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Help & SupportChapter 10-5.5: Residential Building Code 29
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety and general welfare by regulating 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 in height with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures. The city council hereby adopts the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code with certain amendments thereto found to be in the best interests of the city.
Ordinance No. 7566 (2007)
10-5.5-2 Adoption of the International Residential Code With Modifications.
(a) The 2006 edition of the International Residential Code of the International Code Council is hereby adopted by reference as the City of Boulder Residential Building Code and has the same force and effect as though fully set forth in this chapter, except as specifically amended by the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The appendix chapters D, E, G, H, J, K and O and sections contained therein are adopted.
(c) Section R101.1, "Title," is repealed and reenacted to read:
R101.1 Title. These provisions shall be known as the Residential Code of the City of Boulder or residential code and shall be cited as such and will be referred to herein as "this code".
(d) Sections R102 through R114 are repealed. This code shall be administered in accordance with chapter 1, "Administration," of the International Building Code as adopted, with amendments, by section 10-5-2, "Adoption Of International Building Code With Modifications," B.R.C. 1981.
(e) The climatic and geographic design criteria applicable to table R301.2.1 are:
Ground Snow Load = thirty pounds per square foot with a minimum Roof Snow Load of 30 pounds per square foot.
Three second wind gust velocity = 110 MPH
Seismic Design Category = B
Weathering = severe
Frost line depth = 32 inches
Termite = slight
Decay = none to slight
Winter Design Temp = 2 degrees Fahrenheit
Ice barrier underlayment required = NO
Flood Hazards = See B.R.C. 1981 Sections 9-3-3 through 9-3-9
Air freezing index = 459
Mean annual temp = 52.1
(f) Section R301.2.4: A new sentence is added to the end of the section reading "All work on structures in the scope of this Code shall also meet the requirements of B.R.C. 1981 Sections 9-3-3 through 9-3-9"
(g) Section R902.1, "Roof Covering Materials," is repealed and reenacted to read:
R902.1. Roof covering materials. All roof covering materials shall be listed as Class A or B as tested in accordance with UL Standard 790 or ASTM Standard E 108. Roof assemblies with covering of brick, masonry, slate, clay or concrete roof tile, exposed concrete roof deck, ferrous or copper shingles or sheets and metal sheets and shingles, shall be considered Class A roof coverings. Unless otherwise specified in this section, roof coverings shall be installed to resist the component and cladding loads specified in table R301.2(2), adjusted for height and exposure in accordance with table R301.2(3).
(h) Section R905.7, "Wood Shingles," is repealed and reenacted to read:
R905.7. Wood shingles. Wood shakes, wood shingles and wood roof covering materials are prohibited except as provided in Section 10-5-5, "Wood Roof Covering Materials Prohibited," B.R.C. 1981, for certain minimal repairs.
(i) Section R905.8, "Wood Shakes," is repealed and reenacted to read:
R905.8. Wood shakes. Wood shakes, wood shingles and wood roof covering materials are prohibited except as provided in Section 10-5-5, "Wood Roof Covering Materials Prohibited," B.R.C. 1981, for certain minimal repairs.
(j) Chapter 11, "Energy Efficiency,"
Sections N1101 through N1103 are repealed. A new Section N1101 is added to read:
N1101. Scope. Regulations concerning the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy and requirements for green building practices shall be administered in accordance with the 2006 International Energy Conservation and Insulation Code as adopted, with amendments, by Chapter 10-7, "Energy Conservation and Insulation Code", B.R.C. 1981 and Chapter 10-7.5 "Green Points", B.R.C. 1981.
(k) Section M1501.1 "Outdoor discharge" is amended by adding "at a point where it will not create a nuisance: to the first sentence to read:
The air removed by every mechanical exhaust system shall be discharged to the outdoors at a point where it will not create a nuisance.
(l) A new sentence is added to item 2 of section M1601.1.1, "Above-Ground Duct Systems," to read:
Flexible air duct shall not exceed 7 feet in length and flexible connectors are limited to toilet rooms and bathroom exhaust systems only.
(m) A new sentence is added to section M1602.1, "Return Air," to read:
Within individual dwelling units there shall be at least one return air opening on each floor.
(n) Exceptions 2, 3, and 4 to section G2406.2, "Prohibited Locations," are repealed, and exception 5 is amended by adding "thermally isolated" to the first sentence to read:
The appliance is installed in a thermally isolated room or space that opens only onto a bedroom or bathroom, and such room or space is used for no other purpose and is provided with a solid weather-stripped door equipped with an approved self-closing device.
(o) A new sentence is added to section G2407.6, "Outdoor Combustion Air," to read:
The room in which the appliances are receiving outdoor combustion air must be thermally isolated from the conditioned space of the dwelling unit or such outdoor air must be conditioned prior to entering the dwelling unit or room in which the appliance served, is located.
(p) G2415.4 is repealed and reenacted to read:
G2415.4 Piping through foundation wall. Gas piping shall enter the building above grade through the foundation wall, building or structure.
(q) Section G2415.9, "Minimum Burial Depth," is repealed and reenacted to read:
G2415.9 Minimum burial depth. Underground piping systems shall be installed at a minimum depth of 12 inches below grade for metallic piping and a minimum depth of 18 inches for non-metallic piping. Where such depths cannot be obtained, equivalent protection must be provided by other means approved by the building official.
(r) Section G2415.9.1 is repealed.
(s) Section G2417.4.1, "Test Pressure," is repealed and reenacted to read:
G2417.4.1. Test pressure. The test pressure to be used shall be no less than 1 1/2 times the proposed maximum working pressure, but not less than 10 psig.
(t) Section G2432.1, "Decorative Appliances For Installation In Fireplaces," is amended by adding a new item 2432.1.2 to read:
G2432.1.2. Within a vented fireplace the damper must be removed or welded open and glass doors installed over the fireplace opening.
(u) Section G2434.1, "Vented Gas Fireplaces," is amended by adding a new item G2434.1.1 to read:
G2434.1.1. Vented gas fireplaces shall be provided with outside combustion air and glass doors.
(v) Section G2435.1, "Vented Gas Fireplace Heaters," is amended by adding a new item G2435.1.1 to read:
G2435.1.1. Vented gas fireplace heaters shall be provided with outside combustion air.
(w) Section G2445.4, "Prohibited Locations," is repealed and reenacted to read:
These appliances shall not be used in bedrooms or rooms readily used for sleeping purposes.
(x) Section P2503.6 "Water-supply system testing," is amended by deleting the words "for piping systems other than plastic" in the first paragraph.
(y) Section P2503.6.1 is deleted in its entirety.
(z) Section P2801.5.1 "Piping for safety pan drains shall be of those materials listed in Table P204.5." is repealed.
(aa) Section P2904.5 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:
Water service line pipe between the water meter and building shall be Type K copper if it is in the public right-of-way, a public utility easement, or on other public property.
(bb) Section P3103.1 "Roof extensions" is amended to read:
Open vent pipes that extend through a roof shall be terminated at least 12 inches (305 mm) above the roof on the high side of the vent, except that where a roof is to be used for any other purpose other than weather protection, the vent extension shall run at leas 7 feet (2138 mm) above the roof.
(cc) Section E3501.6.2. "Service Disconnect Location". A new sentence is added to the end to read:
Service entrance conductors shall not exceed ten feet maximum developed length unspliced between the meter housing and the main disconnect. This allows the service entrance conductors to run within the building up to ten feet and to terminate at the disconnecting means.
(dd) The last sentence of section E3508.1.1.1, concerning metal underground water pipe as a grounding electrode system, is repealed and reenacted to read:
The supplemental electrode shall be permitted to be bonded to the grounding electrode conductor, the grounded service-entrance conductor, the grounded service raceway, or any grounded service enclosure by means of a separate grounding electrode conductor.
(ee) Section E3808.14 is repealed and reenacted to read:
E3808.14 Connecting receptacle grounding terminal to box. An equipment bonding jumper shall be used to connect the grounding of a grounding-type receptacle to a grounded box.
(ff) Section E3901.6 "Access", the last sentence is repealed and reenacted to read:
They shall be so installed that the center of the grip of the operating handle of the switch or circuit breaker, when in its highest position, will not be more than six feet seven inches nor less than three feet above the floor or working platform if within a building, or exterior grade or a working platform if on the exterior of a building.
(gg) Section AJ102.4 is amended to read:
Replacement Windows. Regardless of the category of work, when an existing window, including sash and glazed portion is replaced, the replacement window shall be in accordance with the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code as adopted, with amendments, by Chapter 10-7, "Energy Conservation and Insulation Code", B.R.C. 1981 and Chapter 10-7-5 "Green Points", B.R.C. 1981.
(hh) Section AK102.1, "Airborne Sound," is amended to read:
Air-borne sound insulations for wall and floor-ceiling assemblies shall meet a Sound Transmission Class rating 50 when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard E 90. Penetrations or openings in construction assemblies for piping, electrical devices, recessed cabinets, bathtubs, soffits; of heating, ventilating, or exhaust ducts shall be sealed, lined, or insulated, or otherwise treated to maintain the required rating. Dwelling unit entrance doors which share a common space shall be tight fitting to the frame and sill.
(ii) Section AK103.1, "Structural-Borne Sound," is amended to read:
Floor/ceiling assemblies between dwelling units or between a dwelling unit and a public or service area within a structure shall have an impact insulation class (IIC) rating of not less than 50 when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard E 492.
(jj) Section AO101.1. The words "and for subsurface landscape irrigation" are repealed, and a new sentence is added to the end of the exception to read:
Such systems shall be designed as required by the Boulder County Health Department.
(kk) Figure AO101.1(2) is repealed.
(ll) Section AO103 is repealed in its entirety.
Ordinance Nos. 5850 (1996); 7142 (2001); 7287 (2003); 7331 (2004); 7476 (2006); 7566 (2007)
29 Adopted by Ordinance No. 7304.