WSR 16-13-123 EMERGENCY RULES BUILDING CODE COUNCIL [Filed June 21, 2016, 11:18 a.m., effective July 1, 2016] Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2016.
Purpose: This emergency rule is necessary to provide consistency between new requirements for minimum live load values for exterior balconies and decks, and new tables that detail specific requirements for deck ledger attachment, deck joist spans, deck beam spans and other related requirements. The current rule is not consistent with the requirements of the new tables: The proposed language will remove a sixty lbs/sq. ft. requirement and replace it with forty lbs/sq. ft. in Table R301.5. This modification will create safer conditions for deck construction.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 51-51-0301.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 19.27 RCW.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The current code language creates a potential safety hazard. The lack of detail to support live load requirements for decks and balconies presents an emergency situation that could lead to deck failure; this would constitute a life/safety hazard. Adoption of the emergency rule would correct the values in the table, and would eliminate the potential life/safety hazard.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: June 10, 2016.
Steve K. Simpson
Chair
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 16-03-025, filed 1/11/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 51-51-0301 Design criteria.
R301.2 Climatic and geographic design criteria. Buildings shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this code as limited by the provisions of this section. Additional criteria shall be established by the local jurisdiction and set forth in Table R301.2(1). The local jurisdiction shall designate the salt water coastal areas within their jurisdiction.
R301.2.2.3.1 Height limitations. Wood-framed buildings shall be limited to three stories above grade plane or the limits given in Table R602.10.3(3). Cold-formed, steel-framed buildings shall be limited to less than or equal to three stories above grade plane in accordance with AISI S230. Mezzanines that comply with Section R328 shall not be considered as stories. Structural insulated panel buildings shall be limited to two stories above grade plane.
R301.5 Live load. The minimum uniformly distributed live load shall be as provided in Table R301.5.
TABLE R301.5
MINIMUM UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LIVE LOADS
(in pounds per square foot)
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