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CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. O-1314-22 UPON SECOND AND FINAL READING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 5-101 AND 5-101.1, ARTICLE II, SECTIONS 5-201, 5-202, 5-203, 5-207, 5-208, 5-209, 5-210, AND ADDING SECTIONS 5-213, 5-214 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NORMAN AMENDING AND ADOPTING THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE;, THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE, THE 2011 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE, AND ADOPTING THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXISTING BUILDING CODE AND 2009 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Legislature, in May 2009, passed legislation creating the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC). The Commission is composed of eleven members from different fields and is tasked with creating a statewide Uniform Building Code. The OUBCC completed the legislative process in calendar year 2012 necessary for the state adoption, with amendments, of the 2009 International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Plumbing Code (IPC), the 2006 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) to be used as the minimum code standards governing the built environment throughout the state. These codes became effective November 1, 2012.
The 2009 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC) is omitted from the preceding list of codes because that code was adopted previously with an effective date within the City of June 2, 2012. Similarly, the 2006 Edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, although recently adopted by the state, was adopted previously by the City with an effective date of October 22, 2009.
Consistent with the legal authority granting state and local code administration and enforcement jurisdictions the power and discretion to administer the code, Planning and Community Development staff have reviewed the codes and amendments adopted by the state in view of taking steps to recommend formal adoption of those codes with local City amendments.
It is the understanding of staff that the cities of Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Moore have also engaged similar processes to formally adopt the state family of codes.
DISCUSSION: The new codes, if adopted, will result in amendments to Chapter 5 of the City of Norman Code of Ordinances.
The remainder of this memorandum presents information about the proposed amended codes. While public safety and health concerns are the primary focus of the codes used to govern the built environment, certain pragmatic and administrative concerns must also be considered. To this end state and local amendments are employed to address these concerns and provide greater clarity to users of the codes. The detailed state required amendments are included on Attachment 1 and the proposed new City amendments are included on Attachments 2.
In summary:
IBC
Chapter 1 amendments address administrative details necessary to dovetail the code with local ordinances and state amendments.
Chapter 12 amendments inform code users of plumbing code requirements pertinent to certain restroom design features.
Chapter 29 amendments seek to address concerns expressed by local designers and developers pertaining to certain plumbing code requirements.
Chapters 31, 32, and 33 amendments seek to address local procedures pertaining to consent for encroachment into the public right of way and permits required for work in the right of way.
Chapter 34 amendments clarify the prevailing state regulatory agency for private sewage disposal and provide local discretion to the building official with regard to materials and methods allowed to address technical issues that are sometimes encountered with existing buildings.
IMC
Chapter 3 amendment provides greater liberty to designers and installers seeking to place mechanical equipment in attic spaces.
Chapter 5 amendment provides an alternative solution to venting through the roof for clothes dryers installed in the interior spaces of buildings.
IPC
Chapter 2 amendment adds a definition for the term “service sink”.
Chapter 3 amendment clarifies a test procedure for inspection services.
Chapter 4 amendments seek to address concerns expressed by local designers and developers pertaining to the supply of drinking water and toilet facilities in certain occupancies, cautions about the use of waterless urinals and provides uniformity of requirements of the IRC for tub/shower valves in residential occupancies.
NEC
Chapter 1 amendment continues the special concerns pertaining to the use of aluminum wires inside structures. Chapter 2 amendments continue a special exemption from ground fault protection for certain exterior receptacles, provides a fixed number of outlets in residential wiring to prevent circuit overloads and clarifies a measurement above grade to prevent water from entering electrical equipment enclosures and help ensure the safety of electrical workmen.
IFGC
Chapter 3 amendments clarify a measurement to be consistent with all relevant code sections and provide greater liberty to designers and installers seeking to place mechanical equipment in attic spaces.
IEBC
No local amendments are recommended for this code which is new to Norman. It is believed the adoption of this code will provide greater clarity for design and enforcement decisions pertaining to existing buildings.
IFC
Similar to the IEBC no local amendments are recommended for this code. It is believed this code will offer ICC perspectives to City fire code officials.
While many of the proposed local amendments are carryover from previous editions of the codes the following list depicts the most notable changes that were initiated by the International Code Council (ICC) in its 2009 code editions and by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in its 2011 edition of the NEC.
IBC enhances information pertaining to ambulatory health care facilities, adult care facilities and high rise buildings. Greater clarity is provided for the design and construction of community storm shelters. Enhances fire protection of certain buildings by requiring greater levels of fire resistant construction. Addresses the construction of multiple buildings above a parking garage. Clarifies requirements for automatic fire protection (sprinkling) of certain education and mercantile buildings.
IMC, IPC, and IFGC incorporate minimal technical changes primarily to accommodate new equipment technologies.
NEC employs minimal changes to address energy management device wiring, expansion of arc fault protection (including certain existing equipment when replaced or modified), clarification of grounding electrode system rules, wiring LED’s, solar photovoltaic systems, small wind generator electric systems and emergency power and/or alarm wiring systems.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the 2009 International Codes and the 2011 National Electrical Codes as amended.