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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 3466-2025KENAI CITY OF KENAI ORDINANCE NO. 3466-2025 Sponsored by: Administration AN ORDINANCE AMENDING KENAI MUNICIPAL CODE, CHAPTER 4.32 RESIDENTIAL CODE, TO REINSTATE PROVISIONS RELATED TO ENGINEERED DESIGN AND LOCATION, INCLUDING FIRE CODE PROTECTION ON FLOORS PROVISIONS OF THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE. WHEREAS, the current residential code prohibits buildings to exceed prescriptive path limits of the International Residential Code (IRC); and, WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of new housing developments to provide safe design paths for new house construction; and, WHEREAS, repealing and amending these code sections will retain building safety while giving additional design options is in the best interest of the City and its residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Amendment of Section 4.32.015 of Kenai Municipal Code: That Kenai Municipal Code, Section 4.32.015, Local Amendments to the 2021 International Residential Code amended as follows: R105.2 Work Exempt from Permit. Amend #1 to read: One story accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 300 square feet. Permits are required for any electrical, mechanical or plumbing provided. Amend #10 to read: Freestanding decks not structurally attached to another building and not exceeding 30 inches above grade. R105.5 Expiration. Amend by adding a new sentence to read: A building permit shall expire two (2) years after the date of issuance unless an extension has been granted and approved by the building official. Extensions to a building permit may not exceed 6 months. R107.3 Temporary Power. Amend by deleting the reference to "NFPA 70" and replacing it with "Electrical Code adopted by KMC." R108.3 Building Permit Valuations. Amend by inserting a new sentence after the first sentence to read: New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3466-2025 Page 2 of 6 The Building Valuation Data Table shown in the latest edition of the Building Safety Journal published by the International Code Council shall be used to determine value. R108.4 Related Fees. Amend by inserting a new sentence after the first sentence to read: Any person who commences any work on a building before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to an additional fee, equal to the cost of the building permit. Section R112 Board of Appeals. Delete the entire section. Refer to KMC Chapter 4.40. Section R113.4 Violation Penalties. Delete the entire section. Refer to KMC Chapter 4.40. [R301.1.3 ENGINEERED DESIGN. DELETE THE ENTIRE SECTION.] Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria. Add the following information to the table: Ground Snow Load 70 PSF Wind Speed 100 mph Seismic Design Category D2 Subject to Damage from: Weathering Yes, severe Frost Line Depth 42" Termite No Decay No Winter Design Temperature -18 deg F Flood Hazards No Ice Shield Underlayment Required Yes Air Freezing Index 3000 New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3466-2025 Page 3 of 6 Mean Annual Temperature 135 degrees R301.2.2.1.2 Alternate Determination of Seismic Design Category. Amend by deleting paragraphs R301.2.2.1.2, R301.2.2.2, and Table R301.2.2.1.1 and replacing them with the following: The seismic design category for the City of Kenai shall be D2. R302.13 Fire protection of floors. Delete exception #2 to and relace with: 2. Floor assemblies located directly over a crawl space shall be permitted to be unprotected where complying with either of the following: 2.1 The crawl space not intended for storage or for the installation of fuel -fired or electric -powered heating appliances. 2_2 If the crawl space contains an a direct -vent sealed combustion appliance with forced draft exhaust; combustion air intake must terminate to the building exterior. Application of this exception requires installation of a Smoke Alarm in the crawl space in accordance with the requirement of Section R314 Smoke alarms with the exce tion of R314.3 Location and a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in accordance with the requirements of Section R315 Carbon Monoxide Alarms, with the exception of R315.3 Location. R302.2.4 Structural Independence. Amend by deleting the phrase "one -hour fire resistance rated wall' and replacing it with "two-hour fire resistance rated wall unless sprinklered per NFPA 13D." R302.2.4 Structural Independence. Delete Exception #5 and replace with: 5. Townhouses separated by a common 2-hour fire resistance rated wall as provided in Section R302.2 or a 1-hour wall as provided in Section R302.2 and sprinklered per NFPA 13D. R302.5.1 Opening Protection. Amend the second sentence by adding the words "self closing" before the words "solid wood doors." Table R302.6 DwellinglGarage Separation. Amend by replacing all references to 1/2-inch material with references to 5/8-inch material. R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems. Delete the entire section. [R314.3 LOCATION. AMEND THE FIRST SENTENCE OF #3 TO READ: 3. ON EACH ADDITIONAL STORY OF THE DWELLING, INCLUDING BASEMENTS, HABITABLE ATTICS AND CRAWL SPACES BUT NOT INCLUDING UNINHABITABLE ATTICS.] R316.5.4 Crawl Spaces. Add the following: New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3466-2025 Page 4 of 6 Exception: Foam plastics used in crawl space areas do not require thermal barrier provided the following conditions are met: 1. Entry to crawl space is only to serve utilities. 2. There are no interconnected basement areas. 3. Air to the crawl space is not circulated to other parts of the building. 4. Foam plastic does not exceed a 2-inch thickness and a 2.5 pounds per cubic foot nominal density. 5. Ventilation complying with section R408 is provided. 6. No gas -fired equipment is located in crawl space. R401.1 Application. Add the following exception 3: Wood foundations shall have a minimum 16-inch x 10-inch reinforced concrete footing. R402.1.3 Restraint for Wood Foundations. Add a new subsection, R402.1.3 Restraint for Wood Foundations, to read: Basement. A 4-inch thick concrete slab poured against the studs. If a wooden screed is used, it shall be pressure treated Douglas fir or hem fir. Crawlspace. Option 1: A minimum 5-inch wide by 4-inch deep concrete curb poured against the inside face of the studs. The kicker shall be reinforced with a continuous horizontal No. 3 reinforcing bar. If the kicker is not poured with the continuous concrete footing, it may be poured later provided vertical #3 reinforcing bars x 10 inches long shall be cast into the footing at 2 feet on center. They shall extend 2 inches above the top of the footing. The continuous #3 bar shall be secured to the vertical #3 bars. Option 2: Installation of preservative treated 4" x 4"s with a minimum 1/2" x 12" galvanized anchor bolts at 24" O.C. installed in footing against the inside face of studs along the entire perimeter. Exception: The above need not apply if a suitable alternate design is prepared by an engineer registered in the State of Alaska and is approved by the Building Official. R402.1.4 Dampproofing for Wood Foundation Walls. Add a new subsection, R402.1.4 Dampproofing for Wood Foundation Walls, to read: Approved dampproofing shall be applied over the below -grade portion of exterior basement and crawispace walls prior to backfilling. A treated lumber or plywood strip shall be attached to the wall to cover the top edge of the approved dampproofing. The wood strip shall extend at least two (2) inches above and five (5) inches below finish grade level to protect the New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3466-2025 Page 5of6 approved dampproofing from exposure to light and from mechanical damage at or near grade. The joint between the strip and the wall shall be caulked full length prior to fastening the strip to the wall. Alternatively, brick, stucco, or other covering appropriate to the architectural treatment may be used in place of the wood strip. The approved dampproofing shall extend down to the bottom of the concrete footing. R403.1.1 Minimum Size. Amend the third sentence to read: All footings shall be at least 10 inches in thickness. R403.1.3 Seismic Reinforcing. Revise the second paragraph first sentence by changing "4 feet" to "24 inches." R403.1.6 Foundation Anchorage. Amend by deleting the phrase "6 feet on center" and replacing it with "four feet on center." Further amend by deleting the measure of 1/2 inch" and replacing it with "5/8 inch." R404.1.4 Seismic Design Category Do, D, and D2. Add Subsection 5 to read "minimum reinforcement shall consist of No. 4 horizontal bar placed at 24" on center for poured concrete walls and No. 5 horizontal bar placed at 48" on center for CMU walls." Revise Subsection 3 by deleting the word "plain." Revise Subsection 4 by changing the changing the number "3" to "S' and the words 'A feet" to "32 inches" and adding to the end of the paragraph "and minimum vertical reinforcement of one No. 4 bar located a maximum of 24 inches on center in poured concrete walls." R404.3 Wood Sill Plates. Delete the paragraph and substitute with the following: Wood sill plates shall be minimum 2-inch x 6-inch and shall be bolted to the foundation or foundation wall with not less than ten (10) inch -long by five -eighths (5/8) inch nominal diameter galvanized steel bolts embedded at least seven (7) inches into the concrete or in fully grouted cells of reinforced masonry and spaced not more than four (4) feet zero (0) inches apart. There shall be a minimum of two bolts per piece with one bolt located within 12 inches of each end of each piece. Wood sill plates must be treated material specified in Section R323.1. R702.3.5.1 Screw Fastening. Amend by adding the following sentence at the end of the paragraph: Gypsum board shall be attached with screws. Nails are not allowed. R806.1 Ventilation Required. Amend by adding the following sentence to the end of the paragraph: A non -ventilated roof system may be allowed as an alternate method when its design is approved by the Building Official. Section 2. Severability: That if any part or provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstances is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3466-2025 Page 6 of 6 be confined in its operation to the part, provision, or application directly involved in all controversy in which this judgment shall have been rendered, and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this title or application thereof to other persons or circumstances. The City Council hereby declares that it would have enacted the remainder of this ordinance even without such part, provision, or application. Section 3. Effective Date: That pursuant to KMC 1.15.070(f), this ordinance shall take effect 30 days after enactment. r - ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, Introduced: April 16, 2025 Enacted: May 7, 2025 Effective: June 6, 2025 New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 00"_ 0 'K� NAI City of Kenai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.7535 1 www.kenai.city MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Gabriel and Council Members THROUGH: Terry Eubank, City Manager FROM: Joe Fisher, Building Official DATE: April 4, 2025 SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 3466-2025 - Amending Kenai Municipal Code, Chapter 4.32 Residential Code, to Reinstate Provisions Related to Engineered Design and Location, Including Fire Code Protection on Floors Provisions of the 2021 International Residential Code. This memo supports the removal of the following Sections from Title 4-Uniform Codes, of the Kenai Municipal Code. 1) Remove Section 4.32.015 Subparagraph R301.1.3 Engineered Design. This subparagraph deals with non -prescriptive design. 2) Amend Section 4.32.015 by Adding Subparagraph R302.13 Fire Protection of Floors. This subparagraph deals with Under floor fire protection. 3) Remove Section 4.32.015 Subparagraph R314.3 Location. This subparagraph deals with location of Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Alarms. Subparagraph R301.1.3 deletes the provision that allows structural elements exceeding the limits of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) to be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice thus exceeding the limits of the IRC. Without this provision all houses and building built to the IRC could not exceed the design limitations of the IRC. Subparagraph R302.13 amendment would allow an additional option for Fire Protection of floors. This additional option would allow Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms as an alternative to fire protection of floors in crawlspaces when a sealed combustion heating appliance is installed in the crawl space. This is a practice is common in most of our neighboring jurisdictions. Subparagraph R314.3 was an amendment that will fall under new subparagraph R302.13. While this ordinance would eliminate two subparagraphs and add another subparagraph it does not reduce building safety. These amendments would however give our contractors and homeowners options. Thank you for your consideration.