Building Code Board of Appeals Agenda and Packet 2024 11 13

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Building Code Board of Appeals Agenda September 25, 2024 Page 3 of 56 Approval of Meeting Minutes from 8/28/24 The minutes were approved by all members present. Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. Review of Home Hardening Code ordinance Fire -Resistant Decking, Guardrails, and Lithium Storage Henderson agreed with the city's collaborative approach on fire-resistant decking and guardrails. She expressed concerns about combustible lithium energy storage systems and suggested more research for cost-effective fire protection solutions. She mentioned the toxicity of lithium -ion batteries installed indoors and proposed placing them outside homes with sealed boxes per the new code. She also raised the need to restrict storage of certain items in basements to mitigate fire risks for rescue crews. Root explained that the Fire Department and City requirement suggestions are similar. The requirement of fire resistant guardrails would not make a large difference and that they cannot hold up the requirements of 200+ pounds and the cost to increase to metal and/or cementitious product would dramatically increase the price. Lithium Storage The Board members do not think that the requirement for lithium battery storage to be outside the home does not belong as part of the "Home Hardening Code" since all the other items refer to fire starting from an exterior environment, such as a wildfire. This requirement refers to protection from a fire starting inside the home, so does not fall in line with the intent of the other items. Dino expressed that the exception which would allow the installation inside a garage if fire -suppression and fire -rated wall would be cost prohibitive to most homeowners since in most cases this would be retrofit to an existing structure. Gatto asked for clarification as to where this requirement originated. Root explained that it is in response to the Fire Department not being able to enter a