HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Recommendation from Building Code Board of Apeals dated September 8, 1994 TO Mayor and City Council
FROM: Building Code Board of Appeals
DATE: September 8, 1994
SUBJECT: Foundations
On March 12, 1993, the Interim Building, Electrical and Plumbing
Boards presented to the Council their proposed revisions and
changes to the local codes. At that time, the Building Code Board of
Appeals recommended deletion of Section 5.119 Foundation Walls
(see attached). This change was approved by the Council.
Since then, the Board has met many times to discuss the design of
foundations, primarily concrete, with members of the Ames Home
Builders Association, concrete contractors, and other concerned
individuals. Most of the discussion centered on the amount of steel
reinforcing required in concrete foundation walls by the Uniform
Building Code. Alternative designs with lower reinforcing
requirements were presented to the Board, but these were presented
as economic alternatives and were not backed up by engineering
calculations.
As a result of these discussions, it is the recommendation of the
Building Code Board of Appeals that the foundation requirements of
the 1991 Uniform Building Code be enforced. In addition, the Board
recommends that a foundation inspection requirement should be
incorporated into the language of the local code to ensure
compliance.
Respectfully submitted,
K"Mackey, airman
Building Code Board of Appeals
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.