2006 Code Update

Oregon Building Code Updates

Code Changes, Fall 2006

From the Building Codes Division website:

The 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) is scheduled to become effective April 1, 2007. My guess is that this probably signals the return to the 3-year Code cycle we used to have, way back in the 20^th Century.

I haven't gone through the new Code that closely yet; ICC has published a book of "Significant Changes to the IBC, 2006 edition"; proposed Oregon Code changes [>100 separate .pdf files] are listed on the BCD website:

http://www.bcd.oregon.gov/boards/bcsb/board_pack/06/080206/attachments.html

Among the immediately interesting, from opening the book:

Chapter 2, Definitions:

WINERY. A facility used for the primary commercial purpose of processing grapes or other fruit products to produce wine or cider, including all areas used for the production, storage, distribution and sale of such wine or cider, including crushing, fermenting in wood or steel barrels, blending, aging, bottling, warehousing, shipping, tasting rooms with an occupant load of 299 or less and retailing of wine, cider, and incidental items related to wine and cider and all associated administrative functions.

Combined with:

306.3 Factory Industrial F-2 Low-Hazard Occupancy: [several listings, and…] Wood barrel and bottled wine aging facilities in wineries. To me, this means that wineries will be considered an F2 Occupancy, and can have tasting rooms up to 4485sf in area that do not have to be treated as a Separated- or Non-Separated, or Mixed- Occupancy. This will simplify the lives of some of my clients.

Chapter 3

The concepts of Separated-, Non-Separated and Mixed Occupancies have been moved to Chapter 5. Chapter 3 will be limited to definitions of the individual Occupancy Classifications. This is consistent with the old UBC approach. In A Occupancies, 49-seat assembly areas now come under three Exceptions to the Assembly Occupancy classifications. The outcome being a lesser likelihood for a Change of Occupancy in these

smaller spaces. There's a proposed Oregon language change that clarifies this section's applicability to tenant spaces as well as buildings.

505.2 Mezzanines A new Exception will permit Mezzanines in Types I- and II- sprinklered buildings to have a floor area equal to 1/2 of the floor area below; rather than 1/3. The Code has never really acknowledged the additional fire protection provided by sprinklers, in regard to Mezzanine area; this is being corrected.

More Code Stuff

I assume that by now most of you have become aware of Oregon's new "Low-Rise Residential Code," based on the 2003 International Residential Code:

R101.2 Scope. The provisions of the this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, of detached one-and two family dwellings, townhouses, apartment house buildings and row-houses three stories or less above grade having an exterior door for each dwelling unit. The provisions of this code also apply to accessory structures associated with these dwellings.

The Low-Rise Code includes a variety of Appendices; N through S in particular address specific construction requirements for Rowhouses and apartments.

Starting at the beginning of this month, the City of Portland has new requirements for suspended ceiling installation. After May 1, 2006, only those ceiling systems being designed to meet either the OSSC or the revised guide will be accepted. You can obtain digital copies of the new rules from the BDS website:

http://www.bds.ci.portland.or.us/pubs/CodeGuides/IBC/IBC_25_2.pdf

Portland's Bureau of Planning has a new Tree and Landscaping Manual that can apply to nearly all construction. To further complicate matters, Portland has finally adopted a new Landscape Inspection Program, requiring self- and/or third-party certification that the approved landscaping actually was installed:

"The Bureau of Development Services has developed a new program for verifying that "required landscaping" is correctly installed. Required landscaping includes such things as perimeter plantings, parking lot landscaping, tree preservation, environmental zone mitigation plantings, and certain stormwater management facilities. Whether you Self-Certify or use a Third Party Certifier, the property owner is responsible for ensuring that the landscaping is actually installed as approved on the plans, including any irrigation systems or other required elements. If required landscaping is not installed as approved on the plans or if final inspections are not completed, BDS may delay finaling the building permit, issuing the final Certificate of Occupancy, and/or pursue enforcement activities."

Third-party certification is required on projects involving 9 or more planted trees or more than 5000sf of landscaping. All registered landscape architects and landscape contractors are qualified to provide a Third Party certification.