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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0222 MinutesBUILDING COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, February 22,2011,2010,2:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Hudgens; Steve Silva; Tom Lohbauer and Joe Nickels MEMBERS ABSENT: Chuck Kellenberger; Dave Teas and Dick Sinnet STAFF PRESENT: Raoul Johnston; Marc Mylott, Dave Decker; Steve Bone; Gary Line; Ron Sessions; Chief John Fahy and Sandra Kolba VISITORS: Dave Ryan, Walker Parking (possible replacement for the retiring Joe Nickels) CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Pat Hudgens at 2:03 p.m., in the 2nd Floor South Tower Conference Room. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the November 9, 2010, meeting were presented. A motion was made by Joe Nickels and seconded by Tom Lohbauer to approve the minutes and the minutes of that meeting were unanimously approved. Before the meeting started, Raoul Johnston introduced Fire Chief John Fahy to the members of the Commission and the staff. All attendees introduced themselves to the Chief as well. Raoul indicated that this is the first time that the Building Commission will be reviewing the Fire Code. Raoul had handed out the I.F.C. books at the last meeting and asked the attendees if, upon their review, there may be something that they would need direction on? Joe Nickels asked if staff had made any recommendations yet and Raoul indicated that it had not yet made any recommendations. CHAPTER 4: Section 403.3 - Crowd Management (2009): No discussion was had on this Section. Section 404.2 - Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans for Group B and Group R -2 2006 : This Section discusses plans for different types of occupancy. The Section changed a little bit from last cycle, but nothing unusual. Raoul indicated that it was easily discernable and easily enforceable and Ron Sessions agreed that it was good. Section 404.3.3 - Lockdown Plans (2009 No discussion was had on this Section. CHAPTER 5: Section 503.5 - Appendix D Section 103.5, Required Gates or Barricades (2009 No discussion was had on this Section. Section 505.1 - Address Identification (2009 This section indicates that address identification should be 4" but, in all the other Codes already discussed, the requirement is 5" numbers. It was agreed that this Section should be amended to increase the size of the numbers from 4" to 5 ". All present agreed. The Chief indicated that the size and location of the identification numbers are a problem mainly for ambulance responses. Dave Decker indicated that identification numbers are a real problem in the Historic Districts. Pat Hudgens suggested that somehow the community should be made aware of the problem with size and location of house numbers and Marc suggested that this concern could be addressed on the Public Access Channel on its "Did You Know ?" segment. Section 504.3 - Stairway Access to Roof: Although this Section was included in the cheat sheet that Raoul had prepared, he indicated that it had changed in a good way for the fire department. Steve Silva indicated that he had run into a situation in Aurora where there was a budget issue involved and he worked with the city and the builder to allow a ship - ladder type of staircase with an oversize access devise to be used in place of an actual stairway and wondered if the City of Elgin would be open to considering that type of device. Ron Sessions indicated that it was okay with the fire department. Joe Nickels indicated that it might interfere with the building height obstruction issue. It was agreed that, before the Committee could make a decision on this Section, additional research would need to be done by staff, at which time staff could make a recommendation for specific verbiage. The Committee agreed to table this issue and revisit it at a future meeting. Section 510, Appendix 1, Emergency ponder Radio Coverage (2009 Raoul indicated that this Section was not in the 2006 Code and was installed into the I.F.C. in 2009 regarding signal strength in buildings. The Chief indicated that anything new regarding this Section is good if added to the Code. Raoul indicated that it will also be adopted in Appendix J. CHAPTER 6: Section 603.4.2 - Portable Outdoor Gas -Fired Heating Appliances (2009 This is a new Section covering rare occurrences where there would be a portable outdoor gas -fired heating devices on places such as patios in restaurants and bars for example. It was agreed that it was a good Section allowing the control of the location of these devices around people and exits. The Chief indicated that he felt that this was a good addition to the Code. Section 606.8, 606.9.1 - Refrigerant Detection and Refrigeration System Emergencv Shutoff (2009 This is also a new Section and is a bonus for emergency personnel and employees in facilities where refrigeration is used, such as SanFillipo. All agreed. Section 608 - Stationary Serge Battery Systems 20091: Raoul indicated that there were several changes in this Section, all good and going in the right direction since wind and solar power will create the need for the use of batteries to store the power. Marc asked if this Section covers residential homes with solar panels and a battery system that would store that power and if so, were there some guidelines for that in this code? Raoul indicated that this code only took into consideration Commercial uses. Dave Decker indicated that there are no guidelines nor is it addressed in the I.R.C. Discussion ensued regarding the future use of solar and wind power and the need for battery storage of that power, how it would be identified in emergency situations, etc. It was agreed that, before the Committee could make a decision on this Section, additional research would need to be done by staff, at which time staff could make a recommendation for specific verbiage. The Committee agreed to table this issue and revisit it at a future meeting. 4 Section 609.3, 904.1.1.6 - Commercial Kitchen Hoods - Operation and Maintenance 2009 : This is also new in the code and all agreed that it is a good addition for the prevention of grease hood fires since inspections will be done on a more frequent basis. CHAPTER 9: Raoul prepared two handouts: 1) 2009 Fire Sprinkler Requirements; and 2) 2009 Fire Alarm Requirements. The Commission and Staff went through each item individually and commented accordingly. RE: Fire Sprinkler Requirements: After discussion, all code requirements for Use Groups A -1, A -2, A -3, A -4, B, E, F -1, F -2, H, I, M, R, S -1 and S -2 will remain as is. RE: Fire Alarm Requirements: After discussion, all code requirements for Use Groups E, H and I will remain as is. However, after discussion, the code requirements for Use Groups A -1, A -2, A -3, A -4, B, F -1, F -2, M, R, S -1 and S -2 will be amended to reflect alarms being required at 1,500 sq. ft. of tenant or building space. There was a continued discussion on the ramifications of changes in occupancies and the subsequent need for changes in the monitoring systems. Section 903.3.1.2.1 - Balconies and Decks - Automatic Fire Sprinkler Installation Requirements (2006 This Section requires sprinkler protection be provided for exterior balconies and decks and ground floor patios with roofs of dwelling units. Raoul indicated that only one developer who has wood decks has complained about this code. Also, most homeowners' associations are enforcing this code. All agreed that this was a good addition to the code. Section 903.6.2, 4603.4.2 - Group 1 -2 Occupancies (2009 Raoul indicated that this code was added for occupants who are not capable of self - preservation. All agreed that it is a good addition to the code. Section 904.11.5.1 - Portable Fire Extinguishers for Solid -Fuel Cooking Appliances 2006 : This section is added for places such as restaurants with wood grilling be required to have a fire extinguisher. Although this code will require more work for the inspectors, it was agreed that this was a good addition to the code. Section 90411 5 2 - Class I< Portable Fire Extinguishers for Deep -Fat Fryers (2006): It was agreed that this is a good addition to the code since the newer oils, without the trans fat, that are being used burn hotter so the need for this additional protection is warranted. Section 907 - Fire Alarm and Detection Systems: All discussion on this section was done when Fire Alarm Requirement handout was discussed earlier in the meeting. Section 910.1 - Smoke and Heat Vents for ESFR Sprinklers (2006): Raoul indicated that this was reviewed by the Commission when the I.B.C. was reviewed. Raoul read an excerpt from Codes and Standards by Kelly P. Reynolds and Associates, Inc. regarding a reader's question asking why the 400' travel distance for Groups F1 and S1 with fire sprinklers and roof vents were eliminated in the 2009 I.B.C.? The response was "A current lack of comprehensive understanding on the interaction between fire vents and fire sprinklers is the reason. Vents release smoke, heat and toxic gases. Premature smoke and heat vent activation was found in some tests to cause an excessive number of fire sprinklers to discharge. That condition may lead to the sprinkler system being overpowered by the demand. For now, the travel distance for F -1 and S -1 uses 250 ft. with fire sprinklers and 200 ft. without. No credit for roof vents." There was a suggestion to amend the code to have manual activation to be activated at the scene by the fire department. The Chief indicated that the fire department would not use that method until the fire was mitigated so it was not practical to put that constraint on the builder. Steve Silva asked whether a building that has a 400' compliance, if taken out, would it then be non - compliant and Ron Sessions thought that it would then be considered existing non- conforming and then apply to the previous code. Discussion continued regarding smoke venting and the 400' travel distance pros and cons and the actual logistics as to how the system works and how it may create a bigger problem with fires and sprinkler usages over the area. It was agreed that, before the Committee could make a decision on this Section, additional research would need to be done by staff, whereas they could put together a scenario. The Committee agreed to table this issue and revisit it at a future meeting and decide whether there should be some amendment to look at each project individually. C CHAPTER 10: Section 1003.2 - Minimum Ceiling Heights (2006): Raoul indicated that this code is specifically for Commercial/ Industrial with minimum ceiling heights at T6 ". He indicated that, generally, ceiling heights in those types of buildings are usually higher than that minimum, sometimes 8', 9' and as high as 10'. Marc wanted to make sure that this didn't interfere with the ceiling height restrictions in the I.R.C. and the I.P.M.C. It was agreed that there was no more need for discussion on this section as it was good as written. Section 1005.1 - Minimum Required Egress Width (2009): After a brief discussion, it was agreed that this Section is good as written. The time allotted for this meeting expired and it was agreed that discussion would continue on the balance of the itemized Sections at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS: No new business was discussed. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Joe Nickels to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 p.m., and seconded by Tom Lohbauer. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, hmdra L. Kolba Acting Secretarry� 0 Y Date: � — / I