HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 1824 - Structural Framing
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Ordinance No~ 1824
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO STRUCTURAL FRAMING AND RELATED
ELEMENTS; AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS; AND CONTAINING FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS. RELATING TO THE SUBJECT.
WHEREAS, the building official of the City has proposed certain amendments to
the Technical Codes Schedule; and
WHEREAS, such amendments were referred to the Building & Standards
Commission, which has recommended them for consider.ation and adoption by the City
Council:
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
UNIVERSITY PLACE:
Section 1. The Technical Codes Schedule of the Code of Ordinances of the City
of West University Place, Texas is hereby amended as set out in Appendix A, which is
attached to and made a part of this ordinance.
Section 2. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance
are repealed to the extent of the conflict only.
Section 3. If any word, phrase. clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other
part of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall
ever be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction,
neither the remainder of this Ordinance, nor the application of such word, phrase,
clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this Ordinance to any other
persons or circumstances, shall be affected thereby.
Section 4. The City Council officially finds, determines and declares that a
sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of each meeting at which
this Ordinance was discussed, considered or acted upon was given in the manner
required by the Texas-Open Meetings Act, as amended, and that each such meeting
has been open to the public as required by law at all times during such discussion,
consideration and action. The City Council ratifies, approves and confirms such notices
and the contents and posting thereof~
Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect on the tenth day following its
publication, as provided in the City Charter ("Effective Date")~ This Ordinance shall
apply to offenses committed on or after the Effective Date. For this purpose, an offense
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is committed after the. Effective Date if any element of the offense occurs on or after the
Effective Date~ Other offenses are covered by the ordinances in effect at the time, and
such ordinances are continued in effect for that purpose.
~ASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED ON FIRST READING on
r ~ 2006. ~ ~~
e'ouncilmembers Voting Aye: ~~ ~J ~~
Councilmembers Voting No: /t ~
Council members Absent: ~~ >L ?U~CJdl.,j
PASSED, AP,P / D AND ADOPTED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING
AND SIGNED on & , 2006~
Coun m bers Voting Aye:
Councilmembers Voting No:
Councilmembers Absent:
Signed:
Recommended:
City Mana er
Approved as to legal forma-- ~ &--
City Attorney
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tOO
Appendix A
Add a new section 5b to the list of special
provisions for the International Building Code,
2003 Ed., and re-title and renumber section Sa,
as follows:
International Building Code, 2003 Ed., International Code Council, Inc.
* * *
5.. a. GVDSU111 Board. All walls and ceilings within a R-l, R-2, R-3 and R-4 type
occupancy shall be sheathed with Type X gypsum board at least SIS-inc.h (15~9 mIn)
thick. Exception: Where this code (IBC, IRe) requires otherwise for moisture protection.
b. Structural Elelllents: EneilleerinJ!. Etc.
A. Scope.
(1) The structural elements for the following Inust meet the criteria in. this
section~ as applicable:
(a) 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 finished floor height greater than four
feet: and
(b) each accessible deck~ porch'l balcony'l walkway and similar
structure with a finish.ed floor height greater than four feet
(2) This section does not apply to foundation elements observed and certified
under another section~
B. Definitions. In this section:
"Height" is measured fr01TI the "standard .base level" as provided in the Zoning
Ordinance.
"A2LA Lab" means a laboratory accredited bv the American Association for
Laboratory Accreditation on the basis of ISO/lEe 1 7025: 1999 ("general
requirements for the co.moetence of testing and calibration laboratories")~
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"RLPE" means a registered or licensed professional engineer of the State of Texas
WI10 is:
fa) listed with the State Board of Professional Engineers in either the civil or
structural branch of engineering (but~ from and after June 1 ~ 2006" listing
in the structural branch is required):
(b) employed bv a registered engineering firm of the State of Texas: and
(c) covered by professional errors and omissions insurance that: (i) has limits
of at least $250~OOO per claim (and at least $500"1000 per vear" 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 bv this section.
c. Engineering.~ Plans & Svecifications. Structural elements must be constructed in
accordance with complete plans and specifications prepared~ signed and sealed by
a RLPE~ TIle plans and specifications .must be prepared soecifically for the
structure in question~ and they must Ineet criteria as to scope" COl1tent and fonn.
specified by the building official.
D~ Svecific Re{fuirements~
(1) Framing: Sheathing~ All framing must include full exterior sheathing with
structural elelnents (or blocking) alD.fig all joints~ The plans must indicate the
type'! size and spacing of fasteners. All sheathing must be minimum 7/16"
structural wood panels~
(2) Trusses~ Joists'! Etc.
(a) The species and grade of all lumber used for trusses~ joists" purlins'l
_ purlin supports or similar elements must be specified in the olans.
(b) The length" spacing and direction of trusses and ioists must be
specified in the plans~
(c) Each manufactured wood truss lTIUst comply with applicable
requirements of the "National Design Standard For Metal Plate Connected
Wood Truss Construction" published bv Truss Plate Institute (TPI)" 1-
2000 Ed. The design and specifications of any truss built on the site (and
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an.y other truss not already certified as lueeting such TPI reQUirelnents )'1
ill.Ust be included in the plans and specifications.
E. Observation & Certification. Structural elements must be professionally observed
and must be certified bv an RLPE~ as more fully described below:
(1 ) Observations must:
(a) be performed either by the certifying RLPE or bv one or more persons
under that RLPE's direct suoervision and control whose professio.nal
qualifications are approved by the RLPE'I
(b) include actual observation of structural elements and attachme.nts in
crawl spaces before they are covered bv floors or other materials..
( c) include actual observations of eacll beam'l ioist rafter~ truss and silnilar
element~ including eacll related weld and high-strength .bolt: (i) after
all required olulnbing~ electrical and .mechanical "rough-in"
inspections have been oassed and all expected "notching,!" boring and
similar work has been done~ and (ii) before the item is covered~ and
(d) .be documented in a form and manner aooroved bv the building official
(which .may include photographs).
(2) Certifications must:
(a) refer to and be based upon the professional observations required
by this section'!
(b) state that the portions of the work required to be o.bserved comply
with the plans and specifications last aoproved bv the building
official (with any field changes that are ordered by the R.LPE'I
reported to the building official and in compliance with ap.plicable
regulations )~
( c) comply witll criteria as to form and content as may be specified by
the building officiaL
(d) be si~ned and sealed by the certifying RLPE'! and
( e) be filed with the building officiaL
(3) Certifications may:
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('Y..
(a) rely in part upon attached certifications by: (i) an A2LA Lab~ as to
Inaterials testing, and (ii) an inspector certified bv the City of HOUStOI1'1 as
to welds or high-strength bolts (or meet the provisions of Section 1704.3.3
of the IBC)~ and
(b) be expressed as a professional opinion based on the RLPE's
knowledge, information and belief that does not constitute a guarantee or
warranty.. express or imolied~
Before any a beam'! ioist~ rafter'l 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 pennittee In.ust obtain written acknowledgment troIn the building
official that the certification for tllat element was duly filed as required above.
For any given building~ there may be more tllan one certification filed.
After a bealn~ 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 witho.ut: (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 m.ustbe kept on file by the
Citv~ available for public inspection~ for the retention period required by public
records laws and may be kept longer (for an indefinite period oftime)~
F~ Special Exceotions. The BSe may issue a special exception troIn any
requirement in subsection "a" through "d".. above" but only UDan a showing that:
(1) the requirement will not affect life safety or the oerformance of a structure
(for its estimated useful life): or
(2) an alternate requirelnent to be ilnposed bv 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 Bse may
impose conditions to carrv out the purpose and i.ntent of applicable regulations.
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