Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Barry Walthall, Building Official

James King, Fire Prevention Division Chief

 

C:

 

Scott McCullough, Planning & Development Services Director

Mark Bradford, Fire Chief

 

Date:

March 19, 2013 – Revised 03/25/13

 

RE:

2012 Codes revisions

 

On January 15, 2013 (see attached memo) the City Commission considered adoption of ordinances that would establish the 2012 series of International Code Council codes as the adopted building standards in the City.  The direction of the Commission was to refer the codes back to the Building Code Board of Appeals (BCBA) for consideration of an amendment proposed by the Lawrence Home Builders Association (LHBA) that would allow an alternative provision for compliance with energy conservation standards for dwellings.

 

The BCBA met on February 11, 2013 to consider LHBA’s proposal to allow new one- and two-family dwellings to comply with energy conservation requirements by meeting Home Energy Rating System (HERS) standards based on 2009 energy code provisions with a minimum score of 85 in the first year of adoption of the 2012 codes, 80 in the second year, and 75 thereafter.  Under this compliance method, the building would be required to be evaluated by an approved, independent, third party HERS certified inspector, with a copy of the HERS analysis and testing results signed by the HERS inspector provided to the building official prior to final inspection and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.  The graduated schedule of compliance ratings is provided to allow builders to become acquainted and gain experience with the construction methods necessary to achieve the minimum ratings.  The addition of the HERS rating system as a method for compliance would provide additional flexibility for builders to meet the standards with potentially more cost effective methods of construction, and maintain integrity with the intent of the 2012 codes.

 

After discussion there was consensus among the BCBA members that the LHBA proposal is a positive change, but the acceptable ratings needed adjustment to more accurately reflect equivalency with the intent of the 2012 energy conservation standards.  A HERS rating of 100 or lower indicates the energy conservation performance of a dwelling is equivalent to the prescriptive requirements of the 2006 energy conservation standards.  A rating of 70 is equivalent to compliance with the 2012 codes.  The BCBA voted unanimously to recommend approving the proposed amendment with a modified graduated schedule of compliance ratings of 80 in the first year of adoption, 75 in the second year, and ultimately achieving scores of 70 or lower thereafter.

 

Staff has been in communication with LHBA Executive Director Bobbie Flory, who reports that the LHBA Board is accepting of the modification recommended by the BCBA.

 

The only other change to proposed ordinances 8793, 8794, 8795, 8796, 8797, 8798, 8799, 8800, 8801, and 8802 adopting the 2012 series of International Code Council codes is the effective date has been changed to July 1, 2013.

 

Water Wells

Also on January 15, 2013 the Commission referred to staff and the appropriate boards’ consideration of permitting requirements for wells within the city limits.  Section P2602.1 of both the currently adopted 2009 and proposed for adoption 2012 International Residential Code require that plumbing fixtures are supplied by public water supplies where available:

 

P2602.1 General.

The water-distribution and drainage system of any building or premises where plumbing fixtures are installed shall be connected to a public water supply or sewer system, respectively, if available. When either a public water-supply or sewer system, or both, are not available, or connection to them is not feasible, an individual water supply or individual (private) sewage-disposal system, or both, shall be provided.

 

Private water wells are not prohibited by the building and plumbing codes, but installations where plumbing fixtures are permitted to be connected to a private water supply are limited.  As there is no specific policy regarding the use of private wells, staff currently reviews requests for such on their specific merit to determine if the use of such would maintain safe conditions.  If the City Commission desires, staff will work to establish a clear policy on the use of private wells.  The question has more to do with setting utility policy than it does regarding building code.

 

Upholstered Furniture

On March 5, 2013 the City Commission considered a request to remove the standard that requires buildings that contain upholstered furniture to have fire suppression sprinkler systems.  The Commission direction was to proceed with standards as proposed for adoption with the 2012 series of International Code Council codes.

 

The currently adopted 2009 International Fire Code (IFC) requires automatic sprinklers in any Group M (Mercantile) occupancy that sells or displays upholstered furniture. Under the 2012 IFC a minimum threshold was established below which automatic sprinklers are not required. For Group M occupancies this was set at 5,000 square feet while Group S1 (Storage) and F1 (Manufacturing) were set at 2,500 square feet. The Fire Code Board of Appeals recommended the amendment of Group M to 2,500 square feet as well. The rationale was to bring consistency between the three occupancy types while still providing relief for the local business owner with a space under 2,500 square feet.

 

The proposed ordinance adopting the IFC remains as originally submitted in accordance with the direction of the City Commission from the March 5, 2013 meeting.

 

Requested Action:

Adopt ordinances 8793, 8794, 8795, 8796, 8797, 8798, 8799, 8800, 8801, and 8802 on first reading.