
    • Proper disposal of soiled items (e.g., hair clippings) and hazardous waste (e.g., blades) is required, often daily or after each client.
  7. Health Department Compliance
    • Schools must follow state health department guidelines and report inspection results (e.g., Virginia requires reporting to the Board of Barbers and Cosmetology).
  8. Self-Inspection
    • Annual self-inspections must be documented and retained for review (e.g., Virginia mandates keeping records for five years).


Discussion

  • State-Specific Variations: Always consult your state’s barbering or cosmetology board for exact requirements. For instance, Texas (TDLR) emphasizes signage and licensing display, while California focuses on detailed sterilization methods.
  • Inspections: Schools are subject to regular inspections by state boards or health departments to ensure compliance.

Cosmetology (as time allows)

 

8990 Grand River Ave, Detroit

June 11, 2025
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Audio Standards

June 11, 2025
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“A Dance to the Music of Time” 1640 Nicolas Poussin

 

 

“The voice of the intellect is a soft one,

but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing.”

— Sigmund Freud

 

The education industry provides a large market for occupancy classes — athletic stadiums, student assembly spaces, performance theaters, large lecture halls– that depend upon effective audio systems*.   To an unexpected degree the structural engineering, specification of materials and electrical system design and operation is informed by acoustical considerations.  So does the integration of fire safety and mass notification systems into normal state enterprises so it is wise to follow and, ideally, participate in leading practice discovery and promulgation of audio standards.

The Audio Engineering Society — one of the first names in this space — has a due process platform that welcomes public participation.   All of its standards open for public comment completed their revision cycle mid-November as can be seen on its standards development landing page below:

AES Standards Development

Note that AES permits access to those revision even after the comment deadline.  You are encouraged to communicate directly with the Direct communication with the standards staff at Audio Engineering Society International Headquarters, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1225, New York NY 10176,  Tel: +1 212 661 8528

We keep the AES suite on the standing agenda of our periodic Lively Arts teleconference.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.

This facility class is one of most complex occupancy classes in education facilities industry so we also collaborate with experts active in the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee. Much of the AES suite references, and borrows from, International Electrotechnical Commission system integration and interoperability standards.   The IEEE E&H committee meets online again four times monthly in European and American time zones.  The meeting dates are available on the IEEE E&H website

Media production audio visual

Issue: [19-23]

Category: Electrical, Academic,  Athletics, Fire Safety, Public Safety, #WiseCampus

Contact: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey

*Mass notification systems are governed by NFPA 72 and, while life safety wiring is separate from other wiring, the management of these systems involve coordination between workgroups with different business objectives and training.


LEARN MORE:

Archive / Audio Engineering Society

 

Amphitheaters

June 11, 2025
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“Panoramic View of the Greek Amphitheatre at Syracuse” 18th Century Abraham Louis Rodolphe Ducros

From from time to time — particularly in the months of fairer weather, when many events are hosted outdoors — we break form from the grind of responding to c0nsultations to simply enjoy these spaces  See our CALENDAR for our periodic Lively c0lloquia when we drill down into technical specifics.

서울대학교

University of Melbourne (Architect rendering of project in process)

Furman University

High Point University

George Fox University Oregon

Globe Theater / Southern Utah University

Point Loma Nazarene University

Augusta University / Georgia

Singapore Management University

Swarthmore College

Silliman University Amphitheater / The Phillippines

University of Colorado

South Dakota State University

University of Mary Washington / Virginia

California State University San Marcos

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Clemson University

University of Virginia

College of Idaho Centennial Amphitheater

Texas Woman’s University

Swarthmore College

Pomona College

Oakland University Meadowbrook Theater / Rochester, Michigan

More coming


LEARN MORE:

Standing Agenda / Event Standards

 

Underground Electrotechnology

June 11, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Best practice literature to be covered in our 11 AM session today are listed below.  These codes and standards ensure safety, reliability, and compliance for underground electrical and telecommunications installations:

2028 National Electrical Safety Code

  • National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70
    • Relevance: The NEC, published by the National Fire Protection Association, is the primary standard for safe electrical installations in the U.S. Articles 300 (Wiring Methods), 310 (Conductors for General Wiring), and 230 (Services) cover underground wiring, including burial depths, conduit requirements, and direct-burial cables like Type UF and USE-2. For example, NEC 300.5 specifies minimum cover depths (e.g., 24 inches for direct-burial cables, 18 inches for PVC conduit).
    • Key Aspects: Rules for conductor protection, grounding, GFCI requirements, and conduit types (e.g., Schedule 80 PVC). Adopted by most U.S. jurisdictions with local amendments.

ANSI/TIA-568 Series (Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standards)

  • Relevance: Governs low-voltage telecommunications cabling, including underground installations. TIA-568.2-D (Balanced Twisted-Pair) and TIA-568.3-D (Optical Fiber) specify performance requirements for cables like Cat6 and fiber optics, including maximum distances (e.g., 100 meters for twisted-pair).
  • Key Aspects: Ensures signal integrity, proper separation from high-voltage lines, and compliance for plenum or direct-burial-rated cables. Voluntary unless mandated by local codes.

IEEE 835 (Standard Power Cable Ampacity Tables)

  • Relevance: Provides ampacity ratings for underground power cables, critical for sizing conductors to prevent overheating.
  • Key Aspects: Includes data for direct-burial and ducted installations, considering soil thermal resistivity and ambient conditions. Often referenced alongside NEC for high-current applications.

UL 83 (Standard for Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires and Cables)

  • Relevance: Underwriters Laboratories standard for wires like THWN-2, commonly used in underground conduits. Ensures cables meet safety and performance criteria for wet locations.
  • Key Aspects: Specifies insulation durability, temperature ratings, and suitability for direct burial or conduit use. NEC requires UL-listed cables for compliance.

OSHA 1910.305 (Wiring Methods, Components, and Equipment)

  • Relevance: U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for workplace electrical safety, including underground installations in industrial settings.
  • Key Aspects: Specifies approved wiring methods (e.g., armored cable, conduit) and enclosure requirements for underground cable trays or boxes. Focuses on worker safety during installation and maintenance.

CSA C22.1 (Canadian Electrical Code)

  • Relevance: Canada’s equivalent to the NEC, governing underground electrical installations. Similar to NEC but tailored to Canadian conditions and regulations.
  • Key Aspects: Defines burial depths, conduit types, and grounding requirements. For example, low-voltage cables (<30V) require 6-inch burial depth, like NEC.

Notes:

  • Regional Variations: Always consult local building authorities, as codes like the NEC or AS/NZS 3000 may have amendments. For example, some U.S. states reduce burial depths for GFCI-protected circuits (NEC 300.5).
  • Low-Voltage vs. High-Voltage: Standards like TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801 focus on low-voltage (e.g., <50V) telecommunications, while NEC and IEC 60364 cover both power and telecom.
  • Practical Compliance: Before installation, call 811 (U.S.) or equivalent to locate underground utilities, and obtain permits/inspections as required by local codes.
  • Critical Examination: While these standards are authoritative, they can lag behind technological advancements (e.g., new cable types like GameChanger exceeding TIA-568 limits). Over-reliance on minimum requirements may limit performance for cutting-edge applications.

Underground Electrotechnology General Conditions and Standard Details

Related:

1793-2012 – IEEE Guide for Planning and Designing Transition Facilities between Overhead and Underground Transmission Lines

The effect of an underground to overhead transition point on the specification of sheath voltage limiters in underground networks

Channel Characteristics Analysis of Medium Voltage Overhead and Mixed Overhead/Underground Cable Power Network

P81/D4, Jan 2025 – IEEE Draft Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and Earth Surface Potentials of a Grounding System

Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major

June 10, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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