HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM V-D11 1 O~
Memorandum
~ ~HICTO~
TO: Planning and Community Development Committee
Mayor Peter Lewis
Kevin Snyder, AICP, Interim Planning & Development Director
FROM: Rick Hopkins, CBO, Building Official, Planning & Development Department
DATE: May 18, 2010
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION: Amendments to Title 15 (Building & Construction) and Adoption
of 2009 International Codes
RCW 19.27.031 (State building code -Adoption -Conflicts -Opinions) directs the adoption of
specified codes pertaining to building and fire regulations standards issued by International Code
Council, Inc (ICC). ICC develops the codes and standards used to construct residential and
commercial buildings, including homes and schools. ICC was established in 1994 as anon-profit
organization by the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA}, International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress
International, Inc. (SBCCI}.The International Codes, or I-Codes, published by ICC, provide minimum
safeguards for people at home, at school and in the workplace. To date, fifty states and the District
of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level. The ICC issues updated
versions of the I-Codes every three years.
The Washington State Building Code Council is a state agency created by the legislature to provide
independent analysis and objective advice to the legislature and the Governor's Office on state
building code issues. The Council establishesthe minimum building, mechanical, fire, plumbing and
energy code requirements necessary to promote the health, safety and welfare of the people of the
state of Washington, by reviewing, developing and adopting the state building code. The Council has recently adopted and issued the 2009 I-Codes for the State of Washington inclusive
of the
International Building Code, the International Residential Code, the Uniform Plumbing Code, the
International Mechanical Code, the International Fire Code, and the Washington State Energy Code
(Chapter 51-11 WAC). The Council's adoption of the I-Codes will be effective on July 1, 2010. The
Council is recommending local governments adopt the 2009 I-Codes along with any administrative
changes to chapter 1 (Administration) of each code prior to or around July 1St
Title 15 (Building and Construction) of the Auburn City Code comprises the referenced adoption of
the I-Codes together with the adoption of regulations that are specific to the City of Auburn that are
commonly referred to as "local amendments". Building staff, together with the Valley Regional Fire Authority as appropriate, have analyzed and incorporated the 2009 I-Codes together
with
recommended local amendments to update Title 15 as appropriate.
The Planning Commission will be conducting a public hearing on June 8, 2010 on the proposed
amendments to Title 15 inclusive of the proposed referenced adoption of the 2009 International
Codes and the inclusion of local amendments, as appropriate.
Staff seeks the Committee's input and questions on the proposed amendments to Title 15 at its May
24t" regular meeting.
Attachment
Attachment "A"": Summary of Key Changes with adoption of 2009 I-Codes and local amendments
ATTACHMENT "A"
POINTS OF INTEREST
• The International Residential Code, as amended by the State, contains an optional
(appendices are not applicable unless specifically adopted) Appendix S requiring fire sprinkler systems in new single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses. While not
mandated to be adopted, Appendix S is pre-approved by the State for local adoption, leaving
the decision of whether or not to require these systems to the discretion of each local
jurisdiction. The attached ordinance draft (Exhibit A} does not include provisions to adopt
Appendix S.
• The Washington State Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Code have been eliminated by the
State, with appropriate provisions being incorporated in the International Building, Residential
and Mechanical Codes.
• The Washington State Energy Code has been significantly updated to achieve greater
energy savings. The Legislature's Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee objected to
the 2009 changes and has recommended that the Governor "suspend the adoption and implementation of the changes", which the Governor has thus far not done.
• Adding Appendix D into the body of the code for reader clarity, and the alignment of fire code
with the Auburn Design and Construction Standards and Water Plan. Other amendments to
the fire code are primarily housekeeping in nature.
~ Group E occupancies; throughout every portion of educational buildings below the lowest
level of exit discharge serving that portion of the building.
Exception: An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any area below the lowest level
of exit discharge serving that area where every classroom throughout the building has at
least one exterior exit door at ground level.
SELECTED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FROM 2006 TO 2009 BUILDING CODE EDITIONS:
International Building Code
• Statewide amendment includes adoption of the 2009 International Existing Building Code,
which will provide greater flexibility in the adaptive re-use of existing buildings and replaces
the Washington State Historic Buildings Code.
• The '09 edition recognizes and regulates "live/work units" that combine a dwelling unit with a
non-residential use operated by the tenant, up to 50 percent of a maximum 3,000 square foot
space.
• The new edition classifies "ambulatory health care facilities" in the business occupancy class
rather than the institutional class, with provisions to protect occupants incapable of self-
preservationwithout requiring these facilities to meet all the same standards as hospitals.
• Fire walls, fire barriers and other walls required to their openings protected from fire and
smoke transmission must be marked as such by signs or stenciling, in concealed ?paces not
visible to the general public.
• Mercantile stores of any size that display and sell upholstered furniture are required by the
'09 code to have fire sprinklers.
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• Areas of refuge for building occupants with impaired mobility are no longer required in
buildings fully equipped with fire sprinklers.
• The maximum travel distance to exit a manufacturing or storage building fully equipped with
automatic heat and smoke vents and fire sprinklers has been reduced from 400 feet to 250
feet.
• The provision to allow dead-end corridors up to 50 feet in length in sprinkled buildings used as factories and offices has been extended to include education, some institutional,
mercantile, hotels, apartment houses, group homes, and warehouse occupancies.
• Exiting provisions for accessory assembly areas which are part of schools must now meet
the same requirements as other assembly uses.
• Special inspection is now required for installation of anchor bolts in concrete, which occurs
most commonly in Auburn with storage rack installations.
• Many design provisions previously found in the text of the building code are now in other
published industry standards, referenced by the code. These changes will require engineers,
architects and building departments to obtain and use these standards.
International Residential Code
• Appendix G, which regulates swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, is specifically adopted by the State to be applicable statewide.
• Appendix R, which establishes the standards to which residential fire sprinkler systems,
where installed, must be constructed, is specifically adopted by the State to be applicable
statewide.
• The floor area size limit to be exempt from permit requirements for accessory structures to
single-family residences, duplexes and townhomes has been increased from 120 square feet
to 200 square feet.
• The exemption from permit requirements for residential decks not more than 30 inches
above grade has been narrowed, to exempt only those decks that meet the 30 inch height
limitation, are not over 200 square feet in area, are not attached to a dwelling, and do not
serve a required exit door.
• New homes are required to have carbon monoxide alarms installed by January 1, 2011. Existing homes must have them installed by July 1, 2011, although owner-occupied
detached single-family dwelling legally occupied prior to July 1, 2010, are exempt.
• Deck ledgers attached to and supported by the lumber floor band joist of the residence are
now required to be connected with corrosion-resistant one-half inch diameter bolts or lag
screws, or with approved fasteners having equivalent resistance to withdrawal.
• Large kitchen hood systems exhausting more than 400 cubic feet of air per minute must now
be equipped with an automatically operating make up air system, closed when not in use.
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International Mechanical Code
• Ventilation system design requirements have been updated to current industry standards and
to incorporate provisions previously found in the Washington State Ventilation and Indoor Air
Quality Code. These changes, while increasing complexity, are expected to slightly reduce
energy costs.
Uniform Plumbing Code
• Waterless urinals complying with industry standards are allowed with stipulations on
maintenance, provided that water supply piping is installed to the location for future
replacement with a conventional urinal.
• Expanded and refined requirements addressing non-potable reuse water systems and
rainwater harvesting systems are included in the 2009 plumbing code.
Washington State Energy Code (WSEC)
• The WSEC has been extensively revised and reformatted, to assist in a future transition to
the International Energy Conservation Code, to conform to the Governor's direction to
increase energy efficiency, and to conform to federal requirements to meet minimum model
code standards under the Energy Policy Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Generally, there are many requirements which increase energy efficiency in a myriad of
ways.
• When space-conditioning equipment is installed, altered or replaced in an existing residential
system using ducts, most ducts must be sealed against air leakage and tested to verify
sealing.
• A certificate will now be required to be posted near the electrical panel in residences listing
insulation values of structure components, duct testing results, and other information related
to the energy efficiency of the building components and systems. This certificate is required
to be updated whenever modifications are made to the building.
• For buildings designed by the component performance approach, air leakage testing is now
required for new residences and additions having a floor area of more than 750 square feet.
• For buildings designed by the component performance approach, 50% of indoor lighting fixtures will be required to be high efficacy fixtures.
• In addition to the other requirements of the Energy Code, a new requirement is that each
dwelling unit must one "energy credit" by incorporating one or more of a number of listed
energy-saving features, ranging from additional insulation to solar orwind-powered electrical
generation capability. A small house credit can be gained by constructing a dwelling unit
under 1,500 square feet in floor area, with less than 300 square feet of windows, while a
large house credit is deducted for a house over 5,000 square feet.
• For non-residential buildings, provisions are required for metering whole building energy
supply sources, for management by the building owner.
• Duct systems must be sealed and tested for leakage. Ordinary duct tape is no longer allowed
to be used as a duct sealant.
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International Fire Code
• Authority to order the immediate interruption of utility service (power) for imminent hazards
with notification of the owner and coordination with the utility provider.
• Signal coverage and strength of public safety radio systems in new and existing buildings will
be evaluated to ensure adequate levels are maintained.
• Wired communication systems or in-building amplification systems may be necessary.
• Operation and maintenance of commercial cooking equipment frequencies are now based on
the type of cooking equipment. Higher frequencies of use or increased production of grease
laden vapors will be required cleaned more often.
• Retroactive sprinkler requirement for group 1-2 occupancies which include hospitals, nursing
homes, mental hospitals and detoxification facilities. (All group 1-2 occupancies in the City
have fire sprinklers installed}.
• A means of two-way communications is now required for use by mobility impaired individuals
at above or below grade elevator lobbies with the fire command center or other approved
location.
• Luminous egress path marking is now required in exit enclosures to improve the visibility of
stair treads, landings and handrails under normal and emergency conditions.
• Use of powder coating operations in well ventilated rooms andlor booths instead of only in powder coating rooms (This is a relaxing of the requirements and allows greater flexibility).
• Code language to address the storage, use and dispensing of bio-diesel, alcohol blended
fuels, and hydrogen.
• Additional requirements for automated rack storage to include extensive shutdown and
safety interlocks.
• Hazardous Materials Management Plans and Hazardous Materials Inventory Statements
have been revised to be more functional to the intended user. Examples of each document
are now contained in the appendix.
• Various changes to the storage and use of liquefied compressed gases, flammable gases,
flammable cryogenicfluids and liquid oxygen.
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