Building Code Board of Appeals Agenda and Packet 2009 09 17

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6. Mercantile type occupancies (retail) that are used primarily for the display and sale of upholstered furniture will be required to have an approved fire sprinkler system. THERE IS NO SIZE THRESHOLD FOR THIS REQUIREMENT. We will be working with North Metro to possibly offer an amendment to put in a size threshold. 7. Areas of refuge (protected areas for disabled persons) will not be required by exit stairs if building has an approved fire sprinkler system. This exception was located in the 2003 IBC but was deleted in the 2006 IBC. It is now back in the 2009 IBC. 8. Approved two way communication systems will be required at all required elevator landings. These systems will allow a disable person to contact an approved location in order to let them know they are waiting at that elevator landing for rescue assistance. 9. A new code section will require the field inspector to measure the dimensions of stair risers and treads exclusive of carpets, rugs, or runners. We will be suggesting an amendment to delete carpets from this new section since our field inspectors will need to be measuring these dimensions at time of building completion and the carpet is always installed at that time. This will also allow the field inspector to make sure that the allowable tolerances are met between carpet and hard surfaces such as wood or tile which all can have much different thicknesses. 10. Guards are required to be located at the edge of a walking surface when the change of elevation from the walking surface is over 30" above the adjacent lower surface. There is new wording that requires the field inspector to measure out 36" horizontally from the edge and then measure down to lower surface when determining if it is over 30" difference. 11. Swimming Pool entrapment avoidance requirements (that prevent a person from being held down by water pressure on the swimming pool drains and drowning) have been modified to match the new Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act that went into effect in early 2009.