HomeMy WebLinkAbout09012005 BSC Agenda Item 4 • •
Draft amendment of the
Standard Codes Schedule
regarding structural framing
and similar elements
revised 8-1-05
Standard Codes Schedule
Adoption. Subject to the amendments and deletions indicated beneath each code, each of the following codes,
including all of its published appendices and attachments, is adopted, ordained and made a part of the Code of
Ordinances of the City and of each chapter where it is referenced, except as otherwise expressly provided.
Procedure for amendments,etc. The procedure for adopting new codes, updated codes, local amendments and
provisions for administration and enforcement of these codes is as follows: (1)proposal by the building official or
other appropriate City official, (2)referral to the Building&Standards Commission, (3)consideration by the
City Council, after giving required meeting notices, and(4)adoption and publication, as required by Article II of
the City Charter.
International Building Code,2000 Ed., International Code Council, Inc..
* * *
5. Structural Elements; Engineering, Etc.
a. Scope ; Definitions.
(1) The structural elements for the following must meet the criteria in this section, as
applicable:
(i) each new building (and each addition to an existing building)
containing habitable space and having either a gross floor area of
485 square feet or more or a floor higher than four feet; and
(ii) each accessible deck, porch, balcony, walkway and similar
structure with a floor height greater than feet. [Note: Unless
otherwise defined, "height" is measured from the "standard base
level" as provided in the Zoning Ordinance.]
(2) This section does not apply to foundation elements observed and certified
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under another section.
(3) In this section:
"A2LA Lab"means a laboratory accredited by the American Association
for Laboratory Accreditation on the basis of ISO/IEC 17025:1999
("general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration
laboratories").
"RLPE"means a licensed or registered professional engineer of the State
of Texas who is:
(1) listed with the State Board of Professional Engineers in either the
civil or structural branch of engineering (but, from and after May 1,
2006, listing in the structural branch is required);
(2) employed by a registered engineering firm of the State of Texas;
and
(3) covered by professional errors and omissions insurance that: (i)
has limits of at least $250,000 per claim (and at least$500,000 per
year, aggregate) and (ii) has effective dates—including any
retroactive coverage date—that include the entire period when the
person provides services or takes actions regulated by this section.
b. Engineering; Plans &Specifications. Structural elements must be constructed in
accordance with complete plans and specifications prepared, signed and sealed by
a RLPE. The plans and specifications must be prepared specifically for the
structure in question, and they must meet criteria as to scope, content and form
specified by the building official.
c. Certain Requirements.
(1) Fire Protection. Any part of a structural element within five feet of a property
line must be composed of, or fully protected by, materials with a"one-hour" fire
rating, or better, determined as provided in of the
Code.
(2) Framing; Sheathing. All framing must include full exterior sheathing
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with structural elements (or blocking) along all joints. Th plans must indicate the
type, size and spacing of fastners. All sheathing must be half-inch CDX plywood
or better (neither oriented strand board nor any interior-grade material may be
used). Any sheathing within four feet of the ground must be treated wood or other
material that is resistant to insects and rot. Exception: Full sheathing is not
required for steel and similar framing materials unless required or recommended
by the manufacturer.
(3) Trusses, Joists, Etc. (i) The species and grade of all lumber used for trusses,
joists, purlins, purlin supports or similar elements must be specified in the plans.
All such lumber must be graded and stamped, and utility-grade lumber longer than
24 inches may not be used for such elements. (ii) The plans must indicate that
any truss used to support ceiling or floor joists was designed by the RLPE
preparing the plans. (iii) There must be a vertical supporting element not farther
than four inches from the each truss or joist, measured from centerline to
centerline. (iv) The length, spacing and direction of trusses and joists must be
specified in the plans; they may not be spaced farther apart than 19.2 inches on-
center; and there must be a vertical support element directly beneath at least
percent of the trusses or joists in each array. (v) Each manufactured wood truss
must comply with applicable requirements of"Design Specifications For Light
Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses"published by Truss Institute, Ed. (vi)
For each manufactured truss,the plans must indicate that the RLPE preparing the
plans reviewed both the input loads used by the truss manufacturer and the final
shop drawings and that all the manufacturer's recommended truss bracing is
included in the plans. (vii) For each cantilevered truss, the plans must indicate
that the truss was designed both with and without the cantilevered load and the
RLPE preparing the plans specified (or approved) the strapping or other
attachment for the support end opposite the cantilevered load.
(4) Crawl Spaces. All metal joist hangers, brackets and similar fasteners used in
crawl spaces must be fully galvanized or made of material that is resistant to
corrosion. The plans must indicate that the RLPE preparing the plans specified
the minimum "net" sizes and locations of openings required to achieve adequate
ventilation of crawl spaces.
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(5) Welds. Unless otherwise specified by an RLPE: (i) all welds for butt-
connected steel plates must be full joint-penetration welds, and (ii) all welds for
lapped steel plates must be continuously fillet welded with fillet leg dimensions
matching the inner plate thickness. All welds must comply with AWS D1.1 (see
Section 1704.3.1, IBC). See, also, observation and certification requirements for
welds, below.
(6) Stairwells, Chimneys, Etc.. The plans must indicate that an RLPE specified
cross-bracing or similar structural elements for each stairwell, chimney, free-
standing wall and similar vertical space or element.
d. Observation & Certification. Structural elements must be professionally observed
and must be certified by an RLPE, as more fully described below:
(1) Observations must:
(i) be performed either by the certifying RLPE or by one or more
persons under that RLPE's direct supervision and control whose
professional qualifications are approved by the RLPE,
(ii) include actual observation of structural elements and attachments
in crawl spaces before they are covered by floors or other
materials,
(iii) include actual observations of each beam,joist, rafter, truss and
similar element,
including each related
weld and high-
strength bolt: (i) after
all required plumbing,
electrical and
mechanical "rough-
in" inspections have
been passed and all
expected"notching,"
boring and similar
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• •
work has been done,
and (ii) before the
item is covered, and
(iii) be documented in a form and manner approved by the building
official (which may include photographs).
(2) Certifications must:
(i) refer to and be based upon the professional observations required
by this section,
(ii) state that the portions of the work required to be observed comply
with the plans and specifications last approved by the building
official (with any field changes that are ordered by the RLPE,
reported to the building official and in compliance with applicable
regulations),
(iii) comply with criteria as to form and content as may be specified by
the building official,
(iv) be signed and sealed by the certifying RLPE, and
(v) be filed with the building official.
(3) Certifications may rely in part upon attached certifications by: (i) an A2LA
Lab, as to materials testing, and (ii) an inspector certified by the City of
Houston, as to welds or high-strength bolts (see, also, Section 1704.3.3 of
the IBC).
Before any a beam,joist, rafter, truss, weld, high-strength bolt or similar element
is covered: (i) all required city inspections relating to that element must be passed,
and (ii) the permittee must obtain written acknowledgment from the building
official that the certification for that element was duly filed as required above.
For any given building, there may be more than one certification filed.
After a beam,joist, rafter, truss, weld, high-strength bolt or similar element has
been observed and certified, as provided above, it may not be notched, bored or
structurally altered without: (i) a new or amended permit, if required, and (ii) a
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I
new observation and certification, in accordance with this section.
Certifications, plans, specifications and related items may be kept on file by the
City, for public inspection, for an indefinite period of time.
e. Special Exceptions. The BSC may issue a special exception from any requirement
in subsection"a"through"c," above, but only upon a showing that:
(1) the requirement will not affect life safety or the performance of a structure
(for its estimated useful life); or
(2) an alternate requirement to be imposed by the special exception will
provide equal or better protection for life safety and long-term structural
performance.
In connection with any such special exception,the BSC may require that the
applicant provide supporting engineering data and opinion, and the BSC may
impose conditions to carry out the purpose and intent of applicable regulations.
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Original document: C:\Documents and Settings\Geneva\My Documents\CODES\WUP Code of
Ordinances\Updates to 2003 Edition\54 o structural framing 7-6-05 CLEAN.wpd
Revised document: C:\Documents and Settings\Geneva\My Documents\CODES\WUP Code of
Ordinances\Updates to 2003 Edition\54 o structural framing 8-1-05 CLEAN.rtf
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1 Draft amendment of the
Standard Codes Schedule
regarding structural framing
and similar elements
revised 7-6=0-58-1-05
I =Standard Codes Schedule
doption. Subject to the amendments and deletions indicated beneath each code, each of the following codes,
Including all of its published appendices and attachments, is adopted, ordained and made a part of the Code of
rdinances of the City and of each chapter where it is referenced, except as otherwise expressly provided.
rocedure for amendments,etc. The procedure for adopting new codes, updated codes, local amendments and
rovisions for administration and enforcement of these codes is as follows: (1)proposal by the building official or
ther appropriate City official, (2) referral to the Building&Standards Commission, (3) consideration by the City
ouncil, after giving required meeting notices, and(4) adoption and publication, as required by Article II of the City
h a rter.
I International Building Code, 2000 Ed., International Code Council,Inc..
* * *
1 5.-- Structural Elements; Engineering, Etc.
a. Scope ;Definitions.
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• •
(5) Welds. Unless otherwise specified by an RLPE: (i) all
welds for butt-connected steel plates must be full joint-penetration
welds, and (ii) all welds for lapped steel plates must be
continuously fillet welded with fillet leg dimensions matching the
inner plate thickness. All welds must comply with AWS D1.1 (see
Section 1704.3.1, IBC). See, also, observation and certification
requirements for welds, below.
(6) Stairwells, Chimneys, Etc.. The plans must indicate
that an RLPE specified cross-bracing or similar structural elements
for each stairwell, chimney, free-standing wall and similar vertical
space or element.
d. Observation & Certification. Structural elements must be
professionally observed and must be certified by an RLPE, as more fully
described below:
(1) Observations must:
(i) be performed either by the certifying
RLPE or by one or more persons under that
RLPE's direct supervision and control
whose professional qualifications are
approved by the RLPE,
(ii) include actual observation of
structural elements and attachments in crawl
spaces before they are covered by floors or
other materials,
(iii)— include actual observations of each
beam,joist,rafter,truss and similar element,
including each related weld and high-
strength bolt: (i)after all required plumbing,
electrical and mechanical"rough-in"
inspections have been passed and all
expected"notching,"boring and similar
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• •
work has been done,
and(ii)before the
item is covered, and
(iii)— be documented in a form and manner
approved by the building official (which
may include photographs).
(2) Certifications must:
(i) refer to and be based upon the
professional observations required by this
section,
(ii) state that the portions of the work
complies required to be observed comply
with the plans and specifications last
approved by the building official (with any
field changes that are ordered by the RLPE,
reported to the building official and in
compliance with applicable regulations),
(iii)— comply with criteria as to form and
content as may be specified by the building
official,
(iv)— be signed and sealed by the
certifying RLPE, and
(v) be filed with the building official.
(3) Certifications may rely in part upon attached
certifications by: (i)an A2LA Lab, as to materials testing,
and(ii) an inspector certified by the City of Houston, as to
welds or high-strength bolts (see, also, Section 1704.3.3 of
the IBC).
Before any a beam,joist,rafter, truss, weld,high-strength bolt or
similar element is covered: (i) all required city inspections relating
to that element must be passed, and(ii)the permittee must obtain
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written acknowledgment from the building official that the
certification for that element was duly filed as required above. For
any given building,there may be more than one certification filed.
After a beam,joist,rafter,truss,weld,high-strength bolt or similar
element has been observed and certified, as provided above, it may
not be notched,bored or structurally altered without: (i) a new or
amended permit, if required, and(ii) a new observation and
certification, in accordance with this section.
Certifications,plans, specifications and related items may be kept
on file by the City, for public inspection, for an indefinite period of
time.
Special Exceptions. The BSC may issue a special exception from
any requirement in subsection"a"through"c,"above,but only upon a
showing that:
(1) the requirement will not affect life safety or the
performance of a structure (for its estimated useful life); or
(2) an alternate requirement to be imposed by the special exception
will provide equal or better protection for life safety and long-term
structural performance.
In connection with any such special exception,the BSC may
require that the applicant provide supporting engineering data and
opinion, and the BSC may impose conditions to carry out the
purpose and intent of applicable regulations.
* * *
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