Building Code Review Board

Regular Meeting

DeKalb, IL · August 13, 2015

Minutes

CITY OF DEKALB BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES August 13, 2015 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:00 AM by Chairman Whitmore. BBA Members present were Chairman Don Whitmore, Charles Shepard, and Lisa Sharp. Also present were Ken Anderson, Steve Doonan, Jerry Evans, Dennie Elliot, Will Heinisch, Randy Nelson, and Christine Scholl. Keith O’Higgens and Dan Hager were unable to attend. Staff present were Community Development Director Ellen Divita, Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hoyle, and Dan Burrow of SAFEbuilt. Ellen Divita acted as recording Secretary. There was no change made to the agenda. With spelling corrections, a motion was made to approve the July 16, 2015 minutes by Chuck Shepard. Second by Jerry Evans. All approved. DISCUSSION OF THE CODE UPDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION: SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS o Mechanical. Steve Doonan was welcomed to the group. Steve discussed the gas piping requirements of the code as proposed by the regional group. All high pressure gas lines and all 2” and above pipe to be welded. o Electric. No discussion. Chairman Whitmore will call Dan Hager and Lance Ferris to discuss. o Plumbing. No report. o IBC (commercial). The group has reviewed some good comparison documents, including one from the City of Galesburg found on-line, and the ICC docs. Lisa and Christine Scholl will write up comments. The Regional group eliminated the Accessibility chapter and replaced with the Illinois; Christine will check for any conflicts and needed amendments within other sections. o Fire. Greg Hoyle has received the transition documents referencing the upgrades from 2006 forward and will begin reviewing. o IRC. Dan is preparing narrative on the changes. o Existing Building Code. The point system is still within the 2015 Code and this was discussed briefly. The group will look at what a change of use or additions will mean for an older building. If a use stays the same, the code application is less stringent. With fire suppression in place, there is often enough points to overcome other requirements. The newer codes consider earthquakes, and the group will review for what that may mean. GENERAL DISCUSSION 081315 Building Board of Appeals Meeting 1 In general discussion the group discussed the Area of Refuge, 300 s.f. of non-accessible space allowed in religious structures, IBC requirement of manual fire alarms in assembly uses with 300 occupants (and proposed amendment for 100 occupants – they feel the latter may be too stringent), The regional group has taken out a consideration to require an outside power connect, based on new information from Commonwealth Edison (and their ability to de-power a structure through the smart grid system). The DCBDA members asked why the City is considering an upgrade of the Codes. BBA members noted these benefits: o Potential ability to influence State Codes (as a group); more important as the Energy, Accessibility, and Plumbing codes are updated without room for variance. o Consistency is a benefit for construction design professionals working across the region. o To benefit from the extensive work done in Rockford by a large group of industry professionals who have already considered the update. o Keeping the code books current can affect insurance ratings in a positive way o A thought we should get as far ahead as we can since we’ll most likely sit on the next codes for 9-12 years again. The adopted codes of other cities was discussed including: Naperville is on 2012’s, Batavia, sycamore are using 2006’s. Geneva has a mix of 2006 and 2009’s. St. Charles is in the 2009 code. The group discussed fire suppression and the regional group’s decision to exempt sprinklers in single family homes (with appropriate fire proofing), but to require them for townhomes. IRC fire protection on I- joists is an issue and Ken Anderson said he is researching the new materials including joists and sprinkler systems. He has a meeting set with Weyerhauser. The builders present are against the requirement for sprinklers in townhomes. The definition of what a townhouse is will affect the sprinkler application. The BBA said they will consider the definition, use of firewalls, and number of units. Updates o The DeKalb County Builders Association is hosting a meeting the following week with Andrew Pieri of Rockford coming to speak and discuss the proposed code. o Greg Hoyle – Rockford Work Group Schedule timeline --  September 9, 2015 final document is their concern.  They still expect January 1, 2016 to move forward.  A Standard building permit is being created  3 regional areas have been chosen for training. (Dixon, DeKalb, Rockford)  They continue to talk to other communities and there may be more that sign on. o The next Building Board of Appeals meeting is set for September 3, 2015, 9 AM at DeKalb City Hall.  All should reach out to other community members interested in working on revie  Each work group should work to present a written reports that can be used for community education.  If you have anything prepared, get it to Ellen the week before the next meeting. HEARING AND SEEING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM ATTENDEES, THE CHAIRMAN CLOSED THE MEETING AT 9:25 AM.

Agenda

BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 200 S FOURTH STREET COUNCIL CHAMBERS THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 – 9:00 A.M. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA (Deletions or Additions) APPROVAL OF MINUTES NEW BUSINESS 1. Committee reports on draft Regional Building Code review activity (committee composition, work underway, next steps for the subcommittee) Mechanical Electric Plumbing IBC (commercial) Fire IRC. Existing Building Code 2. Additional Information from Rockford Draft Illinois Energy IEC Code for January 2017 November Training sessions: Rockford, Dixon, DeKalb 3. Work Tasks Timeline to review and identify all needed changes within current code DeKalb suggested amendments Calendar for subcommittee work and community meetings ANYTHING THAT MAY LEGALLY COME BEFORE THE BOARD ADJOURNMENT CITY OF DEKALB BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES July 16, 2015 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:00 AM by Chairman Whitmore. BBA Members present were Chairman Don Whitmore, Charles Shepard, Jim Ward, and Lisa Sharp. Also present were Keith O’Higgens, Ken Anderson, Christine Scholl, and Jerry Evans. Steve Doonan and Dan Hager were unable to attend. Staff present were Ellen Divita, Chief Hicks, Deputy Chief Greg Hoyle, Dan Burrows and Reese Menard. Ellen Divita acted as recording Secretary. Approval of agenda CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was no change made to the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made to approve the July 2, 2015 minutes by Jim Ward, Second by Jerry Evans. All approved. NEW BUSINESS Finalize committees to review the draft Regional Building Code o Mechanical. Keith O’Higgens has spoken with Steve Noonan. They don’t see concerns over the amendments proposed. They are now going to go through the whole code to identify any concerns specific to DeKalb. Discussion ensued regarding the Illinois Energy Code. Commissioners discussed concerns over the problems that occur when newer higher efficiency appliances are not installed correctly; outside piping is required and not all are installing that way. Homes have become so tight that in proper installation can lead to problem with combustible air with the flue for one appliance becoming the intake for another; this is addressed in the mechanical code. The older homes are drafty posing few concerns to put the newer appliances in. o Electric. No discussion. o Plumbing. Jerry Evans discussed concerns over piping materials not being pre-stamped and problems caused by corrugated gas lines. Black Iron pipe is old school. To use new products will take education. The code does require everything be installed according to manufacturer’s specs. We should look at the sections related to piping to make sure we believe the code covers the subject adequately. They will need to eliminate the IBC plumbing code, as they will adopt the Illinois. o IBC (commercial). Lisa Sharp has found some good powerpoint presentations following the changes from 2006 to 2009 to 2012. She has already shared the document identifying 2009 and 2012 to 2015. Rockford didn’t choose to omit the accessibility sections from the IBC because they didn’t choose any amendments. We’ll need to look at Chapter 11 and make sure we’re clear on how it differs from the State code. She referenced a recent design job in a community that required design elements more stringent than the IAC and added over $20,000 in cost. The state says communities can choose which is more stringent: IAC, IBC, or IRC. Lisa and Christine Scholl will write up comments. Christine reviewed some comments she had observed on the Rockford IBC amendments. These will be shared with the Rockford group; she will join Ellen and Greg at the next Rockford meeting. o Fire. Greg Hoyle has ordered the transition documents referencing the upgrades from 2006 forward and will begin reviewing. o IRC. Dan is preparing narrative on the changes. o Existing Building Code. No report. In general discussion it was noted that some of our contractors are more closely alined to the communities to the east, not north to Rockford/ Winnebago county. The benefit of having access to Rockford resources and a voice in Springfield was listed as a benefit. Ken Anderson said he feels that new codes add expenses to the home. For example we amended out rise and run numbers in stairs. It was noted that the greatest expense is from elements of energy code and as this is state code, we have no choice. He stated the builders he has reached out to have said they are too busy to participate. He’ll continue to reach out and he’ll talk to other home builder groups. Each work group should work to present a written reports that can be used for community education. If you have anything prepared, get it to Ellen the week before the next meeting. Our permit doesn’t list who the architect is. A suggestion made to do so. Updates o Greg Hoyle – Rockford Work Group Schedule timeline --  July 23, 2015 all groups meeting. Will bring everyone in to voice final concerns.  September 9, 2015 final document is their concern. They are way ahead. They expect January 1, 2016 to move forward.  A Standard building permit is being created  3 regional areas have been chosen for training. (Dixon, DeKalb, Rockford considered – even if we don’t move forward, we can offer and this will be educational)  Rockford would like an area agreement. We could adopt some of theirs, and some with amendments. Dan says Sycamore, Rochelle are watching us.  We are second largest community and they are hoping we will be on board. o Dan Burrows – ICC code information o All - Other community members interested in working on review Additional Work Tasks o Community meetings to discuss the codes as proposed by the group, or with DeKalb specific amendments. No decisions made. o Timeline to review and identify all needed changes within current code. No decisions made. HEARING AND SEEING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT FROM ATTENDEES, THE CHAIRMAN CLOSED THE MEETING AT 9:15 AM.