Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 09-15-2015
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Development Services Department
Title:
title
Consideration, discussion and possible preview of an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Building and Building Regulations, Article II, Building Code; Section 6-16, Adopted; Section 6-17 Amendments; Section 6-21, Construction standards for handicapped parking spaces; Section 6-23, Existing building code adopted; Section 6-24 Amendments; Section 6-66, Adoption of National Electrical Code; amendments; Repealing Section 6-70, Receptacle and light fixture loading; Repealing Section 6-71, Special circuits and independent fusing for appliances; Repealing Section 6-74, Wall switches required; Article V, Plumbing, Division 1, Generally, Section 6-94 plumbing code - adopted; Section 6-95, Same - Amendments; Division 2, Landscaping Irrigation; Section 6-101 - Backflow prevention; Section 6-103 Installation requirements; Article VI, Underground Outside Gas Piping, Section 6-111 Application of article; Section 6-112 Amendments; Repealing Section 6-113, Installation requirements generally; Article VII, Mechanical Code, Section 6-128 - Adopted; and Section 6-129 Amendments; specifically adopting the requirements of the 2014 and 2015 NFPA NEW ICC Code as to Building, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and Electrical into the City’s Code of Ordinances in order to comply with state statute approved by legislative action and signed by Governor Mary Fallin to become effective November 1, 2015; repealing all ordinances to the contrary and declaring an emergency
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Background:
Chapter 6 of the Broken Arrow Municipal Code addresses buildings and building regulations. In early 2009, an exploratory committee was formed to the discuss the feasibility of creating an Oklahoma uniform building code following recent inclusions of code items from the International Code Hearings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following this ICC hearing, local municipalities, local and State Contractor associations, local and State Homebuilder associations, State Senator and Representatives and the State Fire Marshal Office began holding meetings to discuss the feasibility of forming an Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC). Several States have undergone similar process to control building codes that may adversely impact the construction community and to create uniformity across the State with the codes. Senate Bill 1182, forming the OUBCC was developed, approved and signed by the Governor Brad Henry on June 2, 2009.
The OUBCC chose to utilize the ICC 2009 International Building Code, ICC 2009 International Existing Building Code, ICC 2009 Mechanical Code, ICC 2009 Fuel Gas Code, ICC 2009 Plumbing Code and the NFPA 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) as the base codes. Technical committees were formed to review each section of the base codes. Several City inspectors were involved in these committee code reviews. The committee’s recommendations were reviewed and approved by the OUBCC Board and the Board set out for adoption of the 2009 ICC Codes with various modifications and NFPA 2011 National Electrical Code. The adoption of these codes was approved by legislative action; signed by Governor Mary Fallin and were effective state-wide on November 1, 2012.
The OUBCC chose not to adopt the 2012 ICC Codes as the states minimum code and elected to wait until the 2015 ICC codes were published to do code updates. In June of 2014 the OUBCC Technical committees were formed to review each section of the ICC 2015 International Building Code, ICC 2015 International Existing Building Code, ICC 2015 Mechanical Code, ICC 2015 International Fuel Gas Code, ICC 2015 International Plumbing Code and the NFPA 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC). Two City Building Inspectors were involved in these committee code reviews. The committee’s recommendations were reviewed and approved by the OUBCC Board and the Board set out for adoption of the 2015 ICC Codes with various modifications and NFPA 2014 National Electrical Code. The adoption of these codes were approved by legislative action, signed by Governor Mary Fallin and will be effective state-wide on November 1, 2015. City staff recommends approval of the adoption of the 2015 ICC Codes (noted above) and the NFPA 2014 NEC as adopted and amended by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission with various local amendments.
The majority of the local amendments are to incorporate current city code requirements into the 2015 ICC Codes (noted above) and the NFPA 2014 NEC. While reviewing the current city code it was discovered that a lot of the current city code requirements already exist in the 2015 ICC Codes and the NFPA 2014 NEC therefore staff is recommending removal of these items from the city code. Staff is also recommending deleting the fire lane requirements located in section 6-17 Amendments. These requirements should be incorporated into the 2015 International Fire Code when it is adopted.
Staff recommends approval of these revisions and adoption to improve the health, safety and welfare of the City and its citizens.
Cost: $0
Prepared By: Joe Williford, MCP, Chief Building Inspector
Reviewed By: Development Services Department
Legal Department
Approved By: Russell M. Gale, Acting City Manager
Attachments: Preview Ordinance, Chapter 6
Notice of Adoption letter
Adopted OUBCC changes notice
Recommendation:
Preview the attached ordinance and set for final adoption.