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 CODES, 2009 EDITION; REPEALING ARCHAIC SECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.00 PER OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Summary
This ordinance mandates the adoption of the 2009 edition of the International Building Codes for the City, replacing the 2006 edition. The effective date will be February 1, 2011. The 2009 Edition will apply to any project permitted after that date. There are no amendments proposed to the new set of codes. All existing amendments will carry forward and be incorporated into the new code editions with the appropriate section number changes, if applicable.
The International Code Council, 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, trades 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.
Highlights of the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) include mandatory carbon monoxide detectors, increased dryer vent length for more floorplan design options, new deck construction provisions to prevent deck collapse, a reorganization and clarification of wind bracing requirements for greater ease of use, and increased window energy efficiency and the requirement for a percentage of high effeciency light bulbs.
Highlights of the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) for commercial projects include new live/work structure provisions, permanent marking of fire rated walls above a dropped ceiling, providing for structural requirements for environmentally friendly roof gardens, and new standards for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (IEFS), a wall covering used extensively on commercial buildings.
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 Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) review on the Building 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 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 the City by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Cedar Park adopted the 2009 edition in January of this year and San Marcos in October. Leander is slated to adopt January 1, 2011. Round Rock has elected to wait and adopt the 2012 edition, foregoing the adoption of the 2009 edition. Travis County is scheduled to adopt the 2009 Fire Code countywide in January of 2011. The State of Texas, through the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) has mandated adoption of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code by the state to go into effect on January 1, 2012.
The homebuilders working in the City have been noticed since the first of the year 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 and has received a copy of the ordinance.
Section 150.21 TRENCH SAFETY, regarding trench safety provisions for City projects, was amended into the Construction Code in 1989. This section has been deleted from the Building Regulations due to the fact that these trench safety requirements have since become State law and have been included in the Engineering Design Guidelines of the City.
This proposed ordinance has been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form. This proposed ordinance was approved on first reading at the November 23, 2010, City Council meeting.
Deadline for City Council Action
There is no deadline associated with this agenda item
Fiscal Impact
There is no direct fiscal impact related to this decision
Staff Recommendation
Approve the ordinance.
Drafter
Blake Overmyer, Building Official