HomeMy WebLinkAbout06052003 BSC Agenda Item 8 • •
Annette Arriaga
From: Alvin Collins
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2003 3:25 PM
To: Annette Arriaga
Subject: Amendment to the Building and Fire Code
Annette,
In an effort to amendment the Building and Residential code, would you please add an item on the agenda for the next
BSC meeting.
The current International Residential Code(IRC) Section R317.2 states:
In new construction, the required smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such
wiring is served from a commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery.
Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for over current protection.
Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or in
buildings that undergo alterations, repairs or additions regulated by Section R317.1.1.
I am recommending the Building Standards Commission(BSC) make an exception to Section R317.2 of the IRC. The
exception states:
A household fire alarm system can be installed in accordance to the provisions of NFPA 72, Chapter 11.
Also, the current International Building Code(IBC) Section 907.2.10.2 states:
In new construction, required smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring where such wiring is
served from a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery backup. Smoke alarms shall emit a signal when
the batteries are low. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than as required for over
current protection.
I am recommending the BSC make an exception to Section 907.2.10.2 of the IBC. The exception states:
A household fire alarm system can be installed in accordance to the provisions of NFPA 72, Chapter 11.
If you need additional information for the meeting, please let me know.
Thanks,
Al
1
BUILDING PLANNING • • R314.6-R317.1.1
tread having a 71/2-inch (190 mm) minimum tread width at SECTION R316 ,
12 inches(305 mm)from the narrow edge.All treads shall be GUARDS
identical, and the rise shall be no more than 91/2 inches R316.1 Guards required.Porches,balconies or raised floor
(241 mm).A minimum headroom of 6 feet,6 inches(1982 mm) surfaces located more than 30 inches(762 mm)above the floor
shall be provided. or grade below shall have guards not less than 36 inches
R314.6 Circular stairways. Circular stairways shall have a (914 mm)in height.Open sides of stairs with a total rise of more
than 30 inches
tread depth at a point not more than 12 inches(305 mm)from `(762 mm)above the floor or grade below shall
the side where the treads are narrower of not less than 11 inches have guards not less than 34 inches(864 mm)in height mea-
(279 mm)and the minimum depth of any tread shall not be less sured vertically from the nosing of the treads.
than 6 inches(152 mm).Tread depth at any walking line,mea- R316.2 Guard opening limitations.Required guards on open
sured a consistent distance from a side of the stairway,shall be sides of stairways, raised floor areas,balconies and porches
uniform as specified in Section R314.2. shall have intermediate rails or ornamental closures that do not
allow passage of a sphere 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter.
} R314.7 Illumination.All stairs shall be provided with illumi- Required guards shall not be constructed with horizontal rails
nation in accordance with Section R303.4. or other:ornamental pattern that results in a'ladder effect.
Exception: The triangular openings formed by the riser,
R314.8 Under stair protection. Enclosed accessible space tread and bottom rail of a guard at the open side of a stairway
under stairs shall have walls,under stair surface and any soffits are permitted to be of such a size that a sphere 6 inches
protected on the enclosed side with 1/2-inch(12.7 mm)gypsum (152 mm)cannot pass through.
board.
R314.9 Bulkhead enclosure stairways. Stairways serving SECTION R317
bulkhead enclosures not part of the required building egress SMOKE ALARMS
and providing access from the outside grade level to the base-
ment shall be exempt from the requirements of Sections R312, R317.1 Single-and multiple-station smoke alarms.Single-
- R314 and R315 when the maximum height from the basement and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in the
finished floor level to grade adjacent to the stairway is covered following locations:
/f-----\\ a bulkhead enclosure with hinged doors or other approved 1: In each sleeping room.
) means. 2. Outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate
vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling,including base-
ments and cellars but not including crawl spaces and
uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with
SECTION R315 split levels and without an intervening door between the
HANDRAILS adjacent levels,a smoke alarm installed on the upper level
shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the
R315.1 Handrails.Handrails having minimum and maximum lower level is less than one full story below the upper
heights of 34 inches and 38 inches(864 mm and 965 mm),re- level.
spectively,measured vertically from the nosing of the treads, When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed
shall be provided on at least one side of stairways.All required within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be in-
handrails shall be continuous the full length of the stairs with terconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm
two or more risers from a point directly above the top riser of a will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit.The alarm
flight to a point directly above the lowest riser of the flight. shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise
Ends shall be returned or shall terminate in newel posts or safe- levels with all intervening doors closed.
ty terminals.Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space of All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance
not less than 1.5 inches(38 mm)between the wall and the hand with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning
rail. equipment provisions of NFPA 72.
Exceptions: R317.1.1 Alterations,repairs and additions.When interi-
) 1. Handrails shall be permitted to be interrupted by a or alterations,repairs or additions requiring a permit occur,
newel post at a turn. or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in
existing dwellings,the individual dwelling unit shall be pro-
2. The use of a volute,turnout or starting easing shall be vided with smoke alarms located as required for new dwell-
allowed over the lowest tread. ings; the smoke alarms shall be interconnected and hard
wired.
R315.2 Handrail grip size.The handgrip portion of handrails
shall have a circular cross section of 11/4 inches(32 mm)mini- Exceptions:
mum to 25/8 inches(67 mm)maximum.Other handrail shapes 1. Smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required
that provide an equivalent grasping surface are permissible. " to be interconnected and hard wired where the alter-
Edges shall have a minimum radius of 1/8 inch(3.2 mm). ations or repairs do not result in the removal of
2000 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE"' 49
R317.2 R319.1 • • BUILDING PLANNING
interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the struc- ported by blocking or tongue-and-groove joints.The smoke- ' "\
ture,unless there is an attic,crawl space,or basement developed rating shall not be limited. 1
available which could provide access for hard wiring R318.2.3 Attics and crawlspaces.Within attics and crawl-
and interconnection without the removal of interior spaces where entry is made only for service of utilities,foam
finishes. plastics shall be protected against ignition by 11/2-inch-thick
2. Repairs to the exterior surfaces of dwellings are (38 mm) mineral fiber insulation, 1/4-inch-thick (6.4 mm)
exempt from the requirements of this section. wood structural panels, 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) particleboard,
R317.2 Power source. In new construction, the required 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) hardboard, 3/g inch (9.5 mm) gypsum
smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the build- board,or corrosion resistant steel having a base metal thick-
ing wiring when such wiring is served from.a commercial ness of 0.016 inch(0.406 mm).
source, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive R318.2.4 Foam-filled doors.Foam-filled doors are exempt
power from a battery.Wiring shall be permanent and without a from the requirements of Section R318.1.
disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent
protection.Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery oper-
R318.2.5 Siding backer board.Foam plastic board of not i
ated when installed in buildings without commercial power or more than /2 inch (12.7 mm) thickness may be used as
in buildings that undergo
.1: not less than 2 inches(51 mm)of mineral fiber insulation or
1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard or installed over
existing exterior wall finish in conjunction with re-siding,
providing the plastic board does not have a potential heat of
SECTION R318 more than 2,000 Btu per square foot(22 720 kJ/m2) when
FOAM PLASTIC tested in accordance with NFPA 259.
R318.1 General.The provisions of this section shall govern R318.2.6 Interior trim.Foam plastic trim defined as picture
molds, chair rails, baseboards, handrails, ceiling beams,
the requirements and uses of foam plastic insulation. door trim and window trim may be installed,provided:
' R318.1.1 Surface burning characteristics.Except where 1. The minimum density is 20 pounds per cubic foot
otherwise noted in Section R318.2,all foam plastic or foam (3.14 kg/m3).
plastic cores in manufactured assemblies used in building 2. The maximum thickness of the trim is 0.5 inch
construction shall have a flame-spread rating of not more (12.7 mm) and the maximum width is 4 inches )
than 75 and shall have a smoke-developed rating of not more (102 mm).
than 450 when tested in'the maximum thickness intended for 3. The trim constitutes no more than 10 percent of the area
use in accordance with ASTM E 84. of any wall or ceiling.
R318.1.2 Thermal barrier. Foam plastic, except where 4. The flame-spread rating does not exceed 75 when
otherwise noted, shall be separated from the interior of a tested per ASTM E 84.The smoke-developed rating is
building by minimum 1/2-inch(12.7 mm)gypsum board or not limited.
an approved finish material equivalent to a thermal'barrier to R318.3 Specific approval. Plastic foam not meeting the re-
limit the average temperature rise of the unexposed surface quirements of Sections R318.1 and R318.2 may be specifically
to no more than 250°F(121°C)after 15 minutes of fire expo- approved on the basis of one of the following approved tests:
sure to the ASTM E 119 standard time temperature curve. ASTM E 84,FM 4880,UL 1040,ASTM E 152,or UL 1715,or
The gypsum board shall be installed using a mechanical fire tests related to actual end-use configurations.The specific
fastening system in accordance with Section R702.3.5. approval may be based on the end use,quantity,location and
• Reliance on adhesives to ensure that the gypsum board will similar considerations where such tests would not be applicable
remain in place when exposed to fire shall be prohibited. or practical.
R318.2 Specific requirements. The following requirements R318.4 Interior finish.Foam plastics that are used as interior
shall apply to all uses of foam plastic unless specifically finish shall also meet the flame-spread requirements for
approved in accordance with Section R318.3 or by other interior finish.
sections of the code. R318.5 Termite damage.The use of foam plastics in areas of
R318.2.1 Masonry or concrete construction.Foam plas- "very heavy"termite infestation probability shall be in accor-
tics may be used without the thermal barrier described in dance with Section R324.4.
Section R318.1 when the foam plastic is protected by a mini-
mum 1-inch(25.4 mm)thickness of masonry or concrete.
SECTION R319
R318.2.2 Roofing. Foam plastic may be used in a roof- FLAME SPREAD AND SMOKE DENSITY
covering assembly without the thermal barrier when the R319.1 Wall and ceiling.Wall and ceiling finishes shall have a
foam is separated from the interior of the building by wood flame spread classification of not greater than 200.
structural panel sheathing in accordance with Section R803,
not less than 15/32 inch(11.9 mm)in thickness bonded with Exception: Flame-spread requirements for finishes shall
exterior glue and identified as Exposure 1, with edge sup- not apply to trim defined as picture molds, chair rails,
50 2000 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE-
• •
a
In cases where an existing fence erected contrary to the provisions of this Code is to be removed,
improved or structurally altered,each new fence must conform to this Code.
Sec. 6.588.Facing of fences.
All fences abutting on a street area shall be constructed so that all supporting members,including
posts and horizontal runners,shall not face the street. This provision shall apply to such portions of a
fence that face the street on which the lot faces as well as a side street.
Sec. 6.589. Fence gate.
Where a fence is constructed,improved or structurally altered along an easement area,a gate with a
minimum opening of 30 inches must be built for ingress and egress into the easement area. The gate is
for the use and convenience of public utility companies and the City service crews.
Sec.6.590.Electricity,barbed wire prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or controlling any property in the City to construct,
maintain or permit to remain on such property any fence: (i)charged with electricity,or(ii)containing
any barbed wire,concertina wire or other sharpened or barbed projections. Where chain link fence is
used,no twisting or barbing of wire is permitted at the top salvage. All wire on the top salvage shall be
knuckled.
Sec. 6.591.Masonry construction.
Masonry fences must be made of brick, vitrified clay tile,concrete tile,on monolithic reinforced
concrete,and must be built according to the following specifications:
(1) At least eight inches thick for double-wall construction,which shall be either brick,
vitrified clay tile,or concrete tile; at least six inches thick for single-wall construction,
which shall be only of brick or monolithic reinforced concrete construction.
(2) Pilasters shall be placed on not more than twelve-foot centers, or adequate steel rein-
forcing shall be placed in the whole fence.
(3) Expansion joints shall be placed on not more than 24-foot centers.
(4) The fence shall have a foundation which shall rest on drilled footings sunk to approved
bearing soil. Such footings shall be not less than 12 inches in diameter,and each
footing shall have not less than four one-half-inch ties on three-foot centers. Foundation
beams shall be not less than 12 inches wide and not less than 18 inches deep with not
less than four five-eighths-inch reinforcing rods and three-eights-inch ties,on not less
than 30-inch centers.
(5) A gate with a minimum opening of thirty inches must be built for ingress and egress into
any public easement.
Sec. 6.592.Fences on vacant lots.
Any fence construction or reconstruction on a site on which no building is located shall be
constructed to comply with all of the setback requirements which apply to the location of a residence on
such site. No building permit shall be issued for construction of improvements on a vacant lot,if there is
a fence which does not meet all requirements of this Code.
Sec. 6.593.Maintenance.
Any person owning or controlling a fence shall maintain it in good repair so as not to endanger any
person on property.
Subchapter J.Fire Zones
6.601. Established.
The fire zones of the City shall be established as set forth on that certain map entitled"Fire District
Map" and bearing the date "January 1, 1989," on file in the office of the Building Official,which map is
hereby adopted by reference as if set forth at length in this section. Such fire zones shall be the "fire
districts" contemplated by the building code adopted by this chapter.
Sec. 6.602. Fire lanes in Zone 3.
CHARTER& ORDINANCES, City of West University Place, Texas, June 30,2001 Page 6-24
• • •
No structure or group of structures may be built within fire zone 3 if it,when considered in con-
junction with all existing structures,would cause there to be a frontage 144 feet long,or longer,unbroken
by a fire lane at least six feet wide. It is the purpose of this provision to create fire lanes (each at least six
feet wide)at intervals of not greater than 144 feet along all streets in fire zone 3. Each fire lane must be
open and unobstructed from the south boundary line of the street to the south line of fire zone 3,except
that,in the case of any proposed structure, if there is a usable and dedicated alleyway to the rear of such
structure which connects with a public street and gives access to the rear of such structure for fire sup-
pression,then a fire lane shall not be required in connection with the construction of such structure.
Sec. 6.603.Buildings to comply.
No building or structure shall be constructed in any of the fire zones except in compliance with all
applicable regulations.It shall be an affirmative defense in any proceeding to enforce this subchapter that
the alleged violation involves a single-family residence in existence as of July 28, 1975 which is still
used for single-family residence purposes.
CHARTER& ORDINANCES, City of West University Place, Texas, June 30,2001 Page 6-25