City of Lawrence

Building Code Board of Appeals

October  27th, 2005 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Lee Queen - Chairperson, Janet Smalter Vice Chairperson, Mark Stogsdill Mike Porter

 

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

John Craft

 

 

 

STAFF  PRESENT:

 

Barry Walthall Codes Enforcement Manager

 

 

 

Ex-Officio

 

Adrian Jones,  Structural Inspector

 

 

 

 

 

Chairperson Queen called the meeting to order at 11:55 a.m.

 

Review Minutes

 

Board reviewed the minutes from October 13th,  2005. 

Motion by Queen to accept the minutes as amended, second by Porter, passed 4-0.

 

Review of the IBC text.

 

Board reviewed Chapters 24 through 34.

 

The Board briefly discussed the changes in the requirements for wired glass. The Board noted the change in section Hazardous Locations 2406.3 item 10.

 

Queen asked if a firewall inspection would be a required inspection for residential duplexes.

 

Walthall explained that it would be one of the required residential inspections. He stated that the firewall inspection would be after the framing and insulation but before the mudding and taping. 

 

Queen asked if the whole house could be sheet rocked before calling for a firewall inspection.

 

Walthall responded that it could.  Walthall further explained that the townhouse firewall inspections would be different dependant on the type of two hour wall constructed.

 

Queen asked if electrical outlets would be permitted in two hour common wall.

 

Jones explained the two hour common firewalls could only contain electrical outlet boxes. The two hour structurally independent firewall could contain plumbing and mechanical piping as long as the penetrations were protected by a listed fire stop system. Jones described the construction of two hour walls per IRC Sections R317.

The Board discussed existing methods of dwelling separations.

 

Jones stated that current methods of separating duplexes typically contained sound board sandwiched between two 2x4 stud walls with one layer gypsum on the exterior of each side.

 

Stogsdill stated unless that wall system was tested with soundboard, then the wall is not a U.L. system.

 

Queen asked if the current method of constructing a firewall with soundboard was code compliant.

 

Jones stated that he had not reviewed the complete US gypsum directory of rated wall systems. Jones stated that he would research the gypsum association manual to determine if there was a rated system that incorporated soundboard within the wall and report at next Board meeting.  

 

Walthall suggested that the Board amend the IBC where referring to other codes to state the “currently adopted” plumbing electrical or mechanical Codes.

 

Porter stated that the prior instructions to the Board was to assume the ICC codes would be adopted and move on.

 

Smalter agreed and added that the Board has followed that method throughout it’s review of the IBC.  

 

Stogsdill stated that the Board should just make note that the IBC is referring to other codes and continue it’s review. The Boards and the Commission will have to deal with it at a later date. Stogsdill noted that Chapters 27 through 29 referenced the ICC Fire, Electrical , Plumbing and Mechanical Codes.

 

Stogsdill asked if insulating foam was allowed exposed on basement walls. He stated that with the renewed interest in the Energy Code, insulated foundation walls would become more of an option. 

 

Jones stated that he just recently had a request from a builder, to leave the foam exposed on the interior of his garage which was built with ICF forms. Jones stated that he explained to the contractor that there was a smoke flame spread issue with foam plastics. He asked the contractor to provide information on the foam.

 

Porter pointed out section 2603.4 required a thermal barrier on foam plastics.

 

Stogsdill recalled that the Commission wanted to address the high plumbing fixture count in the UPC.  He stated that his recommendation would be to use the fixture count from the IBC.

 

Porter agreed and further stated that the Board should stick to it’s review of the IBC and let other Boards deal with the other codes.

 

The Board discussed section 3103.1 Temporary Structures. It was determined that temporary structures did not require a permit.

 

Jones questioned whether it was necessary to adopt Chapter 34 Existing Buildings given the provisions were contained in the International Existing Building Code (IEBC). 

 

Queen stated that it would be best to adopt Chapter 34 now and maybe delete it after the IEBC was adopted.

 

Jones stated there should not be any conflict between the codes.  

 

Walthall stated Chapter 34 should remain to provide provisions for existing buildings in the interim.    

 

The Board briefly discussed the appendices and determined to review them at the next meeting.

 

The members did not recommend any changes to the reviewed text. 

 

Walthall advised the Board that staff planned on giving at least two IRC update presentations. There would be handouts associated with presentations as well as information on the website and notifications to contractors.

 

Stogsdill asked about the new commercial building permit application. He also asked if there was notification given to the contractors about the new application. Stogsdill stated that he received several applications from contractors not quite sure on how to fill them out.

 

Walthall stated that staff has created a three or four page letter that was scheduled to be mailed tomorrow highlighting some of the changes to accompany the adoption of the IRC. One of those changes is the new permit applications. He stated there were three new applications one for one and two family dwellings, one for multi-family structures and another for commercial structures. The information requested on the current multi-family and commercial structure building permit application has expanded. The information on the one and two family dwelling application is similar but formatted differently. Staff is asking that design professionals complete or assist in completing applications for commercial and multi-family dwellings. In many instances applicants are submitting incorrect or incomplete information.    

 

Queen asked which application would be used for townhouses. Walthall responded that townhouses would be submitted under the one and two family Code.

 

Stogsdill stated that he had not received any information from the City.

 

Walthall responded that staff was working on creating a mailing list database of design professionals.

 

Smalter suggested the City generate a list of professionals that generally practice in Lawrence.  

 

Motion to adjourn by Porter, second by Stogsdill to adjourn, which passed 4-0.

 

Meeting adjourned 1:15 p.m.