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Home My WebLink About95-131 - Building Plumbing Electrical & Fire CodesRESOLUTION NO. 95 -131 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 UNIFORM BUILDING CODE, THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AND THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE • REASONABLY NECESSARY. WHEREAS, Health & Safety Code Section 17958 mandates that the City of Newport Beach shall 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 1994 Edition of the Uniform Housing Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1994 Uniform Building Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1994 Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the 1994 Uniform Mechanical Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, the 1993 National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association; the 1994 Uniform Fire Code by International Fire Code Institute, (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 make express findings that such changes or modifications are needed due to climatic, geographic, or topographic conditions; and WHEREAS, the Building Director and Fire and Marine Chief have 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, I LJ NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by City Council of the City of Newport Beach as follows: SECTION I The following changes and modifications to the 1994 Edition of the UNIFORM BUILDING CODE and UNIFORM FIRE CODE as recommended by the Building Director and the Fire and Marine Chief are hereby found to be necessary due to local climatic, geographical or topographical conditions: 1. Section 312.3 is modified to permit residential patios and private carports when less than 400 square feet in area and open on 3 sides to be governed by the Zoning Code and be constructed nearer to the property line than 3 feet. This modification maximizes property usage of narrow 25 and 30 foot lots and permits additional off street parking to reduce the critical parking shortage on Newport Beach's narrow public streets and alleys. 2. Table 15 -A and Section 1514 is amended to require roof coverings to be of fire retardant material of not less than Class C rating. This provision should reduce the threat of serious tragedies and property losses arising from Santa Ana wind -swept fires which occur annually in Orange County communities. 3. Section 904.2.1 Uniform Building Code and Section 1005 of the Uniform Fire Code are modified to require installation of an automatic fire extinguishing system in all occupancies exceeding 5,000 square feet before allowable floor areas and increases specified in Table 5 -B and Section 505 are applicable. This requirement offsets Fire and Marine Department extended response times in Newport's sprawling development separated by waterways and narrow and congested streets. The requirement also 2 • • keeps fires manageable and reduces fire flow (water) requirement for a given structure. 4. Section 904.2.2 of the Uniform Building Code and Section 1005 of the Uniform Fire Code is amended to require an automatic sprinkler system in all building having floors used for human occupancy and located more than 40 feet above the lowest level of Fire and Marine Department vehicle access. This requirement matches building height to available fire - fighting equipment and human resources available in the Newport Beach Fire and Marine Department. SECTION II The following changes and modifications to the 1993 Edition of the NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE as recommended by the Building director are hereby found to be necessary due to local climatic, geographical, or topographical conditions: 1. Article 110 -5 is amended to require that installation of smaller than #6 AWG aluminum conductors shall be inspected during placement by an approved special inspector to insure tightness of all termination points. This requirement is needed due to poor performance of the material, especially in the moist and corrosive climate and soil around the beach area. 2. (a) Article 210 -19(b) is amended to require undergrounding of conductors for accessory uses or buildings located on same lot. City incidence of accidental contact and electric shock by metal ladders, pool cleaning tools, or similar equipment, as well as becoming disconnected during local wind storms will be minimized. (b) This article is further amended to require a raceway leading from spare circuit breakers to specified future expansion areas. This requirement reduces the hazards experienced locally due to uninspected future installations, caused by the constant add -ons • and remodels prevalent in Newport Beach. 3. Article 250 -91(b) is amended to prohibit the use of flexible metal conduit as a grounding conductor. This requirement will protect against early corrosion of materials due to the high sulfur and acid content prominent in local soils. 4. Article 345 -3(b) is amended by requiring corrosion protection for intermediate metal conduit and fittings. This protection is needed to guard against the high salt and sulfur content in air and soil around the ocean areas which considerably reduces the life span of metallic materials. 5. Article 346 -1(c) is amended by requiring corrosion protection for ferrous and nonferrous metal conduit and fittings. This protection is needed to guard against the high salt and sulfur content in air and soil around the ocean areas which considerably reduces the life span of metallic materials. 6. Article 348 -1 is amended by prohibiting the installation of metallic tubing where exposed to outside air or weather, where subject to physical damage, where galvanic action occurs due to dissimilar • metals, and where protected only by enamel coating. This is necessary due to local corrosive soil condition and oxidation due to salt air and weather. 4 7. Article 350 -5 is amended by prohibiting the use of flexible metal conduit as a grounding means. Local climatic conditions of air and soil accelerate the corrosion of materials jeopardizing the reliability and safety. An Underwriter's • Laboratory Report published in May 1982, states that "Flexible metal conduit in excess of six feet has been judged to unsuitable as a means of grounding." SECTION III The following changes and modifications to the 1994 Edition of the UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE as recommended by the Building Director are hereby found to be necessary due to local climatic, geographical or topographical conditions: 1. Section 1210.1 has been amended to require the installation of approved PVC or PE piping only in exterior buried piping systems. This requirement is needed due to poor performance of non - plastic materials in local soils containing a high sulfur and acid concentrations. This provision would reduce the danger of explosion and fire caused by undetected gas leaks, especially in multi -story condominiums used as vacation homes and rentals. SECTION IV Additional amendments and deletions to the 1994 Editions of the Uniform Building Code, the 1994 Edition of the Uniform Housing Code, the 1994 Edition of the Mechanical Code, the 1994 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, and the 1993 • Edition of the National Electrical Code were found to be administrative or procedural and are contained in the 1994 Edition of the Uniform Administrative Code, or do not contain subjects addressed in the 1995 California Building 5 • • Standards Code, and are found to be reasonable and necessary to safeguard life and property within the City of Newport Beach. SECTION V 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: 27th DAY OF November 1995 Ah'4"—D MAYOR 6 tc 6