City of Lawrence
Neighborhood Resources Department
MEMORANDUM
TO: Victor Torres, Neighborhood Resources Director
FROM: Barry Walthall, Building Safety Manager
C: Building Safety Division staff
Tim Pinnick, Plan Review Manager
DATE: June 11, 2007
RE: I-Codes review progress report, 6-11-07 update in bold text
(4-20-07) The review of the 2006 International Building Codes (I-Codes) is underway. I-Codes currently under review and the responsible Board are as follows:
After receiving direction from the City Commission to proceed with the review of the I-Codes we contacted the International Code Council (ICC) to request assistance with the process. ICC has committed to assist by providing complimentary code books for Board members and staff, and will send ICC staff to attend Board meetings as needed. ICC provided 41 books valuing $2,357 needed for review.
A summary of each Boards progress follows:
Building Code Board
(4-20-07) The Board has completed review of the IRC with exception of the appendix chapter on Radon gas. The Board plans to complete its review of the IRC on May 3 after receiving a presentation from Bruce Snead, Extension Specialist for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment concerning the hazards of Radon gas and the Kansas Radon Program.
The Board has also completed review of the IECC and staff has prepared a draft ordinance for Board review and approval.
(6-11-07) The Board has completed review of the IRC, IBC and IECC and draft ordinances have been prepared. The Board is scheduled to complete review of the IEBC at its June 16 meeting, as well as review and approve draft ordinances for the IRC, IBC and IECC.
Electrical Code Board
(4-20-07) The Board reviewed and created recommended amendments for the IRC electrical trade chapters and forwarded those to the Building Board for inclusion in the IRC draft ordinance.
The 2005 National Electrical Code (NEC) is the referenced electrical code for the 2006 I-Codes. The Board completed review of the 2005 NEC in July, 2006. The City Commission voted to adopt the code in August of 2006, and this code is currently enforced.
(6-11-07) No change. The Board has completed review of all relevant codes.
Fire Code Board
(4-20-07) The IFC, 2006 Edition, has been reviewed by the Board of Appeals. The proposed adopting ordinance is drafted with the changes as directed by the City Commission and is ready for Commission consideration.
(6-11-07) No change. The Board has completed review of all relevant codes.
Mechanical Code Board
(4-20-07) The Board met April 2 and the chairperson assigned all members to review IRC chapters 13 through 18 for the next meeting. Staff was requested to report amendments pertaining to the corresponding text in the existing mechanical code for the next meeting, scheduled for April 16. The April 16 meeting has been rescheduled twice because of members schedule conflicts and is now scheduled for April 30.
On April 10 staff provided ICC mechanical code staff contact information to Mechanical Board members, along with the ICC protocol to submit code questions.
(6-11-07) The Board discussed review of chapters 13-18 of the IRC at their April 30 meeting and assigned chapters 19-23 for review at the May 14 meeting. The Board completed review of the IRC on May 14. Also on May 14 the chairperson assigned the relevant chapters of the IFGC for review at the June 4 meeting. There was no quorum for the June 4 meeting date. The next scheduled meeting is June 18.
Plumbing Code Board
(4-20-07) The Board met March 21 to begin review of the plumbing trade chapters of the 2006 IRC. Code books were distributed and there was a discussion of the necessity of amendments. The Board agreed to meet on April 4 to determine the schedule required to complete review of the codes.
At the April 4 Board meeting the Board voted to “approve the 2006 IRC and the 2006 IPC without amendments pending board member Hoag’s review of the fuel gas portions and board member Lewis’ thoughts on the issue”. Unless Hoag or Lewis have proposals to amend these codes review of the 2006 IRC and 2006 IPC is complete.
At the April 18 meeting staff presented rough drafts of ordinances for the plumbing and fuel gas codes, as well as the IRC. Staff also briefed the Board on the work being done to reorganize City Code Chapter 5. The Board will continue the review process and individual members may still propose amendments.
(6-11-07) At their May 2 meeting the Board completed review of the IPC, IFGC and IRC and voted 4-0 to approve draft ordinances of these codes with no amendments. Board members Hoag and Lewis had no proposals for amendments.
Summary of staff support activities
(4-20-07) Staff has begun drafting adopting ordinances for each of the codes under review. As the Boards complete their reviews any amendments recommended will be incorporated into the appropriate draft ordinance.
When the I-Codes are adopted existing Articles will be repealed and replaced and new Articles will be created. Staff will take advantage of this opportunity to reorganize Chapter 5 (Building and Construction) of the City Code to ensure the code is easily accessible and user friendly. A new article will be drafted for administrative provisions of the codes such as permit and inspection requirements, permit fees and Appeals Boards. Another new Article will contain trades licensing provisions.
(6-11-07) Staff has completed draft ordinances for 8 of 17 Articles for a reorganized City Code Chapter 5 which have been sent to the Legal Services Department for review, including proposed Articles:
5 – IPC
11 – Dangerous structures
12 – Demolition of structures
13 – Accessibility standards for public buildings
14 – Swimming pools and residential spas
15 – Contractor licensing
16 – Contractor licensing Board
17 – Trade licensing
Additionally, draft ordinances for the following Articles will be complete and sent to Legal Services for review after the June 16 Building Code Board meeting:
1 – Administration
2 – IBC
3 – IRC
8 – IECC
9 – IEBC
Work is underway to complete revised ordinances for the electrical code (Article 4) and the property maintenance code (Article 10). Draft ordinances are being developed for the IMC (Article 6) and the IFGC (Article 7) as the Mechanical Board progresses through review of these codes.