HomeMy WebLinkAbout02032005 BSC Agenda Item 7 Draft amendment of the
Standard Codes Schedule
regarding structural framing
1-6-05
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..
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5. All structural framing for: (i) new buildings (or additions to existing buildings)with more
than one story, or with a gross floor area of 485 square feet or more, or(ii) structures
higher than feet,must meet the criteria in this section, as applicable. 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
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(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.
a. Engineering. Structural framing must be constructed in accordance with complete
plans and specifications prepared, signed and sealed(with a manually-impressed
seal and manual signature)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.
b. Additional regulations. In addition to all other applicable regulations, structural
framing must comply with the following regulations:
(1) Each vertical element bearing the load of beams, joists,rafters or similar
elements must: (i)be arranged so that the load is borne fully in
compression, (ii)transmit the load to a grade beam or other solid footing
approved for this purpose by the RLPE,and(iii)have an equivalent cross
sectional area equal to or greater than the cross sectional area of the
beams, joists and similar elements that are supported(measured at the point
of attachment). For this purpose,the equivalent cross sectional areas of
different materials are compared as provided with of the
Code.
(2) Beams, joists,rafters and similar elements must be attached using metal
hangers or similar structural connectors that are chosen and installed in
accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. "Toenailing"and
similar attachment methods are not allowed for this purpose.
(3) Any element within five feet of a property line must be fully protected by
materials with a"one-hour"fire rating, or better, determined as provided in
of the Code.
c. Observation & Certification. All structural framing must be professionally
observed and must be certified by an RLPE, as more fully described below:
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(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 observations of each structural element and each
attachment of beams, joists, rafters and similar elements: (i) after all
"notching"and similar alterations, and(ii)before it is covered,
(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 work complies with the plans and specifications last
approved by the building official (with any field changes that are
ordered by the RLPE and reported to the building official and that
comply with applicable regulations),
(iii) state that the work complies with sound engineering practices,
(iv) comply with criteria as to form and content as may be specified by
the building official,
(v) be signed and sealed by the certifying RLPE, and
(vi) be filed with the building official.
(3) Certifications may rely in part upon an attached certification by an A2LA
Lab, as to materials testing(if applicable).
Before an element of structural framing is covered,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. Certifications,plans, specifications and related
items may be kept on file by the City, for public inspection, for an indefinite period
of time.
d. Special Exceptions. The BSC may issue a special exception from any requirement
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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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