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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Memo dated March 12, 1993 to City Coucil A911 n - Mimi TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Bob Kindred, Assistant City Manager DATE: March 12, 1993 SUBJECT: Approval of Revised Construction Codes Since Council approved the adoption of local construction codes last September, Interim Building, Electrical, and Plumbing Code Boards have been working diligently to review the previous changes and to incorporate the 1990 and 1991 uniform code updates into our local codes. The results of that work are attached. The codes are presented and will be discussed in the following order: 1. Building Code 2. Fire Code 3. Mechanical Code 4. Electrical Code 5. Plumbing Code The three chairs of the respective committees will be present to present these changes to Council, along with appropriate City staff. For your reference, the enclosures are organized as follows: 1. Staff summaries of code changes yellow pages 2. Actual code language white pages 3. Minutes of March 9 public hearing on code changes ivory pages Should you have any questions regarding these materials, please feel free to contact us. Both the Board members and staff are looking forward to having a constructive work session with you next Tuesday. /lvz Enclosures c: Members of Interim Building Code Board Members of Interim Electrical Code Board Members of Interim Plumbing Code Board Mike Childs, Fire Chief Jeff Pearson, Building Official Paul Wiegand, Public Works Director Tom Neumann, Water/WPC Director BUILDING CODE CHANGES We wish to thank the Interim Building Code Board of Appeals and all other boards for their involvement in the code changes. They have worked many long hours and have given of their time generously, even missed some suppers and ball games. The boards have worked tremendously well with the diverse backgrounds of its members. Everyone worked well together, but none were afraid to voice their concerns. We started some communication between various boards which we hope will continue in the future. It will help tremendously building, health and safety for the Ames Community. The members of the Building Code Board are Bill Bossenberger, David Delagardelle, Bob Friedrich Jr. , Kurt Mackey and Harold Pike. The following are changes made to Chapter 5 "Building, Signs, and House Moving": 1988 changed to 1991 Reference numbers were changed to address the revisions in the 1991 UBC. Sec. 5.104(1) Deleted the line "Mechanical Code Appeals Board to create a separate board." Also, added "members ex officio without voting power from electric, plumbing and mechanical boards." This was changed to allow communication between boards for the interest of the public. Sec. 5.104(2) & (3) Changed wording for clarity. Sec. 5.104(4) Changed wording for clarity. Sec. 5.105 Changed format to keep the exemptions directly below the registration required section and an exemption for non-permit work was included. Sec. 5.105(2) Last paragraph - the following sentence was added: "The Building Contractor, if an individual, or the principal manager of the Building Contractor shall come into the inspection office to register in person each year." This is to avoid ghost contractors. Sec. 5.105(3) Added Exemption: When registrant is the property owner, proof of general liability of $500,000 coverage is needed in lieu of contractors commercial liability and does not need state registration number. Sec. 5.108(3)(a) Changed from "after trenches are excavated and forms erected" to "after excavations are complete and forms. . ." Sec. 5.108(6)(a) Changed from "may" to "shall" and deleted the words "at all times." We also referred back to the list of special inspections in the 1991 UBC Sec. 306(a)1-14. This was changed because the UBC had major revisions in this area and we felt the UBC was a fair but safe ruling in this matter. Sec. 5.115 Handicap Requirements was deleted because this was added to the 1991 UBC during its revision. Sec. 5.116 Parapets was deleted, in 1991 UBC. Sec. 5.119 This section on foundation walls was deleted. The 1991 UBC had some additions which help with interpretation. The Board chooses to review this and make recommendations at a later time. Sec. 5.121 Added: "Pole buildings shall be set in concrete mixed prior to filling cavity and must have horizontal rod tied to or drilled through each pole." This was added to tie the building to subgrade and help in case of uplift. The Board may continue to review this at a later time. Trench footings are allowed as a continuous 8" single pass trench for a single story wood frame structure with spans not exceeding 161. The trench must be 42" deep and have at least two (2) horizontal rods fixed in place and tied into the existing structure. Soil bearing pressure to be minimum of 2000 psi. Deleted Figure 2907(a) The Board found many inconsistencies with the wall sections and removed them. This area will be studied further. Sec. 5.122 Deleted - Handicap requirements was added in 1991 UBC. Sec. 5.123 Deleted - Handicap accessibility was added in 1991 UBC. Sec. 5.124 Stairway handrail height was deleted because handicap requirements don't coincide with OSHA regulations, so followed handicap requirements now and will study differing requirements later. Sec. 5.125 Deleted - Fire sprinklers was added in 1991 UB C. Sec. 5.130(1) & (2) Added Appendix 12, Division III and Appendix 31 to current list of appendices adopted. Appendix 12, Division III replaced Sec. 5.401 of this code on swimming pools. Sec. 1241 of Appendix 12 of 1991 UB C was amended to read "The provisions of this section apply to the design and construction of barriers for all new and existing swimming pools in the City of Ames, Iowa." Appendix 31 is on handicap accessibility. The areas of egress windows and historical preservation codes are still of concern to the Board and will be studied further after April 1, 1993. The staff recommends the Council adopt these changes to Chapter 5 - Building Code.