HomeMy WebLinkAbout11072024 BSC Agenda Item 3 FIRE
CODE
Chapter 30 FIRES AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
ARTICLE III. CERTAIN FIRE REGULATIONS
Sec. 30-25. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Power Walls.
(a) Purpose and Scope.This section establishes fire safety requirements for the installation of electric vehicle
(EV) charging stations and power storage walls within residential garages in new construction homes, as
well as for any retrofitted or additional installations in existing garages.
(b) Installation Requirements.
(1) Fire-Resistant Barrier for New Construction: In new residential construction, any garage area
designated for EV charging stations or power walls must include a fire-resistant barrier. The walls
adjoining the location of the charging station or power wall must be constructed with a double
layer of 5/8-inch Type X gypsum wall board or an equivalent fire-resistant material.
(2) Fire-Resistant Barrier for Additions: When an EV charging station or power wall is added to an
existing garage, the walls adjoining the installation area must meet the same fire-resistant
standard,including a double layer of 5/8-inch Type X gypsum wall board or an approved alternative
material that meets or exceeds the fire-resistance rating.
(3) Alternative Materials: Equivalent fire-resistant materials may be used if approved by the Fire
Marshal. These materials must meet or exceed the fire-resistance rating specified for Type X
gypsum wall board.
(c) Inspection and Compliance.
(1) Permit and Inspection: Installation of EV charging stations and power walls, whether in new
construction or added to an existing structure, requires a permit and inspection by the Building
Department to verify compliance with these safety standards.
(2) Final Approval:All installations must receive final approval from the Fire Marshal or an authorized
representative to ensure compliance with this section and applicable fire safety codes.
(d) Exemptions.
(1) Exemptions by Fire Marshal: The Fire Marshal may grant exemptions to the requirements of this
section if an equivalent level of fire safety is provided through alternative methods or materials.
Sccs. 30 25 Secs. 30-26-30-51. Reserved.
Created: 2024-07-14 13:49:35 (EST]
(Supp. No.45)
Page 1 of 1
MAJOR
REMODELS
Sec. 1-3. Specific words and phrases.
As used in this Code, certain terms have the meanings set out below, unless the context clearly indicates that
another meaning is intended:
(1) Applicable regulations mean and include all ordinances and regulations of the city and all laws, rules
and regulations of the State of Texas and the federal government of the United States,to the extent
they may apply.
(2) BSC means the Building&Standards Commission of the city.
(3) Building official means the official appointed as such under chapter 18 of this Code.
(4) City means the City of West University Place, in the County of Harris and State of Texas.
(5) Control means,with respect to property,to control the use and condition of the property. It is
presumed that a person controls a site and all structures thereon if the person arranges for,or pays
for,any utility service for the site, but only for the time period during which such utility service is
provided to the site. Proof of such arrangements or payments may consist of excerpts from the
customer billing records of the company or entity(e.g.,the city) providing the service.
(6) County means Harris County,Texas.
(7) Development means either the construction of a new structure or the expansion of the external
dimensions of an existing structure.
(8) Holiday means a holiday officially recognized by the city on which most city offices are closed.
(9) Major development means the construction of a new principal building or additions to an existing
principal building which increase its gross floor area to 150 percent or more of its gross floor area on
April 9, 1990(or the date it was completed,if completion occurred after April 9, 1990).
{10) Major remodeling means any one or more alterations of or additions to a building for which a permit or
permits arc required and which have a fair market va .cef$5,000.00 or more(collective value of all
alterations and additions done at or about the same time).
{11)(10) Month means a calendar month.
{12)(11) Or may be read "and,"and"and"may be read "or," if the sense requires it.
44 -)(12) Owner,when applied to property,includes any part owner,joint owner,tenant in common,tenant in
partnership,joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the property.A person is presumed to own a
parcel or item of property if:
a. The person is shown on the current tax or appraisal roll as the owner of the property;or
b. The property was conveyed (or purportedly conveyed)to the person by deed, bill of sale or other
document,and a search has revealed no similar document conveying(or purporting to convey)
the property to someone else subsequently.
4444(13) Person includes natural persons and all other legal entities, including all those mentioned in chapter
311,Texas Government Code.
{15)(14) Preceding,following mean next before and next after, respectively.
{16)(15) Pre-development activity means demolition, moving of buildings, site clearing or grubbing,grading,and
any other activity which disturbs the surface of land and is actually undertaken,or customarily
undertaken, as preparation of development.
{17)(18) Premises includes both:
Created: 2024-07-14 13:49:28 [EST]
(Supp.No.45)
Page 1 of 2
a. A separately occupied or used land area;and
b. A building(or a distinct,separately occupied and controlled part of a building)and all
appurtenant grounds,structures and areas.
{18)(17) Residential quiet hours means those hours when many people are sleeping or engaged in quiet
activities at home.They are hereby designated as follows:
Any weekday(Monday through Friday, except the Before 7:00 a.m.or after 7:00 p.m.
holidays mentioned below):
Any Saturday(except the holidays mentioned below): Before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.
Any Sunday, New Year's Day,Thanksgiving Day, Before 12:00 noon or after 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, Independence Day,and any city
holiday on which there is no curbside trash collection:
{19)(18) Roadway means that portion of a street area improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic
(excluding private driveways).
4$09) Sidewalk means any portion of the street area intended for the use of pedestrians between the curb
(or the lateral line of the roadway)and the adjacent property line.
421}(20) State, "the state,"or"this state"means the State of Texas.
424(21) Street area means any highway,alley,street,avenue or public place or square, bridge,viaduct,
underpass,overpass,tunnel or causeway in the city,dedicated or devoted to public use, and includes
all of the area between the right-of-way lines.
{23)(22) ZBA means the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the city.
421)(23) Z&PC means the Zoning&Planning Commission of the city.
{ )(24) Zoning ordinance means the city's comprehensive zoning ordinance.
(Code 2003, § 1.003;Ord. No. 1779, §1(1.003), 1-24-2005; Ord. No.2098,§ 1(App.A), 7-27-2020)
Created: 2024-07-14 13:49:28 [EST]
(Supp. No.45)
Page 2 of 2
Editor's note:
The timeframe for determining whether a project qualifies as part of the same"major remodeling"effort is flexible,
pending BSC discussions. Options under consideration include periods of 6, 12, 18, or 24 months, with shorter
durations viewed as more lenient and longer durations as more restrictive.For example,under the current 36-month
timeframe,a homeowner who completes a project impacting 40%of their home's square footage and then proposes
an additional project one month later affecting 20% of the home would need to either wait 36 months before
completing the new project or reduce its scope.Since both projects fall within the 36-month period,the percentage
from the additional work would be added to the previous project, resulting in a cumulative total of 60%.
Sec. 1-3. Specific words and phrases.
As used in this Code,certain terms have the meanings set out below, unless the context clearly indicates that
another meaning is intended:
(1) Applicable regulations mean and include all ordinances and regulations of the city and all laws, rules
and regulations of the State of Texas and the federal government of the United States,to the extent
they may apply.
(2) BSC means the Building&Standards Commission of the city.
(3) Building official means the official appointed as such under chapter 18 of this Code.
(4) City means the City of West University Place, in the County of Harris and State of Texas.
(5) Control means,with respect to property,to control the use and condition of the property. It is
presumed that a person controls a site and all structures thereon if the person arranges for,or pays
for,any utility service for the site, but only for the time period during which such utility service is
provided to the site. Proof of such arrangements or payments may consist of excerpts from the
customer billing records of the company or entity(e.g.,the city)providing the service.
(6) County means Harris County,Texas.
(7) Development means either the construction of a new structure or the expansion of the external
dimensions of an existing structure.
(8) Holiday means a holiday officially recognized by the city on which most city offices are closed.
(9) Major development means the construction of a new principal building or additions to an existing
principal building which increase its gross floor area to 150 percent or more of its gross floor area on
April 9, 1990(or the date it was completed, if completion occurred after April 9, 1990).
{10) Major remodeling means any one or mere alterations of or additions to a building for which a permit or
permits arc required and which have a fair market value of$5,000.00 or more(collective value of all
alterations and additions done at or about the same time).
(10) Major remodeling means any alteration,addition,or renovation to an existing building for which a
permit or permits are required,and which exceeds 50%of the building's original square footage within
a period of 36 months.Any building classified under a major remodel shall be subject to compliance
with the latest building,zoning,and safety codes as required for new construction. Maintenance or
minor repairs that do not impact structural, plumbing, electrical,or mechanical systems and that
cumulatively do not exceed 10%of the original square footage are excluded from this classification.
(11) Month means a calendar month.
(12) Or may be read "and,"and "and"may be read "or," if the sense requires it.
Created: 2024-07-14 13:49:28 [EST]
(Supp.No.45)
Page 1 of 2
(13) Owner,when applied to property,includes any part owner,joint owner,tenant in common,tenant in
partnership,joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the property.A person is presumed to own a
parcel or item of property if:
a. The person is shown on the current tax or appraisal roll as the owner of the property;or
b. The property was conveyed(or purportedly conveyed)to the person by deed,bill of sale or other
document,and a search has revealed no similar document conveying(or purporting to convey)
the property to someone else subsequently.
(14) Person includes natural persons and all other legal entities,including all those mentioned in chapter
311,Texas Government Code.
(15) Preceding,following mean next before and next after, respectively.
(16) Pre-development activity means demolition, moving of buildings, site clearing or grubbing,grading,and
any other activity which disturbs the surface of land and is actually undertaken,or customarily
undertaken,as preparation of development.
(17) Premises includes both:
a. A separately occupied or used land area;and
b. A building(or a distinct,separately occupied and controlled part of a building)and all
appurtenant grounds,structures and areas.
(18) Residential quiet hours means those hours when many people are sleeping or engaged in quiet
activities at home.They are hereby designated as follows:
Any weekday(Monday through Friday,except the Before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.
holidays mentioned below):
Any Saturday(except the holidays mentioned below): Before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.
Any Sunday, New Year's Day,Thanksgiving Day, Before 12:00 noon or after 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, Independence Day, and any city
holiday on which there is no curbside trash collection:
(19) Roadway means that portion of a street area improved,designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic
(excluding private driveways).
(20) Sidewalk means any portion of the street area intended for the use of pedestrians between the curb
(or the lateral line of the roadway)and the adjacent property line.
(21) State, "the state,"or"this state"means the State of Texas.
(22) Street area means any highway,alley,street,avenue or public place or square, bridge,viaduct,
underpass, overpass,tunnel or causeway in the city,dedicated or devoted to public use,and includes
all of the area between the right-of-way lines.
(23) ZBA means the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the city.
(24) Z&PC means the Zoning& Planning Commission of the city.
(25) Zoning ordinance means the city's comprehensive zoning ordinance.
(Code 2003, §1.003;Ord. No. 1779, § 1(1.003), 1-24-2005;Ord. No.2098,§ 1(App.A), 7-27-2020)
Created: 2024-07-14 13:49:28 [EST]
(Supp.No.45)
Page 2 of 2