Loading...
Item 8DCity of Southlake, Texas MEMORANDUM June 28, 2004 TO: Billy Campbell, City Manager FROM: Rick Black, Director of Public Safety (Ext. 2421) SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 871, 1 st Reading, Adoption of the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code. Action Requested: City Council approval of Ordinance No. 871 adopting the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code with local amendments. Background Information: The city currently operates under the 2000 editions of the International Codes and under the 1999 edition of the National Electrical Code. These codes are published on a three year cycle. The North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Board with the recommendation of the Regional Code Coordinating Committee has recommended adoption of these codes except the Property Maintenance Code be adopted with regional amendments. The Property Maintenance Code is included as an update for the Dangerous Building Code. Financial Considerations: These updated codes will have nominal impact on the cost of construction in the city. Financial Impact: This will have no financial impact on the city budget. Citizen Input/ Board Review: The Building Board of Appeals held three public hearings and unanimously recommended adoption of these codes. Two additional meetings were held to receive input from the area building contractors. Legal Review: This ordinance has been reviewed by the city attorney and changes have been made as recommended. Alternatives: Adopt the ordinance as recommended or direct staff to restudy any specific issues that may be of concern. Supporting Documents: Detailed memorandum to Garland Wilson dated June 21, 2004 Ordinance No. 871, 2003 International Fuel Gas Code Billy Campbell June 28, 2004 Page 2 Staff Recommendation: Approve Ordinance No. 871 on first reading with an effective date of September 30, 2004.This is intended to provide builders time to factor changes into contracts being developed. RB /gw City of Southlake, Texas MEMORANDUM June 21, 2004 TO: Garland Wilson, Chief of Administrative Services FROM: Paul Ward, Building Official, and; Chuck Bloomberg, Plans Examiner SUBJECT: 2003 International Codes The ICC, International Code Council, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to develop a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes for use throughout the country. We as the City of Southlake have been involved and supportive throughout the code development process and the creation of the International Codes. This support has been through the North Texas chapter of the International Code Council and through the regional review process be the Regional Codes Coordinating Committee of the NCTCOG (North Central Texas Council of Governments). The I Codes were developed with the support of many organizations that have interest in the construction industry although the final vote on all items is by code officials only. Work on the International Codes has been a model of democracy, without territorial disparities getting in the way. The American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Home Builders were both very active participants in the code development process. The National Association of Home Builders has applauded the recent action by the International Code Council (ICC) to add "affordability" to the Purpose Statement section of the International Residential Code (IRC), which applies to one- and two - family homes. The City of Southlake has had a track record of supporting the latest edition of the codes. The code has been published every three years for a long time. Since the 1980's Southlake has adopted the new code within one year of it becoming available. Another important reason to be up to date with the latest codes is the ISO insurance rating. Their system will subtract points if the city is not on the current codes. We always need to be able to show that we are current with the latest codes. The Building Codes are a set of universally accepted standards adopted as guidelines for construction of buildings and related building operations. The term "building codes" is a generic phase that actually encompasses several individual codes, each of which must be approved and adopted by the City Council before they can be applied or enforced. These codes are periodically updated, primarily due to new products entering the marketplace, and minor revisions may be made under the term "local amendments." The International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) provides standards for fuel burning appliances and the piping systems for them. The code also has requirements for appropriate fresh air and exhaust ventilation necessary for safe operation. The Texas Plumbing License Law provides that only state licensed plumbers may install or alter gas piping other than certain very specific exceptions. Southlake currently operates under the 2000 IFGC. The proposed ordinance will bring us up to date by adopting the 2003 edition of the International Fuel Gas Code (2003 IFGC). This ordinance was created from the framework of the previous ordinance, inserting the NCTCOG recommended regional amendments. 2003 International Fuel Gas Code ORDINANCE NO. 871 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE, 2003 EDITION; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF LOCAL AMENDMENTS THERETO; PROVIDING FOR RECORDING OF SUCH CODE AS A PUBLIC RECORD; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN PAMPHLET FORM; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, The City of Southlake, Texas is a home rule city acting under its charter adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local Government Code, and WHEREAS, City Council of the City of Southlake deems it necessary to adopt this ordinance governing requirements for the installation and maintenance fuel gas systems including requirements for materials, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Southlake. WHEREAS, beginning in the summer of 2003, NCTCOG's Regional Codes Coordinating Committee (RCCC) and its four advisory boards conducted 26 open review meetings over a 10- month period to review the 2003 editions of the International Codes and to develop regional amendments. Their review and recommendations were completed and endorsed by NCTCOG's Executive Board in March 2004. Now NCTCOG encourages jurisdictions in North Central Texas to adopt the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code along with its respective regional amendments with an effective date of July 1, 2004: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS: SECTION 1 That the International Fuel Gas Code, 2003 Edition, published by The International Code Council, Inc., is hereby adopted as the Fuel Gas Code of the City of Southlake, except for fuel gas systems otherwise regulated under the International Residential Code for One- and Two- Family Dwellings as adopted. A true and correct copy of this Code is attached to this ordinance as Exhibit "A." SECTION 2 That the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code, as adopted herein, is hereby amended as provided in Exhibit `B" incorporated herein and attached hereto for all purposes of this ordinance. The City of Southlake may from time to time determine that additional local modifications to the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code are necessary and appropriate to meet the unique construction needs of the City of Southlake. To effectuate these modifications, the City council shall enact individual ordinances amending this ordinance fully setting forth the change to be made in the code. Upon adoption, copies of these amendments shall be attached to Exhibit "B" to this Ordinance. SECTION 3 The material contained in Exhibits "A" and `B" to this ordinance shall not be included in the formal municipal codification of ordinances, but shall be maintained as a public record in the office of the City Secretary and will be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours. SECTION 4 This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances of the City of Southlake, Texas, except where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances, in which event the conflicting provisions of such ordinances are hereby repealed. SECTION 5 It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases. clauses. sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section. It is not the intention of this ordinance to conflict in any way with the Plumbing License Law of Texas. SECTION 6 Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be fined not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for all violations involving zoning, fire safety or public health and sanitation, including dumping or refuse, and shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for all other violations of this ordinance. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. SECTION 7 All rights and remedies of the City of Southlake are expressly saved as to any and all violations of the provisions of any ordinances affecting the installation and maintenance of electrical systems which have accrued at the time of the effective date of this ordinance; and, as to such accrued violations and all pending litigation, both civil and criminal, whether pending in court or not, under such ordinances, same shall not be affected by this ordinance buy may be prosecuted until final disposition by the courts SECTION 8 The City Secretary of the City of Southlake is hereby authorized to publish this ordinance in book or pamphlet form for general distribution among the public, and the operative provisions of this ordinance as so published shall be admissible in evidence in all courts without further proof than the production thereof. SECTION 9 The City Secretary of the City of Southlake is hereby directed to publish in the official newspaper of the City of Southlake, the caption, penalty clause, publication clause and effective date of this ordinance one time within ten days after passage of this ordinance, as required by Section 3.13 of the Charter of the City of Southlake. SECTION 10 This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law, but not sooner than September 30, 2004, and it is so ordained. Passed And Approved On First Reading On This Day Of , 2004. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY SECRETARY Passed And Approved On Second Reading On This Day Of , 2004. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: City Attorney EXHIBIT `B" Amendments to the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code The following sections, paragraphs, and sentences of the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code are hereby amended as follows: (Standard type is text from the IFGC. Underlined type is text inserted. Lined through typo is deleted te ) d from IEGG) A double asterisk at the beginning of a section identifies an amendment carried over from the 2000 edition of the code and a triple asterisk identifies a new amendment with the 2003 code. After each code amendment a reason is given in parentheses. The reason is not a part of the code, but is given to aid in understanding the code. * *Section 102.2; insert a sentence to read as follows: §FG101.2 Scope. This code is not intended to supercede the Texas Plumbing License Law. This code shall apply to the installation of fuel gas piping systems, fuel gas utilization equipment, and related accessories as follows: (Remainder of section unchanged.) * *Section 102.2; add an exception to read as follows: Exception: Existing dwelling units shall comply with Section 621.2. (Reason: Previous code provisions made unvented heater provisions retroactive except as provided for in local amendment. This amendment and amendment to IFGC 621.2 better clarify what the code already states: existing systems may stay unless considered unsafe.) * *Section 102.8; change to read as follows: 102.8 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced in this code shall be those that are listed in Chapter 8 and such codes when specifically adopted, and standards shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference. Where differences occur between provisions of this code and the referenced standards, the provisions of this code shall apply. Whenever amendments have been adopted to the referenced codes and standards, each reference to said code and standard shall be considered to reference the amendments as well. Any reference to NFPA 70 or the ICC Electrical Code shall mean the Electrical Code as adopted. (Reason: Legal wording to recognize locally adopted codes and amendments adopted with referenced codes.) ** *Section 304.10; change to read as follows: 304.10 Louvers and grilles. The required size of openings ... {bulk of paragraph unchanged) ... to provide the free area specified. Where the design and free area are not known, it shall be assumed that wood louvers will have 25- percent free area and metal louvers and grilles will have 750- percent free area. {Remainder of section unchanged.) (Reason: This is the generally accepted practice in the region.) ** *Section 304.11; change Exception 8 to read as follows: 304.11 Combustion air ducts. (Bulk of section unchanged.) 8. Combustion air intake openings located on the exterior of a building shall have the lowest side of such openings located not less than 12 inches (305 mm) vertically from the adjoining grade level or the manufacturer's recommendation. whichever is more strinaent. (Reason: To recognize the manufacturer's installation requirements.) * *Section 305.5; delete. (Reason: This provision does not reflect standard practice in this area. Consistent with regional amendment to IMC 304.6.) * *Section 305.7; change to read as follows: 305.7 Clearances from grade. Equipment and appliances installed at grade level shall be supported on a level concrete slab or other approved material extending a minimum of 3 inches (76 mm) above adjoining grade or shall be suspended a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) above adjoining grade. (Reason: Consistent with current local practice. Consistent with regional amendment to IMC 304.9.) * *Section 306.3; change to read as follows: 306.3 Appliances in attics. Attics containing appliances requiring access shall be provided ... {bulk of paragraph unchanged) ... from the opening to the equipment. The passageway shall have continuous unobstructed solid flooring not less than 24- 30 inches (640 762 mm) wide. A level service space not less than 30 inches (762 mm) deep and 30 inches (762 mm) wide shall be present at the front or service side of the equipment. The clear access opening dimensions shall be a minimum of 20 inches by 30 inches (508 mm by 762 mm), or larger where such dimensions are not large enough to allow removal of the largest appliance. As a minimum, access to the attic space shall be provided by one of the following: 1. A permanent stair. 2. A pull down stair. 3. An access door from an uaaer floor level. Exceptions: 4: The passageway and level service space are not required where the appliance is capable of being serviced and removed through the required opening. (Delete Exception #2.) (Reason: To provide a safe means of accessibility. Consistent with regional amendment to IMC 306.3.) * *Section 306.5; change to read as follows: 306.5 Equipment and appliances on roofs or elevated structures. Where equipment and appliances requiring access are installed on roofs or elevated structures at a an aggregate height exceeding 16 feet (4877 mm), such access shall be provided by a permanent approved means of access_ the extent of w hi G h shall be from Permanent exterior ladders providing roof access need not extend closer than 8 feet (2438 mm) to the finish grade or floor level below and shall extend to the equipment and appliance's level service space. Such access shall ... {bulk of section to read the same)... on roofs having a slope greater than 4 units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33- percent slope). A receptacle outlet shall be provided at or near the equipment and appliance location in accordance with the Electrical Code. (Reason: To assure safe access to roof appliances. Consistent with IMC amendments.) * *Add Section 306.5.1.1 to read as follows: 306.5.1.1 Catwalk. On roofs having slopes greater than 4 units vertical in 12 units horizontal, a catwalk at least 16 inches in width with substantial cleats spaced not more than 16 inches apart shall be provided from the roof access to the working platform at the appliance. (Reason: To assure safe access to roof appliances. Consistent with IMC amendments.) * *Add Section 306.7 to read as follows: 306.7 Water heaters above ground or floor. When the attic, roof, mezzanine or platform in which a water heater is installed is more than eight (8) feet (2438 mm) above the ground or floor level, it shall be made accessible by a stairwav or permanent ladder fastened to the buildina. 306.7.1. Whenever the mezzanine or platform is not adequately lighted or access to a receptacle outlet from the main level is not obtainable, lighting and a receptacle outlet shall be provided in accordance with Section 306.3.1. (Reason: To provide safe access to water heaters. Consistent with regional amendments to IPC 502.5 and IMC 306.7.) * *Section 401.5; add a second paragraph to read as follows: Both ends of each section of medium pressure corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) shall identify its operating gas pressure with an approved tag. The taps are to be composed of aluminum or stainless steel and the following wording shall be stamped into the tag: "WARNIN(� 1/2 to 5 psi gas pressure Do Not Remove" (Reason: To protect homeowners and plumbers.) * *Section 402.3; add an exception to read as follows: Exception: Corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) shall be a minimum of 1/2 ". (Reason: Pipe less than 1/2" has a history in this region of causing whistling.) * *Section 404.6; change to read as follows: 404.6 Piping in solid floors. Piping in solid floors shall be laid in channels in the floor and covered in a manner that will allow access to the piping with a minimum amount of damage to the building. Where such piping is subject to exposure to excessive moisture or corrosive substances, the piping shall be protected in an approved manner. As an alternative to installation in channels, the piping shall be installed in accordance with Section 404.11 a GaSiRg of SGhedyle 4 0 steel, wFought iren, PVC eF ABS pope with tightly sealed ends and joints. Both eRdS Of SUGh Gasing shall extend not less than 2 ORGhes (51 mm) beyond the point wheFe the i (Reason: Referencing Section 404.11 provides CSST piping with outside venting.) * *Section 404.9; change to read as follows: 404.9 Minimum burial depth. Underground piping systems shall be installed a minimum depth of 42 18 inches (39-5 458 mm) below grade eXGept aS PFGV f„r OR cow ien 404 . 94 . (Reason: To provide increased protection to piping systems.) ** *Section 406.4; change to read as follows: 406.4 Test pressure measurement. Test pressure shall be measured with a monometer or with a pressure - measuring device designed and calibrated to read, record, or indicate a pressure loss caused by leakage during the pressure test period. The source of pressure shall be isolated before the pressure tests are made. For tests requiring a pressure of 3 psiq, mechanical gauges u sed to rneasyFe test pFessyres shall utilize a dial with a minimum diameter of three and one half inches (3'/2 "). a set hand. 1/10 pound incrementation and pressure ranae not to exceed 6 Dsi for tests requiring a pressure of 3 psiq. For tests requiring a pressure of 10 psiq, mechanical gauges shall utilize a dial with a minimum diameter of three and one -half inches (3 '/2 "), a set hand, a minimum of 2/10 pound incrementation and a pressure range not to exceed 20 psi. have n range such that the highest ens' o f th sGale is not greateF than fide times the test pressure (Reason: To require the use of more accurate diaphragm gauges. Spring gauges do not provide accurate measurement below approximately 17 psig.) ** *Section 406.4.1; change to read as follows: 406.4.1 Test pressure. The test pressure to be used shall be not less than one and one -half times the proposed ma x i m u rn weFking pre but n less than 3 3 psig (20 kPa gauge), or at the discretion of the Code Official, the piping and valves may be tested at a pressure of at least six (6) inches 052 mm) of mercury, measured with a manometer or slope gauge. OFFeSpediVe Of design pFessyFe. VVheFe the test PFeSSUFe eXGeedS 125 psig (862 gauge), the test pFessyFe shall RGt eXGeed a value that PFOdYGes a hoop stFess On the piping gFeateF than 50 PeFGeRt Of the Spec Tea mini �rrmm urn y ?t; e ngrh of the p For welded piping, and for piping carrying gas at pressures in excess of fourteen 04) inches water column pressure (3.48 kPa) 0/2 psi) and less than 200 inches of water column pressure (52.2 kPa) (7.5 psi), the test pressure shall not be less than ten 00) pounds per square inch (69.6 kPa). For piping carrying gas at a pressure that exceeds 200 inches of water column (52.2 kPa) (7.5 psi), the test pressure shall be not less than one and one -half times the proposed maximum working pressure. (Reason: To provide for lesser pressures to coordinate with the use of more accurate diaphragm gauges.) ** *Section 406.4.2; change to read as follows: 406.4.2 Test duration. Test duration shall be held for a length of time satisfactory to the Code Official, but in no case for net less than fifteen 0 5) minutes. For welded piping, and for piping carrying gas at pressures in excess of fourteen (14) inches water column pressure (3.48 kPa), the test duration shall be held for a length of time satisfactory to the Code Official, but in no case for less than thirty (30) minutes. (Delete remainder of section.) (Reason: To comply with accepted regional practices.) * *Add Section 409.1.4 to read as follows: 409.1.4 Valves in CSST installations. Shutoff valves installed with corrugated stainless steel (CSST) piping systems shall be supported with an approved termination fitting, or equivalent support, suitable for the size of the valves, of adequate strength and quality, and located at intervals so as to prevent or damp out excessive vibration but in no case greater than 12- inches from the center of the valve. Supports shall be installed so as not to interfere with the free expansion and contraction of the system's piping, fittings, and valves between anchors. All valves and supports shall be designed and installed so they will not be disengaged by movement of the supporting piping. (Reason: To provide proper security to CSST valves. These standards were established in this region in 1999 when CSST was an emerging technology.) * *Section 410.1; add a second paragraph and exception to read as follows: Access to regulators shall comply with the requirements for access to appliances as specified in Section 306. Exception: A passageway or level service space is not required when the regulator is capable of being serviced and removed through the required attic opening. (Reason: To require adequate access to regulators.) * *Section 614.6; add a sentence to read as follows: The size of duct shall not be reduced alona its developed lenath nor at the point of termination. (Reason: To clarify the size requirement. Consistent with regional amendment to IMC 504.6.) * *Section 614.6.1; change to read as follows: 614.6.1 Maximum length. The maximum length of a clothes dryer exhaust duct shall not exceed 25 feet (7620 mm) from the dryer location to the outlet terminal. The maximum length of the duct shall be reduced 21/2 feet (762 mm) for each 45 degree (0.79 rad) bend and 5 feet (1524 mm) for each 90 degree (1.6 rad) bend. Exceptions: 1. Where the make and model of the clothes dryer to be installed is known and the manufacturer's installation instructions for such dryer are provided to the code official, the maximum length of the exhaust duct, including any transition duct, shall be permitted to be in accordance with the dryer manufacturer's installation instructions. 2. Where the first 9 feet of vent are 4" diameter pipe with not over two 90 bends and the pipe size is then increased to 5" diameter, it may extend horizontally as far as 28.5 feet to the termination outdoors. (Reason: Engineered dryer vent equivalent considering velocity and pressure drop.) * *Section 621.2; change to read as follows: 621.2 Prohibited use. One or more unvented room heaters shall not be used as the sole source of comfort heating in a dwelling unit. Exception: Existing approved unvented heaters may continue to be used in dwelling units, in accordance with the code provisions in effect when installed, when approved by the Code Official unless an unsafe condition is determined to exist as described in Section 108.7. (Reason: Gives code official discretion.) * *Section 624.1.1; change to read as follows: 624.1.1 Installation requirements. The requirements for water heaters relative to access, sizing, relief valves, drain pans and scald protection shall be in accordance with the International Plumbing Code. (Reason: To clarify installation requirements. Also corresponds with amendments regarding water heater access.) END OF AMENDMENTS