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, 2012 EDITION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES NOT TO EXCEED $2000.00 PER OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Summary
This ordinance mandates the adoption of the 2012 editions of the International Building Codes for the City, replacing the 2009 editions. The effective date will be January 1, 2013. The 2012 editions will apply to any project permitted after that date. There are no new 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 (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, so the City of Pflugerville will remain under the 2011 edition until the new version is published in 2013.
Highlights of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) include mandatory self-closing doors between the garage and the home, the inclusion of wireless smoke alarms, new simplified wall bracing provisions, and a new section regulating the recycling of filtered gray water from bathtubs, showers, sinks, and washing machines for the flushing of toilets and subsurface irrigation.
Highlights of the 2012 International Building Code include the gathering together of all the definitions into one chapter, a new classification for commercial kitchens not associated with restaurants, new photovoltaic definitions and regulations regarding the installation of photovoltaic panels and shingles, and clarification of classifications for the different health-care related facilities.
The Fire Department has reviewed the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code and performed maintenance by deleting old amendments and adding new amendments for inclusion into this ordinance.
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 the City by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The city councils of Cedar Park and Round Rock have already ordained the adoption of the 2012 International Codes with an effective date of October 1 of this year. The cities of Austin and Georgetown are looking at adoption in early 2013.
The homebuilders working in the City have been on notice since early 2012 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 2012 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 January 1, 2013.
Prior City Council Action
Approved on first reading on October 23, 2012.
Deadline for City Council Action
There is no deadline for action on this agenda item.
Projected Future City Council Action
No action necessary after second and final reading.
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 2012 budget.
Staff Recommendation
Approve the ordinance
Drafter
Blake Overmyer, Building Official