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Home My WebLink About99-43 - Building-Plumbing-Electrical Codes• RESOLUTION NO. 99- 43 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH SETTING FORTH FINDINGS BASED ON LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH WHICH MAKE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, AND THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE REASONABLY NECESSARY. WHEREAS, Health & Safety Code Section 17958 mandates that the City of Newport Beach adopt ordinances or regulations imposing the same requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State pursuant to Health & Safety Code, Section 17922; and WHEREAS, the State of California is mandated by Health & Safety Code Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Housing Code of the International Conference of Building • Officials, the 1998 California Building Code based on the 1997 Uniform Building Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1998 California Plumbing Code based on the 1997 Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the 1998 California Mechanical Code based on the 1997 Uniform Mechanical of the International Conference of Building Officials and the 1998 California Electrical Code based on the 1996 National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Codes "); and WHEREAS, Health & Safety Code Section 17958.5 permits the City to make such changes or modifications to the Codes as are reasonably necessary because of local conditions; and WHEREAS, Health & Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City • Council, before making any changes or modifications pursuant to Section 17958.5 11 • make express findings that such changes or modifications are needed due to climatic, geographic, or topographic conditions; and WHEREAS, the Building Director has recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and have advised that these changes and modifications to the model codes are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Newport Beach and have further advised that the remainder of said changes and modifications are administrative or procedural in nature, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by City Council of the City of Newport Beach as follows: SECTION 1. The following changes and modifications to the 1998 Editions of the CALIFORNIA • BUILDING CODE as recommended by the Building Director are hereby found to be necessary due to local climatic, geographical or topographical conditions: 1. Section 403 redefines High Rise buildings from 75 feet in height to 55 feet and modifies the application of special provisions for these buildings to all occupancies from office and residential occupancies. FINDINGS: a. The City of Newport Beach is located in an area subject to a climatic condition of high winds. This environment is conducive is to rapidly spreading fires. Control of such fires requires rapid response. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, street lights and utility poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically up flights of stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident scene. Additionally Table 16 -G identifies a significant increase in the amount of wind force at 60 • 2 • feet above the ground. Use of aerial type fire fighting apparatus above this height would place rescue personnel at increased risk of injury. b. The City of Newport Beach is located in the middle of the seismically active area identified as Seismic Zone 4. The viability of the public water system would be questionable at best after a major seismic event. This would leave tall buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled fires due to a lack of available water and an inability to pump sufficient quantities of available water to floors above the 55 - foot level. A severe seismic event has the potential to negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression activities because it is likely to create obstacles similar to those indicated under the high wind section above. With the probability of strong aftershocks there exists a need to provide increased protection for anyone on upper floors. • 2. Section 904.2.1 and Section 904.2.2 are modified to require installation of an automatic fire extinguishing system in all occupancies exceeding 5,000 square feet before allowable floor area increases specified in Table No. 5 -B, Section 505 are applicable and in all buildings having floors used for human occupancy and located more than 40 feet above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access. FINDINGS: Due to the geographic conditions of widespread development separated by waterways and the street congestion caused by this geography, and due to the seismic activity and the expected infrastructure damage inherent in seismic zone 4, it is prudent to rely on automatic fire sprinkler systems to mitigate extended Fire Department response time and keep fires manageable with reduced fire flow (water) • requirement for a given structure. K3 • 3. Delete Section 1502.3 and amend Table 15 -A and footnotes to the table to require roof coverings to be of fire retardant material of not less than Class C rating. FINDINGS: a. Many areas of Newport Beach have significant growths of vegetation of a highly combustible nature. b. The City of Newport Beach, especially the foothill areas, is geographically located in an area periodically subject to wind conditions of high velocity. Moreover, the topographical conditions of the foothill areas, and canyons contained therein, tend to accelerate the periodic high velocity winds by means of a venturi effect. C. The City of Newport Beach, especially the foothill areas, is located within an • area subject to high temperatures, in conjunction with high winds. d. The use of non -rated or special purpose roofing materials as roof coverings within the City of Newport Beach may create an inordinate fire hazard during periods of high velocity winds when fire may spread across buildings with roof coverings of non -rated combustible materials. e. Embers from chimneys without spark arresters within the City of Newport Beach, including the foothill areas, coupled with the climatic, topographic and geographic conditions described herein above, may permit the throwing of sparks, embers and cinders upon non -rated and special purpose roofing material roofs during periods of high velocity winds, thereby creating a fire hazard which in turn may spread throughout areas where the roofs of structures are covered with untreated wood shakes and shingle. 1J H • 4. Section 1900.4.4 is amended to require vapor barriers below concrete slabs. FINDING: Most of Orange County is located above some type of aquifer that is often just a few feet below the surface. In addition, Newport Beach is subjected to potentially severe rainstorms during the winter months. Combining these two water sources with the water retention capacity of the area's expansive soil produces a condition wherein the moisture content of the soil is sufficient to increase the moisture content of concrete in contact with the soil. Concrete, which is used as part of a building structure, has the potential to transfer that moisture to the structure causing structural deterioration unless a moisture barrier is provided. 5. Section 1922.10.3 exception 2 is deleted. • FINDING: Due to prevailing expansive soil conditions in Newport Beach, deleting this exception would require that slabs be reinforced with Minimum reinforcement, a typical requirement, specified routinely by soil engineers and used widely by design engineers to mitigate damage due to soil expansion and shrinkage. SECTION 2. The following changes and modifications to the 1998 Edition of the CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE as recommended by the Building Director are hereby found to be necessary due to local climatic, geographical or topographical conditions: • �i • 1. Article 110 -5 is amended to require that installation of smaller than #6 AWG aluminum conductors shall be inspected continuously by an approved special inspector to insure tightness of all termination points. FINDING: Aluminum expands and shrinks at a much higher rate than other metals. This property becomes critical for smaller sizes or aluminum conductors, which may break down at termination point in a seismic event causing a fire. Orange County is located in an active seismic area (Seismic zone 4). The continuous inspection requirement will insure proper installation. SECTION 3. The following changes and modifications to the 1998 Edition of the • CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE as recommended by the Building Director are hereby found to be necessary due to local climatic, geographical or topographical conditions: 1. Section 604.1a is amended to require non - metallic pipe for underground water service to a building. FINDING: Soil throughout Newport Beach possesses corrosive properties that reduce the expected usable life of water services when metallic pipes in contact with soils are utilized. 2. Section 1210.1 has been amended to require the installation of approved PVC or PE piping only in exterior buried piping systems. FINDING: Soil throughout Newport Beach possesses corrosive properties that reduce the expected usable life of metallic gas systems when utilized in contact with soil. • 6 • SECTION 4. Additional amendments and deletions to the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Housing Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1998 California Building Code based on the 1997 Uniform Building Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1998 California Plumbing Code based on the 1997 Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the 1998 California Mechanical Code based on the 1997 Uniform Mechanical of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1998 California Electrical Code based on the 1996 National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association and 1998 California Fire Code based on the 1997 Uniform Fire Code of the International Fire Code Institute were found to • be administrative or procedural and are contained in the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Administrative Code, and are found to be reasonable and necessary to • safeguard life and property within the City of Newport Beach. SECTION 5. A copy of this Resolution together with the Ordinances adopting the City Codes shall be filed with the California Building Standards Commission and the California Department of Housing and Community Development by the City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach as required by State law (Section 17958.7 H & S Code). 7 • • C 1 SECTION 6. A copy of this Resolution together with the Ordinances adopting the City Codes shall be filed with the California Building Standard Commission and the California Department of Housing and Community Development by the City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach as required by State law (Section 17958.7 H & S Code). ADOPTED THIS ATTEST: �OoAr" M City Clerk 14th DAY OF June i999 CC� MAYOR 0 • STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH } I, LAVONNE M. HARKLESS, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; that the foregoing resolution, being Resolution No. 99 -43, was duly and regularly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting of said Council, duly and regularly held on the 14th day of June, 1999, and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote, to wit: Ayes: Adams, Glover, Debay, Ridgeway, Noyes, Mayor O'Neil Noes: None Absent: Thomson Abstain: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the • official seal of said City this 15th day of June, 1999. % M . A-A, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California (Seal) •