Title
Approving an ordinance on second reading with the caption reading: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE,TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 150, REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, 2015 EDITION, THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, 2015 EDITION, THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE, 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE, 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL EXISTING BUILDING CODE, 2015 EDITION, INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, 2015 EDITION, AND THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2014 EDITION, WITH AMENDMENTS TO MEET LOCAL CONDITIONS, AND THE PENALTY PROVISION; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES NOT TO EXCEED $2000.00 PER OFFENSE; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Summary
This ordinance mandates the adoption of the 2015 editions of the International Building Codes for the City, replacing the 2012 editions. The effective date will be September 1, 2016. The 2015 editions will apply to any project submitted for permit after that date and apply to all permits issued in the city and the extraterritorial jurisdiction where development agreements apply.
There is one new local amendment proposed to the new set of codes. The sections regarding the creation of a Board of Appeals has been deleted and reference is made to the Board of Adjustment in the Unified Development Code. This amendment is based on advice from the City Attorney. All existing amendments will carry forward and be incorporated into the new code editions with the appropriate section number changes, if applicable.
The effective date will coincide with the State of Texas adoption of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on September 1, 2016.
The International Code Council (ICC), the publishing body for the codes, publishes new codes every three years through a governmental consensus process that is open and provides opportunities for participation by all interested stakeholders. These stakeholders include municipal code officials, trade organizations, standards committees and the building community at large. During this process, the codes are thoroughly vetted and often restructured or reworded for greater ease of use and interpretation.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by a different code body, the National Fire Protection Association, in different year cycles. This ordinance adopts the 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code. The State of Texas adopted the 2014 NEC as the minimum standard for all electrical work in Texas with an effective date of September 1, 2014.
Significant changes to the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) are minimal but include:
- The requirement for one GFCI outlet per car in garages on a dedicated circuit.
- The option of booster pumps for clothes dryers that exceed the maximum length, by code, of 35 feet. The code limits the length of clothes dryer exhaust ducts to protect against potential fire hazards and to ensure that dryers efficiently discharge warm, moist air. These are considered as a last resort to extend the length of the vent due to design or construction issues.
- For water heater replacements, the previous code required a pan and a drain if none was existing. The 2015 codes require the pan but not the drain.
- Purple primer is no longer required to join low pressure PVC piping if the right glue is used.
Significant changes to the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) again are minimal, but include:
- A new classification (Business instead of Factory) for smaller commercial kitchens under 2500 square feet.
- The use categories of Institutional Group I-1 (custodial Care) and Institutional Group I-2 (medical care) have both been updated to reflect the current practices of care. New sections or conditions have been created for each, dividing the classifications into short term care facilities, such as hospitals, and long term care, such as nursing homes, depending on the ability of the occupants to evacuate efficiently.
- The requirement for public restrooms has been eliminated in structures and tenant spaces intended for quick transactions, including take out, pick up and drop off, having a public access area of 300 square feet or less.
- Chapter 34, Existing Structures, has been deleted in its entirety and existing buildings will now be solely regulated by the 2015 International Existing Building Code.
The Fire Department has reviewed the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code and included a new amendment regarding burn bans. This new amendment regulates the authorization under which the open burns ban occur and the distances from structures that must be met.
Adoption of the latest edition of the building codes is an important part of the Insurance Services Office (ISO) classification awarded the City. The ISO performs the Building Code Grading Schedule (BCEGS) review on the Building Inspections Department every five years which awards points for, among other things, the edition of the building codes adopted by the City. Adopting the latest edition of the building codes can have a positive impact on the property insurance rates for the citizens and business owners of the City. The level of this BCEGS score, in turn, has a positive influence on the Community Rating System (CRS) classification awarded to the City by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The City of Round Rock plans a summer adoption of the 2015 codes without local amendments. The City of Cedar Park plans on a September 1, 2016 adoption, again, without local amendments. In an effort of continued regional consistency, there is only the one new amendment proposed for this code adoption cycle.
The homebuilders working in the City have been on notice since early 2015 and have received handouts about specific code changes at the monthly meetings for several months. The Homebuilders Association of Austin has also been aware of the code adoption since early 2015 as this subject is a regular part of the agenda at the quarterly meetings. Builders and developers in recent pre-application conferences have been made aware of the impending code edition changes.
This proposed ordinance has been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
Status
Subject to approval, the revised codes will be effective September 1, 2016.
Prior City Council Action
This ordinance was last amended on September 9, 2014 with the amendment for air testing of residential drain, waste and vent systems regulated by the International Residential Code.
This ordinance was approved on first reading on June 28, 2016.
Deadline for City Council Action
There is no deadline for action on this agenda item.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of this ordinance. Revised editions of the codebooks were acquired for staff use in the FY 2016 budget.
Staff Recommendation
Approve the ordinance on second and final reading.
Drafter
Blake Overmyer
Building Official