AgdaPkt 2002-11-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPOR I From the Managerj October 14, 2002 Subject Building Codes Adoption Recommendation 1. Introduce the building codes ordinance for first reading, on October i4, 2002. 2. Schedule a public headng on adoption of the building codes ordinance for October 28, 2002. 3. On October 28, 2002, adopt the building codes ordinance with necessary local amendments and the resolution on local conditions with the Finding of Facts, as recommended by the Board of Building Review. Background The Board of Building Review is appointed by the City Council to review the updating of the City's building regulatory codes including suggested local amendments and to provide recommendations to the City Council pertinent to the adoption of such codes. The California Building Standards Commission, appointed by the Governor, selects model codes to form the basis of the California Building Codes, processes State amendments, and establishes the effective date of the California Building Codes, know as Title 24. Local iudsdictions are required to enforce Title 24 for many occupancies and types of buildings. Local jurisdictions may adopt amendments to Title 24 based on local geologic, topographic, or climatic conditions. The model codes are continually updated and then republished every three years, which triggers this State and local code adoption process. In previous years, this process was routine. Unfortunately, the Building Standards Commission (BSC) has selected codes for the 2001 Califomia Building Codes (effective date November 1, 2002) contrary to the recommendations of local jurisdiction code Officials, members of the construction industry, and the BSC's own Code 2000 Partnership Committees and Code Advisory Committees. The BSC selected the 1997 Uniform Building Code instead of the 2000 International Building Code and Intemational Residential Code, a Uniform Mechanical code which has not been significantly updated since 1994, a Uniform Fire Code which is not coordinated with the 1997 Uniform Building Code, and the 1999 National Electrical Code instead of the 2002 edition. The BSC also continues to restrict the use of plastic plumbing materials to those found in the 1979 edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code. The Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), an agency that rates Building Departments for purposes of offering insurance discounts to.building owners where current codes are adopted and well enforced, has announced that all Building Departments in Califomia will receive lower ratings as a result of the BSC action. Industry members and Code Officials wish to use most updated codes which incorporate latest safety features, developed in response to recent seismic activities, and newer materials and methods of construction. Code Officials in the Bay Area have worked previously to standardize codes, interpretations, and procedures. In response to the 2001 California Code situation, Code Officials in the Peninsula, East Bay, and Monterey Bay areas have developed and voted to support a uniform set of local amendments which address the geologic and climatic conditions faced in this region. These twenty- six (eighteen structural, one plumbing, and seven electrical) amendments will provide a greater level of safety to our communities and lower construction costs when compared to the 2001 California Building Codes.