Commercial construction in the Columbia area falls under the South Carolina Building Codes, which are based on the International Building Code. The South Carolina Fire Code governs fire-rated opening requirements, including fire-rated door and frame assemblies for rated corridors, stairwells, and occupancy separations. Fire ratings for commercial openings range from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on the wall rating and opening classification. Accessibility requirements under ADA and applicable South Carolina standards also affect commercial door openings, including clearance widths, hardware mounting heights, and closer force limits.
Columbia’s commercial building stock includes manufacturing and industrial facilities, distribution and warehousing operations, healthcare buildings, and educational institutions. Each occupancy type carries its own set of code requirements that influence door, frame, and hardware selection. When configuring assemblies in ProBuilder, door, frame, and hardware selections are organized around the selected fire rating, helping coordinate label compatibility across components. Final compliance is determined by the project’s design professional and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
