City of Lawrence
Neighborhood Resources Department
MEMORANDUM
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TO: |
Mike Wildgen, City Manager
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THRU: |
Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager
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FROM: |
Victor Torres, Neighborhood Resources Director
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DATE: |
February 24, 2005
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SUBJECT: |
International Residential Code –Trade Board recommendation
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Members of the Board of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, Board of Electrical Examiners and Appeals, Uniform Building Code of Appeals, and Mechanical Code Board of Appeals have met over the last several months to consider the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC is a single code book for homebuilding that includes all building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical provisions for one- and two-family residences. As background information, it is important to review the historical aspects of this process.
Background Information
Lawrence’s currently adopted building codes are:
1997 Uniform Building Code
1997 Uniform Fire Code
2002 National Electric Code
2000 Uniform Plumbing Code
2000 Uniform Mechanical Code
(note: each of these codes has been amended by the City Commission)
The Uniform Building Code is no longer going to be published/updated, hence the need to review alternatives. The two competing organizations providing model codes are the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC). A Code Review Committee (CRC) was formed and met July 2003 through January 2004. The CRC’s purpose was to review and compare the organizations publishing the new national model codes and provide a recommendation to the City Commission regarding the adoption of a new model code. Included in the CRC review process were two separate opportunities for comment from the public, September 30, 2003 and January 29, 2004.
On January 14, 2004 the CRC voted without opposition to recommend that the ICC family of codes: International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Plumbing Code (IPC), and the International Fuel-Gas Code be adopted by the City of Lawrence. In their report, the CRC noted that “…it is key that building, fire, mechanical, and plumbing codes are adopted from the same set of codes.” The City Commission received the CRC Final Report and Recommendation at the March 30, 2004 City Commission meeting. The City Commission voted to “designate the family of codes from ICC as a base model codes for the City of Lawrence and refer the codes to the appropriate boards for technical review”.
Trade Board Review Process
Staff prepared a schedule for the review of the IRC for each trade board. Board members began review of the IRC in May 2004 and recently completed the process with the exception of the Mechanical Code Board of Appeals. The Mechanical Code Board of Appeals compared the International Mechanical Code (IMC) and the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC). It is important to note that the IMC does not include code provisions for one- and two-family residences. The Mechanical Code Board of Appeals did not review the International Residential Code.
Trade Board Recommendations
The Board of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters met at a regular meeting held November 17, 2004 and recommended the adoption of the 2003 Uniform Plumbing Code (motion passed 5-0; November 17, 2004 meeting minutes).
The Mechanical Code Board of Appeals at a special meeting held November 3, 2004 recommended the adoption of the 2003 Uniform Mechanical Code (motion passed 5-0; November 3, 2004 meeting minutes).
The Uniform Building Code of Appeals at a regular meeting held January 20, 2005 recommended the 2003 International Residential Code, with the exception of Chapter 11-Energy Efficiency (motion passed 3-2; January 20, 2005 meeting minutes).
The Board of Electrical Examiners and Appeals at a regular meeting held February 9, 2005 recommended all residential electrical references to the currently adopted 2002 National Electrical Code (motion passed 4-0; February 9, 2005 meeting minutes).
Additional Information
Attached to this memorandum, please find a matrix that shows the building codes adopted by thirty Kansas communities. Twenty-one ((70%) jurisdictions have adopted the ICC family of codes. Nine (30%) jurisdictions have a blended code adoption (Uniform Codes and International Codes). Of these nine, two (Douglas County and Shawnee) are currently considering the ICC family of codes.
The Contractor Licensing Program proposal currently under consideration includes a continuing education requirement for all City of Lawrence licensed contractors. The program anticipates that continuing education will be provided by the Johnson County Contractor Licensing Program. All continuing education classes offered by Johnson County refer to the ICC family of codes.
Recommendation
1. In light of the initial review and recommendation by the Code Review Committee, staff concurs with the CRC to adopt the ICC family of codes as the base model codes for the City of Lawrence.
Impact: The adoption of the IRC, one of the components of the ICC family of codes, will provide greater local access for training for designers, contractors, and enforcement staff. The ICC has developed and maintains an Internet training program. The IRC contains all construction regulations for building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work to be done on one- and two-family dwellings. The adoption of the IRC provides all parties with uniform access to information. Continuing education (required in conjunction with the proposed contractor licensing program) will be available through the Johnson County.
Other Options
Impact: This option will result in a single code for residential construction. Commercial construction projects will use both the Uniform and International codes. The issue of continuing education for plumbing and mechanical contractors under the Uniform Codes will be a concern, due to the lack of locally available training. Continuing education requirements for the Contractor Licensing Program will need to be identified for approximately 400 contractors under the Uniform Codes, since there are no training opportunities readily available in the Kansas City metro area. This option will cause additional staff time dedicated to the Contractor Licensing Program.
The International Fire Code references other International Codes, thus blending codes may be problematic for fire inspectors, architects, engineers and designers. Blending codes, Uniform and International, will affect the design of building plans to accommodate both codes. The blending of codes will result in multiple amendments of other International Codes, i.e., International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, International Energy Conservation Code and others.
A blended code option will have an effect on staff certification and training. The adoption of blended codes affects the ability of staff to acquire the necessary Continuing Education Units (CEUs) required to maintain certifications through two model code agencies. This would require extra cost associated with travel due to the limited local training offered for the Uniform Codes. The goal of certifying the construction inspectors as Residential Combination Inspectors would not be possible with blended codes. Currently the code enforcement staff is required to have the ICC Certified Property Maintenance and Zoning Inspector Certifications. The Property Maintenance Certification references the ICC codes.
Impact: Similar issues of concern described in Option 2 regarding the International Fire Code, blending of codes, and continuing education for contractors.
Impact: Consideration of this option will include impacts described in Option 2. In addition, would result in an unbalanced continuing education requirement for licensed contractors.
Impact: This option will provide an opportunity for the Commission to explore the various options and impacts. In addition, Trade Board and Code Review Committee members are available to respond to specific questions.