HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Aciton Form, July 21, 1981 Council Action Form
No: 07-21-81
Subject: Proposed Revisions to the Rental Housing Code
Background:
Fire Department personnel have become an integral part of the Rental Housing Code
enforcement efforts. Fire company personnel currently are conducting rental housing
inspections in conjunction with their other fire prevention activities. Although
the Fire Department has participated in rental housing inspections for the last
three years, it is their first experience with the newly revised rental housing code.
Fire Department officials have identified two sections of the new code dealing with
minimum fire safety standards which they are recommending be revised.
1 ) Section 13.35(c) of the Ames Rental Housing Code states that hazardous areas
such as boiler rooms, furnace rooms, or storage areas shall be separated
from habitable spaces with one hour fire rated construction.
An analysis of the Uniform Building Code reveals that this basic requirement
is contained in this law. However, the Uniform Building Code also prescribes
an exception whereby a separation shall not be required for such rooms with
equipment serving only one dwelling unit.
Recent inspections indicate that the single dwelling units do have the furnaces
separated from the remainder of the unit. However, in the majority of instances
the separation is not accomplished with a one hour rated wall .
Fire Department officials are confident that if the exception for single
dwelling units which is reflected in the Uniform Building Code is incorporated
into the Rental Housing Code, individuals renting the units will be adequately
protected from fire hazards.
2) Section 13. 35(f) of the Ames Rental Housing Code states that doors to corridors
and stairwells shall be one hour fire rated construction. Here again, Fire
Department officials emphasize that the Uniform Building Code is less stringent
in this area. The Uniform Building Code requires doors to such enclosures shall
be protected by a door equivalent to a solid wood door, not less than 1 3/4
inches thick.
It should be noted that doors required to be one hour fire rated construction
actually consist of a door and a metal frame. This requirement proves to be a
costly venture for the owner. Furthermore, the fire officials are satisfied
that the 1 3/4 inch wood core door would provide sufficient fire protection
for the occupants.
Manager's Recommended Action:
It is recommended that sections 13.35(c) and (f) of the Rental Housing Code be revised
to conform to the Uniform Building Code. In order to accomplish these revisions, it
is recommended that this matter be referred to the City Attorney to draft the revised
language. The revision will be placed on a future Council agenda for your approval .
Council Action: