Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Barry Walthall, Building Codes Administrator
CC:	Scott McCullough, Planning & Development Services Director
Date:	January 27, 2009
RE:	Ordinance 8368 – building and plumbing code amendments

The attached Ordinance No. 8368 includes amendments to the 2006 International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC) and International Plumbing Code (IPC).  At the request of the public, the Building Code Board and the Plumbing Code Board are recommending that drinking fountains not be required in occupancies with an occupant load less than 30.  Additionally, the Building Code Board is initiating a recommendation to reduce the amount of insulation for basement walls in one- and two-family dwellings.

Required Drinking Fountains

The 2006 IBC and IPC require drinking fountains in all non-residential occupancies regardless of the occupant load.  In previous code editions occupancies with occupant loads of 30 or less were not required to provide drinking fountains.  Additionally, although not yet reviewed or adopted by the City of Lawrence, the 2009 IBC and IPC have been published and include provisions exempting occupant loads less than 15 from the requirement.

Based on previous practices and future code editions, and to reduce the construction cost burden on building owners and occupants, the Building Code Board and Plumbing Code Board recommend revised regulations to exempt occupant loads less than 30 from requirements to provide drinking fountains.

Basement Wall Insulation

Members of the Building Code Board have performed calculations to determine the cost effectiveness of basement wall insulation in one- and two-family dwellings.  The Board determined basement wall insulation to a point greater than 3 feet below grade provides for little or no return on investment and recommend basement walls be required to be insulated from the top of the basement wall down 3 feet below grade or the basement floor, whichever is less.  The current requirement is that basement walls be insulated to 10 feet below grade or the basement floor, whichever is less.

Based on their research and to reduce building costs, the Board recommends adopting revised regulations for basement wall insulation; to require insulation to a point three feet below grade or the basement floor, whichever is less.

Attachments

• Proposed Ordinance No. 8368
• Approved minutes:
• 9/25/08 Building Code Board
• 7/17/08 Building Code Board
• 9/17/08 Plumbing Code Board
• Basement wall insulation proposal

Action Recommended:

Staff recommends adopting Ordinance 8368