BUILDING REVIEW BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Provide feedback on significant changes identified through the 2018 International Building Code Update.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Trevor Dick, Development Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
NA
BACKGROUND:
Building codes establish a minimum standard for construction to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the general public that occupy the resulting structures. The current adopted codes include the following:
• International Building Code (2012)
• International Residential Code (2012)
• International Energy Conservation Code (current)*
• International Fire Code (2012)
• Life Safety Code (2006)*
• National Fire Code (NFPA, current)
• International Plumbing Code (2012)
• Illinois State Plumbing Code (current)*
• International Code Council Electrical Administrative Provisions (2006)
• National Electric Code (2011)
• International Fuel Gas Code (2012)
• International Property Maintenance Code (2012)
• International Mechanical Code (2012)
• International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (2012)
• International Existing Building Code (2012)
• Illinois Accessibility Code (current)*
• Illinois Elevator Safety Rules, 41 Ill. Adm. Code 1000.60 (current)
*mandatory codes
Since codes are ever evolving to keep pace with new technology, materials and trends in the building industry, it is recommended to review and adopt the latest codes on a regular basis to ensure continued quality and safe construction. It should be noted that some codes are mandatory and cannot be amended, unless amendments are stricter than the mandated code. The mandatory codes have been identified with an asterisk (*) above.
Since January 2018, committees have been reviewing the new code provisions to identify and discuss the significant code changes. The code committees include a mix of city staff representatives as well as representatives from the business, building, and residential community, depending upon the code section being evaluated. Input from these outside groups is integral to the review and eventual adoption of the new code provisions. By establishing teams with members from various sectors, each member can bring their expertise to the table for discussion, with the end goal to reach consensus on codes that meet the needs for the community.
In addition to reviewing the different versions of the codes, key issues and concerns identified by the Building Review Board at their August 17, 2017 meeting were brought up to each impacted Committee for discussion. For example, the use of smart technologies in residential buildings, particularly wireless smoke detectors, was discussed during IBC, IRC and IFC Committee meetings.
An overview of the 2018 Building Code Update schedule and milestones is provided below in Table 1, with Building Review Board (BRB) and Council actions bolded for reference. Several of the code committees have identified their significant code changes and are now seeking feedback from the BRB. As noted below, this will be the first of several times in which the BRB will discuss the significant code changes.
Staff’s goal for the April 18, and May 16 BRB meetings is to present significant changes and receive feedback. Feedback from the BRB on all significant code changes will be presented to City Council at a future meeting likely in May or June. Staff will seek City Council feedback on the Code prior to soliciting formal comments from the building community and public this summer. Staff recommendations will be brought back to the BRB and City Council in Fall 2018 adoption.
Table 1: Schedule
|
MONTH |
MILESTONE |
STATUS |
|
Nov 2017 |
Create project teams |
Complete |
|
Dec 2018 |
Confirm project teams. Hold meeting with team leads Provide copies of documents to leads Lead to send out invites including first meeting date and time |
Complete |
|
Jan 18 |
Teams review & discuss new codes |
Complete |
|
Feb 18 |
Teams reconvene, identify significant changes |
Underway |
|
April and May 18 |
Present significant changes (chart/bullet format) to BRB |
April 18, 2018 and May 16, 2018 |
|
May or June 18 |
Present significant changes (chart/bullet format) to Council |
|
|
June and July 18 |
Prepare documents for public review period Public Review Period including: IL Homebuilders, Chamber of Commerce, NAHC, and Capital Development Board |
|
|
Jul 18 |
Discuss recommendations with the BRB |
|
|
Aug - Sep 18 |
Teams complete pre-final draft recommendations |
|
|
Oct-18 |
Draft text amendments |
|
|
Nov-18 |
Pre-final draft with Title 5 Text Amendment for Council review |
|
|
Dec 18 |
Final adoption by City Council |
|
|
Jan 2019 |
2018 IBC Codes effective |
|
An overview of the Committee meetings is provided below:
Table 2: Committee Progress
|
COMMITTEE |
# OF MEETINGS HELD |
STATUS |
|
International Building Code |
3 |
Underway |
|
International Residential Code |
6 |
Underway |
|
International Fire Code |
3 |
Underway |
|
International Energy Conservation Code |
1 |
Underway |
|
International Plumbing Code |
2 |
Complete |
|
International Mechanical Code |
0 |
Meeting Scheduled |
|
International Fuel Gas Code |
1 |
Complete |
|
International Property Maintenance Code |
1 |
Underway |
|
National Electric Code |
1 |
Underway |
|
International Existing Building Code |
4 |
Complete |
|
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code |
1 |
Underway |
|
International Wildland Urban Interface Code |
1 |
Complete |
DISCUSSION:
Upon review of the new code provisions, staff developed a matrix which highlights the significant and minor changes being proposed by the committees. Significant changes are defined as 2018 International Building Codes and amendments that differ from the existing 2012 International Building Code requirements and its local amendments (which may cost the builder/developer/owner additional money or effort during a project), while minor changes reflect current policies or practices the building community is already comfortable implementing and therefore will require little or no additional effort during a project.
City staff will present the significant changes for discussion and feedback at the April 18, 2018 Building Review Board meeting. The Significant Changes identified by the Committees to date are listed on Attachment 1, and the committee members involved in the review of the codes and changes are listed for reference on Attachment 2.
Notes and Upcoming Discussion Items:
Beyond the significant changes identified and presented on April 18, there are additional code topics that have either been completed due to advance timelines, have been mandated to the City by the State of Illinois, or will be discussed with the Building Review Board at a later meeting. These topics are outlined below.
International Residential Code (IRC) & International Building Code (IBC)
Due to their size and complexity, the Committee reviews of these codes are still underway. The Committees for both of these codes have been moving forward with preparing their lists of significant changes to the IRC and IBC at a strong pace, with the IRC having met six times and the IBC three times, with several more scheduled for each. A review and analysis of these codes will be presented to the Building Review Board for their review at a later meeting as they become available.
Residential Fire Suppression Discussions
In order to fully evaluate the information related to this code provision, a separate memorandum will be prepared for presentation and discussion with the Building Review Board at a later meeting.
International Wildland Urban Interface Code
The City’s Fire Department is recommending that the City not adopt this code as it does not pertain to Naperville because so few homes in the City are adjacent to wildland-urban interface areas. Please see Attachment 3 for more detail and background regarding this code and recommendation.
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
Per state law, the City must follow the 2015 Illinois Energy Code. The State is now taking proposals for the 2018 Illinois Energy Code (based on the 2018 IECC).
Only code proposals that would make the Illinois Energy Code requirements more restrictive can be considered per State law, and the City at this time has no proposals for the state.
No changes to the residential portion of the Illinois Energy Code is permitted by 2015 Illinois Energy Code, so no code changes have been considered to this portion of the code.
Illinois State Plumbing Code (ISPC)
State law requires all municipalities, expect for Chicago, to adopt the Illinois State Plumbing Code (“ISPC”) every three years. The City last adopted the ISPC in 2015 and was required to renew its adoption of the ISPC by May 26, 2018, on a much more advanced schedule than the balance of the ICC updates.
As part of the City’s efforts to review current codes and prepare for the adoption of the 2018 International Council Codes, a committee was formed to review the International Plumbing Code and the ISPC. The City may locally adopt amendments that are more restrictive, but not less restrictive than the ISPC.
The Committee met on January 30, 2018 and again on March 6, 2018 to discuss both the International Plumbing Code and ISPC, and recommended the adoption of the current ISPC (version 2014) with the same two exceptions that the City previously adopted.
This first amendment prohibits plastic pipe, joints and fittings made from polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polybutylene (PB) made by either solvent-welded or fusion-welded connections, compression, or insert fittings, metal clamps and screws, or threaded joints shall for water service or the domestic water distribution system of any building except for the distribution and conveyance of distilled or deionized water.
The second amendment requires that all new plumbing fixtures and irrigation controllers installed after the effective date of the approval ordinance shall bear the WaterSense label (as designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense Program), when such labeled fixtures are available. The City Council approved the adoption of the current ISPC (version 2014) with these exceptions at their April 3, 2018 meeting.
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide feedback on significant changes identified through the 2018 International Building Code Update.
ATTACHMENTS:
ATTACHMENT 1: Significant 2018 International Building Code Changes Identified to Date
ATTACHMENT 2: Building Code Update Review Committee Members
ATTACHMENT 3: 2018 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code Recommendation Memo