HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Letter dated December 28, 1995 to all contractors, architects, engineers i
AMES
CITY OF AMES
P.O.BOX 811 AMES IOWA 50010
Community-University-Opportunity FIRE DEPARTMENT/INSPECTION DIVISION
December 28, 1995
TO ALL CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, INTERESTED PARTIES:
The local Building Code Board of Appeals and Inspection Staff have studied the 1994
Uniform Building Code over the last several months and are planning a public meeting on
the proposed changes to our local code on January 4, 1996, at 5:00 p.m. in Conference
Rom 135 at City Hall. We will also be holding a Public Hearing at a later date when the
Board finalizes its proposals to the City Council. We strongly urge everyone who has a
comment to voice their concern early in the process. The majority of the changes are
clarifications to our existing local building code by rewording or renumbering sections to
coincide with the revised UBC.
At this time, there are three key issues that may generate some degree if discussion which
the Board plans to recommend to the City Council.
1. Current projects are required to be started within 180 days after the permit is issued,
and show continuous progress every 180 days, thereafter, until the project is complete.
The new wording will read 180 days to start the project," as is now, but change to read
"show progress every 60 days, thereafter, or be approved by the Building Official."
This change is recommended because of numerous complaints from neighbors of
construction projects where work begins and becomes unsitely for the neighborhood
for months or years thereafter. Also, the Board felt the Building Official shall become
more aggressive in defining continuing progress, but provide leniency in case of
inclement weather or material delays.
2. Return to the wording in the UBC requiring an egress window in every basement.
Currently, we are less restrictive by requiring egress windows in finished basements
only. This change is proposed because of the numerous complaints of homeowners
spending thousands of dollars installing egress windows in basements immediately
after purchasing a new house. A great majority of basements get finished within five
years after the house is built.
The majority of builders already build to this standard. The most recent homes built for
the City's affordable housing program meet the egress standard as stated in the UBC.
The Des Moines Metro Building Officials's Group already have this requirement in Des
Moines and surrounding suburbs. The Board is also concerned about liability for the
City of Ames in case of a death or injury.
3. Require the same quality of footings for a wood pole structure as we require for a steel
structure. In both cases the buildings are pre-engineered, but the foundations of the
pole structures are based on past practice, generally, and are not based on standard
engineering practices. Steel structures, however, generally have engineered
foundations and are designed to withstand the forces placed upon them. There have
been several local concerns of uplift forces on pole structures where damage has
occurred. The Board prefers to see these two types of structures treated equally.
This concludes the main topics of discussion. Please attend the Public Meeting on
January 4, 1996, to discuss these topics or any other amendments you feel are necessary.
If you cannot attend, please call or write to the Chairman of the Board, David Delagardelle,
or the Building Official by January 10, 1996. Our goal is to have this revision adopted by
the City Council f implementation on April 1, 1996.
9-tff
JEFF PEARSON
BUILDING OFFICIAL
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