HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Building Code Board Of Appeals - 11/24/1998 - Special •
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ar embers Present: Jerry Kramer, Chair. Bill rase ton, Vice Chair.
Ernesto Gonzalez Richard Dodson
Brian Barnett Jerry Garcia
Board Members Absent: Joe Fulton
Staff Members Present: Arthur N. Sosa, Building Official
Norbert Hart, Dir. Housing & Community Dev..
John Kendall, Plan Review Ill
Jay Reining, Assistant City Attorney
Erik Johnson, Chief Building Inspector
Dina O. Longoria, Secretary
Jerry Kramer, Chairman called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. in the
conference room on the sixth floor of City Hall. Joe Fulton was not present at roll
call.
The first item of business was the approval and correction of minutes for the
regular meeting of October 22, 1998. Jerry Garcia made a motion to approve the
minutes as corrected. Richard Dodson seconded the motion to approve the
minutes as corrected. The motion passed unanimously.
The next item of business was a discussion of the 1997 Standard Building
Code. Arthur Sosa, Building Official addressed the board with a review of the list of
materials distributed to the board members prior to the meeting. Mr.. Reining
described the changes as follows:
Chapter 1 - Administration: Mr.. Reining reviewed the changes to the
Administrative Chapter. The changes included the reformatting of general
administrative definitions to Chapter 1, with definitions peculiar to a specific trade
remaining in their respective codes, (i.e. building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing).
The definition of "open structure" was clearly defined in this code change.
Portable building and travel trailer were included and defined to regulate non-
permanently installed manufactured housing.
Mr.. Reining then described the changes to the 1997 Standard Building Code
as follows:
SCANNED
P.O. Box 9277 • Corpus Christi, Texas 78469-9277 • (512) 880-3000
Building Code Board of Appeals
Minutes for November 24, 1998
Page 2
Chapter 4 - Section 412.1.1: Group B occupancy does not allow areas of
refuge. Changes to Chapter 4 (Sections 412.9 through 412.9.6) deletes all references
to Areas of refuge.
Chapter 4-Section 413: Covered malls was included verbatim for the purpose
of Flea Markets which is not in the Standard Code.
Chapter 5 - Section 505: There are no fire districts within the City of Corpus
Christi. All references to fire districts is eliminated from the Standard Code.
Chapter 5 - Section 506.1: This is a new section on Location of Buildings near
oil and gas wells.
Chapter 5 - Section 506.2: This section provides that no building is permitted
within one hundred fifty (150) feet of active wells.
Chapter 5 - Section 506.2.1: This section prohibits the construction of a
habitable building within one hundred (100) feet of an oil and gas well which has not
been plugged and abandoned according to the regulations of the land drilling
ordinance of the City of Corpus Christi. The exception allows the construction of
buildings directly associated with the production of oil from the well.
Chapter 5 - Section 506.2.2: This section provides that any oil and gas well
which was plugged and abandoned prior to May 29, 1968, with mud or only a bottom
plug shall be considered to be unsafe for the location of any building within fifty (50)
feet thereof, until remedied by setting a cement plug in the well near the surface and
cutting the casting off below ground and placing a steel plate over the top.
Chapter 10 - Section 1005.4.2: Special Exit Requirements - Operational
constraints: This section provides that if burglar bars are installed on the exit
window in a sleeping quarters, then the use of a separate tool or key to operate the
burglar bar is allowed. The tool or key must be stored at a visible location, which
is adjacent to and within 4 feet of the opening. John Kendall informed the board that
this code provision applies to residential occupancies only. Under the standard
code, the code would prohibit the use of burglar bars. Jerry Garcia questioned who
and how would this code be enforced? Jay answered a space should be provided
somewhere along the wall and noticeable in case of a fire. Mr.. Garcia was not
concerned about the placement of the key, but how the inspectors would be able to
ensure that the key is placed as required by the code. John indicated that once the
house was completed and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued, it will be almost
impossible to enforce. This section was added to inform individuals about the need
for this provision as a safety issue. Mr.. Sosa stated that currently the code does not
allow one to lock burglar bars. This is defeats the purpose of the burglar bars in the
first place. They do no good unless they can be locked. One must have a key
provided for egress out and ingress in by the Fire Department.
Building Code Board of Appeals
Minutes for November 24, 1998
Page 3
Chapter 11 - Section 1101.1.1: Provisions of this chapter are provided for
information and reference on the design and construction of facilities for
accessibility to physically disabled persons.
Chapter 15 - Sections 1501.1 thru 1505 Wood Shingles and Shakes. This
section reiterates the existing code for wood shingles and shakes where permitted.
Chapter 16 - Discussions were held until the end of the discussions of the
remainder of the changes to the code.
Chapter 18 -Section 1801.: This chapter, with the exception of sections 1815
and 1816, will govern the design, construction, and resistance to water intrusion of
foundations for buildings and structures.
Chapter 18 - Section 1816.1: The conventional standards contained herein
may be used as provided, without requiring an engineer of record, for structures
less than five hundred (500) square feet and detached garages less than nine
hundred (900) square feet in area.
Chapter 18 - Section 1816.6.3: An engineer of record is not required to certify
the foundations of a structure built to the standards of Figure 1816.3, if the structure
does not exceed nine hundred (900) square feet in area if used as a garage or five
hundred (500) square feet in area if used for accessory storage.
The board questioned why masonry requirements for expansion joints and
design of masonry walls is in the foundation section. Staff was unable to answer
why the standard was misplaced, other than the design of the bearing media for the
masonry wall is the foundation system. The design parameters are very stringent.
The normal convention for design for deflection is L/360, and the standard contained
herein is L/1000. This is a very stiff foundation member. The board wanted some
discussions on whether this standard should be changed. Staff agreed to comply
with this request.
Mr.. Sosa indicated that he would be looking into eliminating the need for
certifying conventionally reinforced slabs by an engineer since for the most part, the
engineers are not calculating the loading for these slabs. They are taking the
prescriptive standards out of the code and using them verbatim. The board agreed
to entertain discussions at the next board meeting.
Chapter 21 - Section 2101.3.1: The masonry chapter covers the design and
construction of lintels and arches as provided by the current code.
Chapter 21 - Section 2111.1: The masonry chapter covers the requirements
as provided by the current code.
Building Code Board of Appeals
Minutes for November 24, 1998
Page 4
Chapter 23 - Section 2303.3: Staff recommendations on moisture protection
of surfaces exposed to the weather shall have an approved barrier to protect the
structural frame and the interior wall covering. The exception #4 in section 2303.3
shall remain.
Chapter 31 -Section 3109 Boat Docks and Moorings: This section was moved
and renamed from Piers and Pilings and covers the design and construction of piers
and boat docks.
Chapter 31 - Section 3108.1.6: This section was established to cover unsafe
signs.
Chapter 33 -Section 3313: The sections to cover Moving of Buildings is added
to this chapter. All provisions covered under the 1991 Standard Building Code will
remain. House mover's licensure is now covered in Chapter 1. Section 3313 and
Section 3313.9 -These sections require the removal of piers, foundations, stairs and
other debris, leaving the site as clear as possible.
Appendix J - Building Security: The provisions of this appendix are added to
by the local code and contains suggestions for improving the physical security of
buildings.
Appendix K - Tie down standards for portable buildings, travel trailers,
unoccupied manufactured homes on mobile home dealer sales lots, industrial
housing units not installed on a permanent site, and mobile homes. Does not apply
to manufactured housing regulated by the State of Texas. Appendix K - Section
K105.3, Minimum working loads and overloads standards and overload standards
not listed for travel trailers. This item will be reviewed at next month's meeting.
Next item of business was the discussion of the Texas Department of
Insurance Building Code for Windstorm Resistant Construction. The board
members discussed their concerns and objections regarding the TDI requirements
and codes. Mr.. Barnette informed the board that after January 31, 1999 all
engineers will have to be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance in order
to certify structures and execute a WPI-II as required by the "act".
Next item of business was the Building Official's Report.
Mr.. Sosa passed out copies of a memorandum to the City Manager outlining
the options regarding the adoption of TDI's Building Code for Windstorm Resistant
Construction. Staff recommended the option not to adopt but in lieu of Building
Inspection performing the inspections, require an executed WPI-II Certificate prior
to issuing a final Certificate of Occupancy for the structure.
Building Code Board of Appeals
Minutes for November 24, 1998
Page 5
Mr.. Sosa stated that in the near future, he and several delegates from this
area will be lobbying the local state representatives for them to convince the
Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance to certify the local building
inspectors as inspectors for the Texas Department of Insurance thereby making city
inspectors eligible to inspect for the windstorm code. Mr.. Sosa and Jay Reining will
meet with the commissioner in Austin to help convince him of the need to certify
local inspectors.
Arthur N. Sosa will have available at the next meeting wording clarifying the
50% rule in dollars verses building square footage.
A new meeting date was scheduled for December due to holiday schedule.
The next Building Code Board of Appeals meeting will be held on December 17, 1998
at 1:30p.m. A motion was made by Jerry Kramer to this effect. The motion
seconded by Bill Braselton and passed unanimously.
There were no petitions from the audience.
Mr.. Braselton made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr.. Barnett seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Meeting adjourned at 4:30p.m.
BUILDING INSPECTIONS DIVISION
MO, 4
Arthur N. Sosa
Building Official
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