2015 Building Codes Update Training

1. 2015 Building Codes Update Training April 25, 2016, 7:30 – 10 AM 200 West Oak St., Fort Collins, CO Larimer County Courthouse Office Building Commissioners Hearing Room

2. Code Update Training Outline Food, Coffee, Breaks Location of Bathrooms Introduction of Instructors Who is Here (in general) In 2.5 hrs we ,will mostly focus on local amendments & IRC Changes See back of packet for sources of more information and training feedback form

3. 2015 Code Review & Adoption Timelines May to October 2015 – Code Review Committee met biweekly November 18, 2015 – Code Presented to Board of Appeals January 13, 2016 – Joint Worksession on Code Changes for Planning Commission & Board of County Commissioners February 17, 2016 – Planning Commission Hearing March 7, 2016 – Board of County Commissioners Hearing April 25, 2016 – Code Update Training, Fort Collins April 27, 2016 – Code Update Training , Estes Park May 1, 2016 – 2015 Codes Go Into Effect

4. 2015 Code Review Committee The following community members served on the committee, along with bldg. dept. staff: • Joseph Bastian, Arconstructure • Greg Black, Structural Engineers Association of Colorado • Gary Dennison, Vaught Frye Architects • Mitch Greeno, Philgreen Construction • Paul Higman, GS Services • Dale Jones, Structural Engineer • Brandon Myers, Westmark Homes • Russ Weber, Safebuilt

5. Significant LOCAL Changes to 2015 Codes Administrative Provisions (Permits Required, Exemptions, Expiration, As-Built Permits) Structural Design Criteria (Snow & Wind Loads) Fire Separation of Homes from Garages, Shops, Barns, and Similar Structures Energy Efficiency

6. IRC Permit Exemptions R105.2 Remember: Exempt work still must meet code minimum requirements 3. Technical change to definition of which retaining walls need permits [See Figure 105.2.3] 8. Elevated playhouses not over 64 square feet area nor 8 feet high from floor to highest point 10. Removed size limits on decks not over 30” high and not part of the required exit 13. Replacement of non-structural siding 14. Private greenhouses with max. 6-mil poly roof materials and no utilities. 15. Solar thermal and PV systems on structures otherwise exempt from permit requirements. 16. Bridges or culverts constructed under another county permit , culverts and private pedestrian bridges that serve only one residence and are not in a regulatory floodplain or county-designated major drainage way, which can be found at http://larimer.org/engineering/floodplain/majordrainage_map.htm.

7. Retaining Walls Exempt from Permit Requirements – IRC 105.2 #3

8. Private Bridge and Culvert Permits What is a, crossing? A crossing is a bridge or culvert that is designed to allow the movement of people or equipment across streams, rivers creeks, or irrigation ditches. Why do crossings need Building Permits? Properly designed and constructed crossings ensure public safety and compliance with drainage and floodplain requirements. Are there other County Permits required for my crossing? Other County permits that may also be applicable for your project are a Floodplain Development Permit, Right-of-Way Work Permit, Access Permit, Private Road Construction Permit, and Development Construction Permit. See http://larimer.org/engineering/access/index.htm for details on what other permits may be applicable. Primary Contacts: Eric Fried Building Official (970) 498-7705 Eric Tracy Floodplain Administrator (970) 498-5729

9. Bridge/Culvert Permit Submittal Requirements • A building permit application form • Five (5) copies of a plot plan • Drawn to scale showing location of the crossing (See Plot Plan Requirements Handout) • Two (2) sets of plans • Plans must be signed and stamped by a registered Colorado professional engineer. • Plans for culverts must include detailed manufacture’s specifications showing the allowable loads and installation instructions, or be designed and stamped by a registered Colorado professional engineer. • Plans for a crossing of an irrigation ditch must be signed by an appropriate representative of the affected Irrigation Company • One (1) copy of the hydraulic and erosion protection analysis • Signed and stamped by a qualified professional engineer Prior to a letter of completion from the Building Department, the applicant must submit to the Building Department a certification letter, signed and stamped by a Colorado registered professional engineer, verifying: • The crossing was inspected during the construction process. • The construction was completed pursuant to the approved set of building plans.

10. Structural Design Criteria • Wind • Snow • Seismic • Flood

11. Table 301.2 (1) Climactic and Geographic Design Criteria (Additional criteria shall be established by the local jurisdiction and set forth in Table 301.2 (1) No prescriptive tables for rafters above 70 psf ground snow load in IRC, IBC or WFCM will require engineered design anyway.

13. Why Higher Ground Snow Loads? • Building Code maps have always required the Larimer County Building Official to determine local snow loads • Existing Ground Snow Loads in Larimer County did not comply to any recognized engineering study – data was closer to roof snow loads • Engineering practice allows reduction of roof snow loads depending on factors like exposure, slope, roof type, heating • Many, if not most, engineers were designing roofs to withstand higher snow loads than the minimum allowed by the county • Recent County Strategic Planning Initiative directed Building Official to look at local codes and determine if they were adequate to protect against natural hazards like flood, fire, high wind & heavy snow • AT the same time, the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado was completing a new, comprehensive, statewide snow load study recommending higher ground snow loads be used

16. What does this mean for me? • IRC prescriptive rafter design (Tables R802.5.1) for ground snow loads of 20, 30, 50 and 70 psf • Interpolation between tables is allowed • No prescriptive tables above 70 psf = Engineered Design Required • Can use IBC and ASCE 7-10 for allowable reductions from ground to roof snow load • Roof snow load design will be 30 psf, minimum • Most roofs are framed with engineered trusses - truss designers will need to use the new snow loads

17. Table 301.2 (1) Climactic and Geographic Design Criteria (Additional criteria shall be established by the local jurisdiction and set forth in Table 301.2 (1) No prescriptive tables for rafters above 70 psf ground snow load in IRC, IBC or WFCM will require engineered design anyway.

22. R301.2.1.1 Wind limitations and wind design required In regions where wind design is required in accordance with Figure R301.2(4)B, the design of buildings for wind loads shall be in accordance with one or more of the following methods: 6. Larimer County’s Prescriptive Design Limitations in High Wind Areas Exceeding 110 mph DELETED Pole barns and loafing sheds may be still be built per Larimer County’s Prescriptive Design Standards

23. Looking up Site Wind & Snow Loads On the web, go to maps.larimer.org/wsil (wind snow information locator) Input address, parcel number, or name in search box on right; app will display site elevation, snow load, wind load, wildfire hazard area, roof classification, ice/water shield requirement. WSIL is currently displaying 2012 code values After May 1, 2016, WSIL will display new snow loads Wind speeds will not change except that values displayed will be Ultimate not Nominal Design Design your snow loads now to 2015 values based on elevation

24. NOTE: Larimer County amendment to Section R302.1 effects size and fire separation between accessory structures and residential dwellings

25. Fire separation of homes from garages, shops, barns, sheds R302.1 Exterior walls. Construction, projections, openings and penetrations of exterior walls of dwellings and accessory buildings shall comply with Table R302.1(1); or dwellings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section R313 shall complywith Table R302.1(2). Accessory structures exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. in floor area within the fire separation distance shall be separated from the dwelling by a Fire Containment Assembly as defined in 2015 International Building Code Section 702.1  Exceptions: 2. Walls of dwellings and accessory structures located more than six (6) feet apart on the same lot.

26. What’s a Fire Containment Area? IBC 702.1 as amended by Larimer County: Fire-Containment Area. A portion of a story or basement which is totally enclosed by a smoke and draft barrier of not less than 1-hour, fire-resistive construction. All door openings penetrating such fire-containment areas shall be protected by a tight-fitting, smoke and draft control assembly as specified in Sections 716.5.3, 716.5.5 and 716.5.9. Openings other than doors and ducts shall be protected as specified in Sections 716.6 and 716.6.5 and shall be limited to a maximum of 25 percent of any one wall, in compliance with section 716.6.7.2. All duct penetrations shall be protected by dampers as specified in section 717, Table 717.3.2.1, and section 717.3.3.2 (smoke dampers), except that such dampers shall be automatic closing by actuation of a smoke detector. Self-closing devices may be used in lieu of automatic closing devices on doors unlikely to be fixed open during normal conditions, such as doors at toilet rooms, stairways, closets, small storage rooms and similar areas.

27. What does that mean for me? • Utility buildings up to 5,000 sq. ft. have the same requirements as now, if attached or within 6’ at the closest point to the home, including overhangs and projections: ½” gypsum walls, 5/8” ceilings, self-closing firedoors • Barns/shops/garages at least 6’ from homes have no fire protection requirements • Larger barns/shops/garages within 6’ of the home (the “Fire Separation Distance”) need to meet a higher fire protection standard • WHY? Code writers may not envision a 20-car garage or 10,000 sq. ft. barn attached to a home. In our opinion, ½” gypsum walls and a 20-minute rated door are not enough of a safety margin for “unlimited” size accessory areas • On the plus side, we will no longer need to go to the IBC and its 2-hour Firewall or sprinkler requirements, for larger attached barns/garages

28. Wildfire Mitigation Change • As part of the Strategic Planning effort, we looked at local Wildfire Hazard Area regulations in effect for almost 20 years • We decided wholesale changes, such as adopting the Wildland-Urban Interface Code, were not needed and would not help much • ONE Change was made to slow the spread of fire through burning embers landing in grass or shrubs next to wood-sided houses

29. R327.5 Fire-Resistive Construction Fire-resistive construction on all new structures shall be one of the following types: • One-hour fire-resistive shell shall provide not less than one-hour fire-resistive construction at all exterior walls, excluding all openings and decks. • Exterior siding materials shall have a flame-spread classification of Class C or better. Exterior siding shall be composed entirely of non-combustible materials for a minimum of three (3) feet above finished grade. • Exceptions: Log homes using solid logs with a minimum tip diameter of 6 inches for exterior wall construction and 8 inches for roof beams, purlins and supporting columns may be considered as one-hour fire-resistive construction. R327.6 Defensible Space. Defensible space in compliance with current Colorado State Forest Service guidelines shall be required on all new construction in the Wildfire Hazard Area. Any landscaping materials or natural ground cover within three (3) feet of the exterior walls of the building shall be non-combustible. Bottom Line: No combustible siding or ground cover allowed at final inspection within 3’ up or out at exterior grade in the Wildfire Hazard Area

30. R313 – No changes Sprinklers continue to NOT be required in single family homes by local amendment to the IRC. Sprinklers may still be required by subdivision conditions of approval or for homes in the Berthoud Fire District.

31. R302.13 Fire Protection of Floors (Old Section R501.3) • Floor Assemblies that are not required elsewhere in this code to be fire-resistance rated shall be provided with ½ inch gypsum wallboard membrane….. Remains deleted by local amendment

33. A small sampling of IRC Updates For more information, please purchase ICC’s “Significant Changes to the International Residential Code, 2015 Edition” from www.iccsafe.org

38. Hard-wiring is required for new construction. Battery-operated and plug-in allowed for alterations, additions and repairs. Mechanical and plumbing work does not require CO alarms.

40. By local amendment, makeup air only required for exhaust hoods over 600 cfm, not 400 cfm

41. By local amendment, pump failure must sound audible alarm in habitable space, not shut down equipment, which could cause more damage from frozen pipes than pump failure

42. By local amendment, a10 PSI air test is still allowed as an alternative for testing DWV pipe. Water tests are not practical much of the year.

45. 2015 IBC/commercial code changes • Similar to IRC: • Same additions to permit exceptions • Updated Snow and wind load criteria • Same Wildfire Hazard Area Amendment • Exempted New Commercial Buildings under 15,000 sq. ft & Additions/Alterations from Commissioning Requirements • Rooftop Photovoltaic Panels must be Class C fire-rated minimum (instead of same classification as roof covering)

46. Questions?Comments? Other Code Sections to Discuss (if time allows)?

47. Want more information on 2015 Code Changes? • Contact us if you would like us to e-mail you a list of Significant Changes to the Commercial codes, prepared by Stan Griep, Commercial Plans Examiner • Significant Changes to the 2015 IBC, and 2015 IPC, IMC & IFGC are also available from www.iccsafe.org • This powerpoint presentation will soon be posted to www.larimer.org/building, and available to download

48. The End (Almost)Thank you for coming. We hope the code update training will be useful to you as you work in Larimer County in coming years.Have a good rest of your day/week.Eric FriedBuilding Officialon behalf of all the public servants workingin the Community Development Division

49. Followup and Contact Information Please help us make this update training better. You can fill out this page and leave it here, drop it off at our office, mail it to us, or send an email to efried@larimer.org For further contact info, go to www.larimer.org/building On a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best) I found the training to be: ______ Informative ______ Relevant to my work Was the training: ___ too short ____ too long ___ just right? I learned of the training from: ____e-mail ___website ___other I still have questions about (take as much space as you need, feel free to use the back or add additional pages): _______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

50. Follow-up questions (continued) I still have questions about: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Any suggestions for changes or improvements: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (You can be anonymous but we will not be able to contact you): Name ___________________________ Phone #:_________________ Email address: ___________________________ Professional affiliation (if any) _____________________________