Building Codes Executive SummaryDevelopment Services
Building Services, Room 201
City -County Building
300 West Ash, P.O. Box 736
Salina, Kansas 67402-0736 Salim
Memorandum
TO: Salina City Commission
FROM: Jim Brown
DATE: April 4, 2016 & April 1 1 , 2016
SUBJECT: Code Adoption Study Session
Telephone 785-309-5715
Fax 785-309-5713
TDD 785-309-5747
E-mail building.services(o)salina.org
Website www.salina-ks.gov
Code officials, design professionals and the construction trades recognize the need for and
importance of updating building codes. The codes establish the minimum regulations for the
construction of buildings and have been amended to coincide with local construction practices.
The codes provide the regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities,
large and small. The building safety and fire prevention officials throughout the US and
internationally, stand as vigilant guardians, along with architects, engineers, builders,
tradespeople, laborers and others in the construction industry that work year-round to ensure the
safe construction of all buildings.
The building codes are updated every three years after receiving input from contractors, private
interested parties, manufacturers, design professionals and code enforcement staff throughout the
international community. Changes to the codes are carefully considered through an open code
development process in which all interested and affected parties may participate. Revisions,
amendments and additions to the code are presented and voted upon at the annual business
meetings of the International Code Conference (ICC) and the International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). Each new code cycle is provided with supporting
information including the significant changes, commentaries and multiple reference standards and
appendices.
The codes are available for adoption and use by jurisdictions internationally. The local governing
body has the authority to enact the building codes into law. The local municipality may amend
code sections to best serve the needs of the local jurisdiction. The local practice of the City of
Salina is to place these regulations into effect 90 days after approval by the City Commission and
subsequent publication in the official newspaper.
On September 9, 2014, the Building Advisory Board (BAB) began code review discussions for the
2012 IBC, 2012 IRC, 2012 UMC, 2012 UPC, 2012 IFC, 2011 NEC and the 2012 IECC.
Numerous postcards, letters, informational handouts and brochures were distributed to invite any
interested stakeholders to these meetings. In addition, announcements were made at every BAB
meeting inviting interested stakeholders to the subcommittee meetings.
The BAB recommended that a separate sub -committee be established to discuss each individual
body of the codes to further evaluate the significant changes and revisions to the municipal code
to reflect these changes. This resulted in bi-weekly sub -committee meetings averaging 1.5 to 5
hours each. In addition, BAB meetings were held monthly to keep abreast of the sub -committee
actions and to make final recommendations as applicable to each code body for presentation to
the City Commission.
As recommended by the BAB, the building official led the sub -committee meetings, with at least 4
BAB members serving on each sub -committee. Licensed contractors and tradespeople were
invited to attend these meetings which resulted in very large attendance numbers for some of the
meetings. Each sub -committee reviewed and provided recommendations regarding the
International and Uniform Codes. The Subcommittees completed the task of reviewing the code
bodies on February 9, 2016 which resulted in:
International Building Code (IBC):
• Reduced number of Amendments from 101 to 62 (39%)
• 6 BAB Committee members; 5 meetings
International Residential Code (IRC):
• Deletion of Chapters referencing International Plumbing and Mechanical Codes. Note: The
Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes are enforced and adopted in the City of Salina.
• Deletion of Chapter referencing the International Electrical Code. The National Electrical Code is
enforced and adopted in the City of Salina.
• Inclusion of specific climate design criteria, live load table and energy conservation
requirements.
• 6 BAB subcommittee members; 5 meetings
Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC):
• Reduced number of Amendments from 23 to 17 (26%)
• 4 BAB subcommittee members; 2 meetings
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC):
• Reduced number of Amendments from 51 to 15 (70%)
• 4 BAB subcommittee members; 5 meetings
International Fire Code (IFC):
• Reduced number of amendments from 126 to 81 (36%)
• 4 BAB subcommittee members; 3 meetings
National Electrical Code (NEC):
• Reduced number of amendments from 11 to 8 (27%)
• 4 BAB subcommittee members; 2 meetings
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC):
• Established a new Chapter 8, Article I, Division 6
• 9 BAB subcommittee members; 6 meetings
Results:
• Total reduction of 129 Amendments
• 29 Subcommittee meetings & 10 BAB meetings
Note: The study session will be presented in two parts.
Part 1- April 4, 2016 will be a review of the IBC, IRC and the IFC.
Part 2- April 11, 2016 will be a review of the UMC, UPC, NEC and IECC.