Code Review Committee

Committee Chair: Jim Larson

jiml@kellerhomes.com

Co-Chair-Mark Long

Resolution Mandating Fire Sprinklers Passes
2009 IRC will mandate fire sprinklers in single-family homes beginning Jan. 1, 2011. The resolution garnered 72 percent in favor versus 26 percent against out of a voting pool of close to two thousand people. Two cycles ago the resolution garnered 56 percent of the vote but failed to gain the required two-thirds vote. During the last cycle, the resolution was added to the appendix. Despite the efforts of the NAHB, the fire sprinkler manufacturers and their supporters won the vote Sunday, making these expensive, and hard-to-maintain sprinkler systems part of the code. NAHB stated that they disagree with this mandate, but members will continue to advocate for cost-effective construction and life safety measures through the model code process.
Locally the HBA and RBD will meet to discuss options and next steps.

30% Solution fell short of a full adoption to the 2009 International Energy Code (IECC)
to the 2009 International Energy Code (IECC)
Governmental officials substantially improve provisions of International Energy Conservation Code, but fail to meet goal of a 30 % boost in energy efficiency
Energy efficiency will substantially improve in the nation’s 2009 model energy code governing new home construction but will not achieve the 30 percent improvement sought by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of State Energy Officials, many governors and the broad-based Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC)

Duct Design Discussions
That right! We are discussing duct design again. HBA members met with Regional Building Department on September 12th to discuss what direction the industry is headed in regards to duct design and address any concerns. Jim Vernon proposed a new HVAC submittal process that would eliminate the need for a design professional and place full responsibility for the system with the HVAC contractor. HBA members agree with the big picture that was discussed but have concerns that the details of implementation and inspection are not always as clear when actually working the through a new process. HBA members would like to see something in writing to clarify the inspection process. This would ensure that all involved know what is expected and ultimately avoid any complications that may come up later in the inspection process down the line. If you would like to be a part of these discussions or have questions please contact marla@cshba.com

Stair Rise and Run as it pertains to the 2009 Code and Master Plans targeted discussions at the October HBA Code Review meeting so a little more time may be needed in this area. The code will change to 7 ¾” x 10” and the discussions will be based on how to implement those changes after the 2009 IRC has gone through the adoption process. This should happen in roughly September of 2009.
The stair rise and run is probably the most noticeable design change in the 2006 IRC review. At the October IRC Code review meeting, the group will be hashing things out regarding the stair rise and run changes and propose a timeline for those changes to occur to bring back to the HBA/Code Review Committee for discussions on October 21st.

Porch Posts
A meeting was held at RBD on Oct 9th regarding qualified porch posts products and how to identify them in the field. RBD inspectors were questioning the use of certain products and needed clarification as to whether those products qualified for an interior or exterior application. RBD will report out on the results of that meeting at the October Code Review meeting on the 21st.

REMODELERS
The Environmental Protection Agency has published a new lead paint rule that will be affecting renovations conducted in pre-1978 property.
Brief summary of the requirements of the new rule
• Applies to all pre-1978 residential property
• Requires a new pamphlet to be handed out (available at www.wisbuild.org or www.epa.gov/lead)
• Applies to renovations of 6 square feet per room on the interior and 20 square feet on the exterior
• Requires one day of training and certification of at least one person per crew
• Requires certification of companies
• Requires lead safe work practices
• Requires a cleaning verification after the renovation job
• Requires recordkeeping

Sprinkler System Alternative
There are concerns and difference of opinion when it comes to fire prevention and the different types of tools and material used to achieve a certain level of prevention.
No-Burn is an alternative to the mandatory installation of sprinkler systems in the Wildland Urban Interface. At No-Burn Technology they have products that are ICC approved AC-363 and ESR-1838. The product has proven to be just as effective as sprinkler systems if not better and they are working on getting their products amended with sprinkler systems so the builder and the consumer have a choice of fire protection in lieu of sprinkler systems.
Please look at the No-Burn Technology web site at www.noburntechnology.com.
Curt Bishop, Director of Operations for No-Burn Technology is the contact person.

RBD PLAN CHECK CHANGES
Visit the Regional Building department website for details on plan check changes in these areas:
PARALLEL PLAN REVIEW, SINGLE PLAN, ONE PLAN- ONE BUILDING, MULTIPLE BUILDINGS WITH ONE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, CODE STUDY NOTICE

CS Fire Department
DRE is open for use upstairs in the Regional Building. Walk-through hours are Tuesday and Thursday 8:00am – 11:00am for Mylar signatures, re-reviews, questions and changes on plans. Feedback so far has been positive on the opening of the facility. Please let us know your thoughts and experiences. Attached is the new Water Packet. Click here for the new Water Packet.

Urban Wildland Interface Area
The policy is called - County Residential Site Plan Referral Flow (excluding additions) -See link below to view policy being followed when building in the County. This is only for new construction and does not include additions. The HBA held a meeting on August 28th with RBD and the five Fire Districts to work through a few details that have been left unfinished. Regional Building Dept. will be working on the website changes needed to allow the fire districts to enter inspections. Each fire district will develop amendments to include additions and remodel criteria to the current codes adopted in each district. Residential Site Plan Referral Flow Doc

RBC105.1.1 Annual Permit
The Building Official may issue an annual permit to a licensed contractor in lieu of an individual permit. The annual permit issued shall be for a specific scope of work and discipline. Inspections and record submittal shall be as determined by the Building Official. For more information contact Regional Building.

Floodplain Code
One of the major changes is substantial improvement. The previous version of the code required the cost(s) of improvements be cumulative since the erection of the structure, but no earlier than 1986, when the FEMA regulations went into effect. The change is to decrease this time frame to a current two year window. This will allow the code to be less restrictive, without lowering the communities’ CRS ratings. The proposed changes to the flood plain code were approved by the Building Commission, by resolution. Currently, the document is in city attorney's office for review. Once approval has been given it will go before CS City Council and then RBD will be taking the document before all seven jurisdictions for individual hearings and adoptions.

Job Site Safety
The next Jobsite Safety Meeting will focus on Electrical Safety and will be held on November 11th; more details as the date gets closer. For more information or involvement contact Marla at marla@cshba.com.

International Code Series Reviews
RBD committees are in the process of reviewing ALL 2006 International Codes as if to adopt them, but stop just before the adoption process, this will make the transition to adopt the 2009 proposed International Codes an easier task than jumping two code cycles. The groups through the reviews and will continue for several months.

2006 IECC Proposed Code Changes
The 2006 IECC proposed changes are being reviewed by RBD committees. The item of strongest impact seems to be Item EC14 of the proposed 2009 code, which is basically a rewrite of the code, and would require new houses to be constructed so as to decrease the current total energy consumption by a large percent. RBD Committees will be reviewing these along with all 2006 International Codes in preparation for adoption of the 2009 code series.

The next HBA Code Review Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21st at the HBA office.
Contact Marla if you would like to sponsor breakfast for our next Code meeting. marla@cshba.com

IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE PAPER AND COST MINUTES WILL NOT BE PRINTED OUT FOR THE MEETINGS.