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Home My WebLink About2003-06-23 City Council (11)TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 4 FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT DATE: SUBJECT: JUNE 23, 2003 CMR:315:03 ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL AND FIRE CODES AS THE 2004 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE RECOMMENDATION This report recommends Council adopt the attached resolution recommending adoption of the International Building, Residentia! and Fire Codes by the State of California. BACKGROUND Approximately every three years, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) adopts an updated building code for enforcement by local jurisdictions. Since the 1930’s, the basis for the California Building Code has been the Uniform Building Code (UBC) published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO). In 1994, ICBO joined with the two other model building code organizations, Building Officials and Code Administrators International and The Southern Building Code Congress International, for the purpose of developing one model building code for the nation. Together, these three code organizations formed the International Code Council (ICC). Their goal, one national code, came to fruition in 2000 with the publication of the International Building, Residential and Fire Codes. In _00.~, the three organizations dissolved their previous corporations and consolidated all assets into the ICC. CNIR:315:03 Page 1 of 3 The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced in 2000 that it would develop its own building code to compete with the International Codes. It also partnered with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and Western Fire Chiefs to support each other’s code documents. In the 2000 California Building Code adoption process, the CBSC formed a multi- disciplinary committee called the 2000 Code Partnership to develop a recommendation as to which code to adopt. The committee recommended adoption of the International Building, Residential and Fire Codes. The CBSC ignored this recommendation and, over the objections of California Building Officials, Structural Engineers Association of California, as well as various professional trade organizations, elected to remain on the 1997 UBC for another three year cycle. The NFPA building code, NFPA 5000 was published in the fall of 2002. DISCUSSION The announcement that NFPA was going to develop a building code was shattering to the construction industry. Where previously officials had to deal with three model codes in the country, the 2000 International Codes created optimism for one code nationwide. For large and small businesses alike, one code reduces cost while continuing to protect safety. With the exception of seismic and high wind zones, the same building could be constructed anywhere. Ignoring the technical merits, the major difference between the two codes, NFPA 5000 and the International codes, is the code development process. NFPA allows any member to vote on a proposed code change. That code change is then carried forward to a 13-member Council for final action. That Council contains members representing special interests. An example of the NFPA process took place in Anaheim, California last year with the adoption of NFPA Standard 1710 and !720. These standards, specifying minimum staffing for Fire Department engine companies, were passed due to overwhelming attendance by the International Association of Fire Fighters. In the ICC process, like NFPA’s, anyone can submit a proposed code change. Committees, made up of code officials, industry representatives, home builders, architects, etc. listen to testimony from any individual on the merits of the proposal. The committee makes a recommendation to the membership for final action. At the time of final action to put the proposal into the code or take something out, the voting is restricted to governmental code officials. A City fire marshall and building official can vote, a pipe manufacturer or contractor can not. Although California has a mandated state-wide code, not all states do. Recent state-wide adoptions of the International Codes include Washington, Utah, Indiana, New Jersey and Minnesota. New York, which previously had a state-developed code, adopted the Internationa! Codes last year. To date, the International Codes are in use in ful! or in part in 46 states. NFPA 5000 has been adopted in one jurisdiction, Pasadena, Texas. CMR:315:03 Page 2 of 3 Support for adoption of the International Codes is wide spread. The National Association of Home Builders, the American Institute of Architects, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Department of Defense, the International City Managers Association, among others, encourage adoption of the International Codes. RESOURCE IMPACT Adoption of the attached resolution will not require changes to existing resources. Current staffing and facilities are not affected. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This recommendation is consistent with existing City policies. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). ATTACHMENTS Resolution recommending the California Building International Building, Residential, and Fire Codes Standards Commission adopt the PREPARED BY: Fred t(Ie~a’n, ~hlVe~t~dilding Official DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: ’STE~E EM~LIE Director, Planning and Community Environment DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: RUBEN GRIi Fire Chief CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:EMIL~" RRISO~~ Assistant City Manager CMR:315:03 Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO IN SUPPORT .....OF ~_±~ OF CALIFORNIA ADOPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODES WHEREAS, approximately every three years, new model building code standards are reviewed, modified and approved by the ~ :b~!=fornia Building Standards Commission, and mandated for enforcement by the local jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Co~mission is beginning their deliberations toward selecting a complete set of model building codes for the basis of ~he 2004 California Building Code; and ....... q there are rent!,!model codeswHsR~A~,cur _two sets o~ ....:’-~ in the U~~=~ q~es,_..~=v====~:e ..........the 7nternational Buildin~ Codes and rne ~n- socianion Building Code; and wnL~,~.a, the~.~’~=:Lona_ _~,_ Pro~=~:~{~< ~.~sociation._ model codes utilize a d~:~=~opmen~ process that has mroven ~o be suscem:ible to being shamed by smec~a~ interest @roums; and WHEREAS, :i~e ............i~ fact~on=± model coees are, _.~ ion of :he same government consensus codes that have been remularly - ’ .....~~ pas:of ~a±~fornia and; Wu=~=~<~= Na:iona& Association of Home Builders, Bu:~ ~:Amerisan !n=~u~~,s ~,,~rs and Hanag=-< AssociatioN, i~ ,~=~_v Hanamers Assocla:±on, Department of Defense, and o:her National organizations recos~mend~.~_ion-S~ ~ ~:~ the in~erna~iona! Codes; and WHEREAS, uhe innerna:ionai code development process allows for fu!l paruicipation by al! inuerested parties; while the final vote in :he hands of local code officials, whose primary inneresu is :he health and safety of nhe citizens of their com~uniuies, thus guaranueeing an end product that does not serve soecia! inneresu, bu: ra:her the coms.on good. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of :he £ity of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: ~=~:_,~<mP~v~,~q ~:. The ,~:<~,: of Pa!o Alto hereby endorses the adopnion of t~e 7 ..... -~,~n-~ model codes oub~h=d by Ynternationai Code ~n~ and -n ........ Go:~=rnor ~ .... ’ ~<enator Sher, Assembivman~ .... Joe Simitian and the ba±irornia~ ~ " 030618 sm 0053274 Building Standards Commission to take all actions necessary to utilize the Internationa! model codes as the basis for the 2004 California Building Code. SECTION 2.The Council {inds that this is not a project i=~_E~v~Qual’~ Act and, therefore,una~: the California ronmen<ai no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: Clerk nO=ROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Planning and Co~muni:y Environment Director of Administrative Services 030618 sm 0053274 2