Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday June 1^tst, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., in the Commissioner's Auditorium located at the Kittitas County Courthouse, Ellensburg, Washington, to consider proposed changes to the County Building Code, Chapter 14.04 to adopt the 2009 Building Codes as approved and amended by Washington State that will go into effect July 1, 2010.  In addition, two other codes are proposed for local adoption as listed below.

In November 2009, the Washington State Building Code Council completed adoption of the 2009 International Building Code (IBC), the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), the 2009 International Mechanical Code (IMC), the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC), the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and the 2009 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC).  These codes, with State amendments, will be effective on July 1, 2020.  By way of summary, the Kittitas County Ordinance shall amend the current Building Code Chapter 14.04 to adopt the new Washington State adopted 2009 Codes that will go into effect July 1, 2010.  In addition, the proposed ordinance will adopt the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and the 2009 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC).

The codes proposed for adoption are listed below with the Scope and Intent provided as listed in each code.

2009 International Building Code (IBC):

(Includes adoption of Appendix E and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 and the 2009 International Existing Building Code)

101.2 Scope: The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.

Exception: Detached one-and-two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with the International Residential Code. 

101.3 Intent: The purpose of this code is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

2009 International Residential Code (IBC):

(Includes adoption of Appendix F and G; Chapters 11 and 25 through 42 are not adopted)

101.2 Scope: The provisions of the International Residential Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above-grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures.

Exception: Live/work units complying with the requirements of Section 419 of the International Building Code shall be permitted to be built as one-and two-family dwellings or townhouses.  Fire suppression required by Section 419.5 of the International Building Code when constructed under the International Residential Code for One-and Two-family Dwellings shall conform to Section 903.3.1.3 of the International Building Code.

101.3 Purpose:  The purpose of this code is to provide minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety, health and general welfare through affordability, structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment.

102.5 Appendices:  (Kittitas County will not adopt appendix R or S, and will not require mandatory residential sprinkler systems for detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories high with separate means of egress and their accessory structures as regulated under the International Residential Code.  Exception: Sprinkler systems may be required as regulated by a development agreement, other contract between the County and developer and/or as required by the International Wild-Land Urban Interface Code)

2009 International Mechanical Code (IMC):

(Includes adoption and amendments to the 2009 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), the 2009 National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) and the 2008 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58).

101.2 Scope. This code shall regulate the design, installation, maintenance, alteration and inspection of mechanical systems that are permanently installed and utilized to provide control of environmental conditions and related processes within buildings. This code shall also regulate those mechanical systems, system components, equipment and appliances specifically addressed herein. The installation of fuel gas distribution piping and equipment, fuel gas-fired appliances and fuel gas-fired appliance venting systems shall be regulated by the International Fuel Gas Code.

Exceptions: 1. Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories high with separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with the International Residential Code.

2. The standards for liquefied petroleum gas installations shall be the 2008 Edition of NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) and the 2009 Edition of ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code).

101.3 Intent: The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance or use of mechanical systems.

2009 International Fire Code (IFC):

101.2 Scope: This code establishes regulations affecting or relating to structures, processes, premises and safeguards regarding:

1.   The hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices;

2.   Conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises;

3.   Fire hazards in the structure or on the premises from occupancy or operation;

4.   Matters related to the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression or alarm systems;

5.  Conditions affecting the safety of fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

101.3 Intent: The purpose of this code is to establish the minimum requirements consistent with nationally recognized good practice for providing a reasonable level of life safety and property protection from the hazards of fire, explosion or dangerous conditions in new and existing buildings, structures and premises and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

2009 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC):

101.2 Purpose:  This code is an ordinance providing the minimum requirements and standards for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.

101.4 Scope:  The provisions of this code shall apply to the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, use, or maintenance of plumbing systems within this jurisdiction.

2009 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC):

101.2 Purpose and Intent: The purpose of this Code is to provide minimum standards for new or altered buildings and structures or portions thereof to achieve efficient use and conservation of energy.  The purpose of this Code is not to create or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefitted by the terms of this Code.  It is intended that these provisions provide flexibility to permit the use of innovative approaches and techniques to achieve efficient use and conservation of energy. These provisions are structured to permit compliance with the intent of this Code by any one of the following three paths of design:
     1. A systems analysis approach for the entire building and its energy-using sub-systems which may utilize renewable energy sources, Chapters 4 and 9.
     2. A component performance approach for various building elements and mechanical systems and components, Chapters 5 and 9.
     3. A prescriptive requirements approach, Chapters 6 and 9.
Compliance with any one of these approaches meets the intent of this Code. This Code is not intended to abridge any safety or health requirements required under any other applicable codes or ordinances.  The provisions of this Code do not consider the efficiency of various energy forms as they are delivered to the building envelope. A determination of delivered energy efficiencies in conjunction with this Code will provide the most efficient use of available energy in new building construction.

2009 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC):

101.2 Scope: The provisions of this code shall apply to all existing residential and nonresidential structures and all existing premises and constitute minimum requirements and standards for premises, structures, equipment and facilities for light, ventilation, space, heating, sanitation, protection from the elements, life safety, safety from fire and other hazards, and for safe and sanitary maintenance; the responsibility of owners, operators and occupants; the occupancy of existing structures and premises, and for administration, enforcement and penalties.

101.3 Intent: This code shall be construed to secure its expressed intent, which is to ensure public health, safety and welfare insofar as they are affected by the continued occupancy and maintenance of structures and premises.  Existing structures and premises that do not comply with these provisions shall be altered or repaired to provide a minimum level of health and safety as required herein.

The proposed Ordinance and copies of the complete code texts, may be reviewed during normal business hours at the Kittitas County Community Development Services Department (CDS) 411 N. Ruby Street, Ellensburg, WA   98926, or you may request a copy of the proposed Ordinance by calling Dan Davis at the CDS Department at 509-962-7035.

For more information, contact Community Development Services

For more information, contact Community Development Services

For more information, contact Community Development Services