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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992/03/23 Board of Appeals & Advisors Agenda Packet (2) Item 1/3 Page 1 of 5 SCANNED March 15, 1992 Date STAFF REPORT DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND HOUSING TO: Thomas Leonard, Chairman, Board of Appeals and Advisors FROM: Kenneth G. Larsen, C.B.O., DirectP~~+ SUBJECT: PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING 1991 MODEL CODES ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- The Department of Building and Housing has completed preparation of a draft ordinance adopting the 1991 versions of the Uniform Building, Uniform Plumbing, Uniform Mechanical and Uniform Housing Codes. Section 2,26.030 C of the Chula Vista Municipal Code provides for the Board of Appeals and Advisors to conduct public hearings and recommend to the City Council the passage of new legislation pertaining to the design and construction of buildings. This proposed ordinance is being brought before the Board at this time in an effort to ensure that the local adoption of the model codes coincides with the adoption of the model codes on a state-wide basis. The State of California mandates local enforcement of the 1991 versions of the Uniform Codes effective July 1, 1992. Adoption of this local ordinance will ensure that both the state mandated minimum Uniform Code requirements and the additional requirements based on local conditions are adopted in a consistent manner. The general theme used by the Department when reviewing the Qrdinance for revisions was the elimination of unnecessary wording and the overall reduction of requirements that are inconsistent with the language of the Uniform Codes. ' The format used in revising the ordinance identifies wording that is proposed to be added by double underlinina and wording to be deleted as strikeout. > Usted below is a brief overview of the changes proposed by the Department. Unless noted otherwise, the change reflects an elimination of wording currently in the ordinance that now is within the text of the specific code. µNIFORM BUILDING CODE 1) Exempt Chapter 31, Accessibility and Appendix Chapter 31 Site Accessibility. These regulations have been substantially revised by the State of California and are not scheduled to become effective for local enforcement at the local level until approximately September 1992. The Department will continue to enforce the Item 1/3 Page 2 of 5 Proposed Ordinance Adoption Page 2 Staff Report March 9, 1992 existing accessibility requirements found in California Administrative Code Title 24, 2) Adopt a modified Chapter 32, Roof Construction and Covering, and a modified Appendix Chapter 32, Reroofing. Modifications would prohibit the installation of wood shake or wood shingle roofing materials that do not meet a minimum Class 'C' fire-retardant rating. UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE 1) Delete local requirement for pressure regulating device on all single family dwellings. Wording currently in Uniform Plumbing Code is sufficient to address potential problems associated with excessive water pressure. 2) Appendix 'C', Minimum Plumbing Facilities, Editorial change to reflect existing enforcement procedure. 3) Adopt Appendix Chapter D, Rainwater Systems. Adopting this appendix chapter will provide Department staff a tool to guide them in approving rainwater systems. 4) Exempt Appendix I, Private Sewage Deposal Systems. These types of systems are currently regulated by the County Health Department which has adopted an alternate set of regulations for enforcement. . . 1 UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE - 1) Define the Director of Building and Housing as the Building Official. This is a minor editorial correction to add clarity to the code based on local terminology. 2) Plan Review Fees, Section 304(c) clarifies model code ~tent to deliniate plan review fees from permit fees. UNIFORM HOUSING CODE 1) Define the Director of Building and Housing as the Building Official. Same as above. 2) Correct the title of the Board of Appeals and Advisors. Editorial change to Item 113 Page 3 of 5 Proposed Ordinance Adoption Page 3 Staff Report March 9, 1992 reflect proper local terminology. Should the actions of the Board move to support staff's recommendations, the proposed ordinance will be forwarded to the City Council for final adoption. If clarification or additional information is desired please let us know. As always, we are appreciative of the efforts of yourself and the members of the Board in taking time to review issues pertinent to the operation of the City of Chula Vista. BWR/bwr (D:\wp51 \ordstfrp) cc: Members, Board of Appeals and Advisors , , ¡ ~" - Item 1/3 Page 4 of 5 March 19, 1992 BOARD OF APPEALS AND ADVISORS STAFF REPORT TO: Chairman Leonard and Members of Board of Appeals and Advisors FROM: Kenneth G, Larsen, DlrectoJ(6t ~o/ SUBJECT: FIRE RETARDANT TREATED WOOD SHINGLE ROOFS ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- This report addresses the issue of prohibiting the installation of non-fire retardant treated wood shakes and wood shingles within the city and requiring all treated wood shake or shingle roofs to posses a minimum fire retardant classification of Class 'C'. Staff members from the Fire Department and the Department of Building and Housing have met and reviewed technical reports regarding the effectiveness of pressure treating wood shake and shingle materials with fire retardant chemicals. When tested in accordance with nationally recognized standards, the performance of fire-retardant treated wood roofs are substantially superior to non-fire retardant treated wood shakes and shingles. Due to the terrain and climatic conditions found within the city, special consideration should be given to constructing buildings with materials that will not facilitate the spread of fire. Non-fire retardant treated wood shake and wood shingles have historically been major contributing factors to the spread of fire from structure to structure in major fires (ex: Santa Barbara and Oakland). Fire retardant treated wood shake and wood shingle roofs have exhibited commendable performance when subjected to such fire exposures. The requirements for fire retardancy of roof coverings are contained within Chapter 32 of the Uniform Building Code. City has not traditionally amended these regulations during the code adoption process. Currently the City Code permits the use of nonrated wood shingles or wood shakes on single family dwellings and in some cases on smaller multifamily residential buildings. Currently, the City Code does not require building owners to obtain a building permit to re-roof existing residential structures, Based on the results ofthis review, staff recommends modifying the Chula Vista Municipal Code to ban the installation of all non-fire retardant treated wood shake and wood shingle roofs and establish a Class 'c' fire retardant rating per Uniform Building Code Standard No, 32-7 as the minimum performance standard required for all newfy installed wood shake and wood shingle roofs. It is also recommended that this performance standard be applied to existing roofs when the roof has sustained damage constituting greater than 50% of Item 113 Page 5 of 5 Board of Appeals and Advisors Page 2 Staff Report March 19, 1992 the roof coverage area. Staff is also recommending changing the code to mandate issuance of a building permit to replace existing roofs. These changes are currently being incorporated into the overall triennial code adoption process mandated by the State of California. As scheduled, these new wood roof restrictions would become effective for local enforcement approximately July 1, 1992, along with the new editions of the Uniform Building, Uniform Mechanical, Uniform Plumbing and Uniform Housing Code. - The fiscal impact of mandating fire retard!int treated wood roofs in lieu of non-fire retardant treated roofs will be approximately $1,500 to $3,000 per average single family dwelling. The Board should be advised that currently there are only two new single family dwellings being constructed with wood shake or wood shingle roofs and therefore the impact on new construction is anticipated to be minimal. This action is consistent with the proposed Assembly Bill #2131 (O'Connel) which will require the use of Class 'C' or better wood shake or wood shingle roofs throughout the state of California. RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests the Board's concurrence on the recommended code change. KGLJbwr (D:\wp51 \admin\wodrc) : , .