AGENDA #4b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Adoption of International Building Code with North Carolina Amendments

 

DATE:             October 21, 2002

 

 

The attached ordinance would enact the 2002 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Energy Code with North Carolina Amendments, the 2002 Edition of the National Electrical Code (NFiPA-70) with North Carolina Amendments, the 2002 North Carolina Administration and Enforcement Requirements Code, the North Carolina Accessibility Code 2002 Edition, Volume 8 - North Carolina Regulations for Modular Construction 1994 Edition, and North Carolina Regulations for Manufactured and Mobile Homes 1995 Edition, with 1996 Amendments.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The 2002 International Building Code with North Carolina Amendments would replace the current Volume I, General Construction, Volume IA-Administration, Volume IB-N.C. Uniform Residential Building Code, Volume IC-Accessibility, Volume ID-N.C. Regulations for Modular Construction, Volume II-Plumbing, Volume III-Mechanical, Volume IV-Electrical, Volume V-Fire Prevention, and Volume IV-Gas of the North Carolina State Building Code, 1991 edition.

 

The production of the 2002 International series of Codes began in 1997 with the development of a first draft by representatives of Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). The first draft was consistent with existing model building codes at the time.  The 2002 edition of the International Building Code was developed in a formal process which included two successive annual code change cycles, public hearings to consider proposed changes in conjunction with hearings on proposed changes to other International Codes and in accordance with the ICC Code Development Procedures.

 

The State of North Carolina has already adopted the International Building Code(s) with North Carolina Amendments, effective on December 31, 2002.

 

DISCUSSION

 

A modern, up-to-date Building Code provides minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety, health and general welfare through standards for structural strength, means of egress, facilities stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards in the building environment

 

There are substantial advantages in combining the efforts of the existing code organizations to produce a single set of codes.  Those involved in developing the new code believe that specifically.  They argue that:

 

• Code enforcement officials, architects, engineers, designers and contractors can now work with a consistent set of requirements throughout the United States.
• Manufacturers can put their efforts into research and development rather than designing to three different sets of standards, and can focus on being more competitive in worldwide markets.
• Uniform education and certification programs can be used internationally.
• A single set of codes may encourage states and localities that currently write their own codes or amend the model codes to begin adopting the International Codes without technical amendments.
• This uniform adoption would lead to consistent code enforcement and higher quality construction.
• The code organizations can now direct their collective energies toward wider code adoption, better code enforcement and enhanced membership services.
• All issues and concerns of a regulatory nature now have a single forum for discussion, consideration and resolution.
• Whether the concern is disaster mitigation, energy conservation, accessibility, innovative technology or fire protection, the International Code Council provides a single forum for national and international attention and focus to address these concerns.

 

We believe that the adoption of the new code will be beneficial.  Since code enforcement applies to the Town's planning district, the new building codes would be enforceable within Town limits and in the extra-territorial jurisdiction, as is the existing code.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council adopt the attached ordinance.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE II OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE  (2002-10-21/O-1)

 

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:

 

Section 1.  of the Town Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

Sec. 5-15.  State Building Code, 1991 Edition adopted.  2002 International Building Code, with North Carolina Amendments, adopted.

Volume I, General Construction, Volume IA-Administration, Volume IB-N.C. Uniform Residential Building Code, Volume IC-Accessibility, Volume ID-N.C. Regulations for Modular Construction, Volume II-Plumbing, Volume III-Mechanical, Volume IV-Electrical, Volume V-Fire Prevention, and Volume IV-Gas of the North Carolina State Building Code, 1991 edition, Adoption of The 2002 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Energy Code with North Carolina Amendments,  2002 Edition of the National Electrical Code (NFiPA -70)  with  North Carolina Amendments, 2002 North Carolina Administration and Enforcement Requirements Code, North Carolina Accessibility Code 2002 Edition, Volume 8 North Carolina Regulations for Modular Construction 1994 Edition, and North Carolina Regulations for Manufactured and Mobile Homes 1995 Edition, with 1996 Amendments, are hereby adopted by reference and shall control construction and installation of improvements within the town and its extraterritorial planning jurisdiction the same as if set out at length herein, except as the same shall be amended in this chapter.

 

Section 2.  This ordinance shall become effective on December 31, 2002.

 

This the 21^st day of October, 2002.