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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0187.008 2004-2006 Murashige, Laura From: Ikeda, Donald Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 10:16 AM To: Arakaki, James; Higa, Stacy; Holschuh, Fred; lido, Walter; Isbell, Virginia; Jacobson, Bob; McClure, Bruce; Hoffmann, Pete; Pilago, K. Angel; Safarik, Gary; Sumada, Jiro; Kajikawa, Brian Subject: FW: Uniform Building Code -A.I.A. Comments -----Original Message----- From: Terry Cisco [mailtoacisco(a~hawaii.rr.coml <mailto:fmailtoacisco(a~hawaii.rr.coml> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 10:59 AM To: Ikeda, Donald Cc: Watanabe, Donna Subject: Uniform Building Code -A.I.A. Comments 4~ - ~ Section 106.3 .2 exeevnoN for... May 19, 2005 11:00 A.M. Donald Ikeda dikeda(cilco.hawaii.hi.us Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni St. Suite 209 Hilo, HI 96720 Mr. Donald Ikeda, There are a number of State of Hawaii licensed architects who live and work in the County of Hawaii. Most of these architects and other associate members on this island are members of the American Institute of Architects (A.I.A). A national organization, the AIA believes that regulation of the construction industry shapes the built environment, and as stakeholders, architects must participate in the development and application of appropriate regulations and standards. We have been strong proponent of the idea that most contemporary model codes should be incorporated into the Hawaii County building code, and we have been very supportive of the County's effort to adopt 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC) as part of the local building code. As design professionals we work with the code on a daily basis. When we learned that the County is planning to adopt 1997 UBC as part of new local building code, we held a seminar to inform and educate our members and the public on the 1997 UBC. During the seminar we passed out the initial draft of the new code proposed by the County. In adopting the model building code into the local building code, the County typically amends (by adding to, deleting from, or modifying) the provisions of the model code to suit specific local objectives and needs. After reviewing the initial draft of the proposed new building code, we had concerns and reservations about some of the new provisions introduced in the proposed new code. When the County held general information public meetings in Hilo and Kona we voiced our initial concerns. The AIA continued communications with the Department of Public Works and narrowed its focus in on the major areas of concerns. These included: Plan review waiver proposal to expedite building permit applications Amendment to delete the Simplified Seismic Design provisions from the 1997 UBC. In the process we met with the Mayor, officials of the Department of Public Works, and Council members Pilago and Isbell to share and explain those concerns. Most of those issues were eventually resolved. In a more recent draft of the proposed new code, a new provision was added concerning 'package home permitting (Section 106.3.2 EXCEPTION for package homes). Though we concur with the objective, this new provision is aimed at Comm. No..-.~-g7-' g-- 1 Ref. To: ~"w Reif. Date achieving, we have concerns and reservations about the mechanism proposed to achieve them. The proposed provision would allow construction of potentially hundreds of homes off one set of County reviewed and approved plan. This would inherently suggest that such a set of plan should receive a higher level of scrutiny by the Building Department during the plan review process than that is given to a set of plan that is be used to build a single house. However, the proposed provision instead of elevating, actually lowers the level of scrutiny given to the plans of these package home. In doing so, the proposed provision works against the basic public policy objective of the building code and the plan review process which is to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare. The Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee (HSEAC) working under the State Civil Defense has also studied this issue, and has offered a solution that strikes a balance between the objectives of promoting affordable housing and those of public safety. This solutions in the form of a readily adoptable amendment was sent to the Hawaii County Building Department for consideration. As an organization, we concur with the views of the HSEAC, and support the adoption of the amendment proposed by them. A copy of the their proposed amendment is enclosed. In summary we support the adoption of the 1997 U.B.C. code with this one recommended change. There are other relatively minor outstanding issues that we have communicated to the Department of Public Works. We think that these outstanding issues could be addressed at the adoption of the 2003 International Building Code by the County of Hawaii or by administrative rule. We would appreciate it if Donna Watanabe would keep us notified by a-mail of the next Public Works Committee meeting on this subject. Sincerely, Code Amendment Study Committee Hawaii Island Section Honolulu Chapter American Institute of Architects Cc. Committee: Terrance Cisco Paul Bleck Kari Kimura Bob Nespor Jack Parazette Afaq Sarwar Enc. z Y~XCEPTIONS: Packaged model homes (manufactured locally within the State of Hawaii) may be pre-approved by Hawaii County Department of Public Works, Building Division. Pre-approval is good fbr three calendar years. Each sheet of pre-approved construction drawings shall be wet stamped by the package home manufacturer approved logo along with apre-approved signature before submitting for building permit at a site. Packaged Model Homes (homes manufactured in a factory and ready to be assembled on thejob site) may be pre-approved as follows by the Hawaii County Department of Public Works, Building Division (DPW-Building Division). 1. Pre-approval shall be limited to three typical model home designs per manufacturer per year, with no revisions. Any revisions to the pre-approved plans will require submittal of the entire particular revised plans and documents for approval. Minimum square footage shall be 900 s.f. and maximum square footage shall be 1,400 s.f. living area (not including carport/garage). Minimum 2-car carport/garage may be included. 2. Pre-approval is good for three (3) calendar years (January to December) starting with the calendar year in which approval is requested. Prc-approval of all models shall expire on December 31 of the third calendar year. 3. When submitting Cor pre-approval, applicant shall submit six (6) sets of complete working drawings and specifications along with packaged home seal and authorizing signature. Packaged manufactured home drawings submitted for pre-approval shall be stamped by a duly licensed Engineer or Architect in accordance with Chapter 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Design shall comply with 80 mph windspeed, Exposure C. 4. There shall be a one time plan review fee based on the actual valuation of the dwelling to be paid by the packaged model home manufacturer who is submitting the plans for pre-approval. Fees will be charged per model submitted, per Section 5-1.0.13 Amended Section 107, Plan Review Fees. 5. When submitting for building permit under pre-approved Packaged home plans, owner/contractor sha1L a. Submit two (2) sets of complete working drawings showing the pre-approved model ?umber along with the manufacturer's wet seal and authorizing signature. DP W- Building Division will verify seal and signature. b. Construction drawings of site grading and foundations of the pre-approved packaged home will be required to be stamped by a duly licensed Engineer or Architect in accordance with Chapter 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes. c. Obtain approvals from other approving department/agencies. 6. Approval from DP W-Building Division will be given within 48 hours. All plans for retaining walls over four feet in height shall be designed and stamped by a professional architect or engineer in the structural or civil branches, pursuant to Chapter 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes. ~I~ Hawaii Island Section A section of ~ The American Institute Of Architects Honolulu Chapter May ~.9, 2005 11:00 A.M. Donald Ikeda dikeda co.hawaii.hi.us ~lawaii County Council 25 Aupuni fit. quite 209 l~iilo, ~I 96720 Mr. Donald Ikeda, there are a number of Mate of ~lawaii licensed architects who live and work in the Co€~nty of i"4awaii. Most of these architects and other associate members on this island are members of the American Institute of Architects (A.I.A). A national organization, the AIA believes that regulation of the construction industry shapes the built environment, and as stakeholders, architects must participate in the development and application of appropriate regulations and standards. We have been strong proponent: of the idea that. most contemporary mode! codes should be incorporated into the F~awaii County building code, and we have been very supportive of the County's effort to adopt 1997 Uniform wilding Code (UE3C) as part of the local building code. As design professionals we °~vork with the code on a daily basis. When we learned that the County is planning to adopt 1997 UDC as part of new local building code, we held a seminar to inform and educate our members and the public on the 1997 UDC. During the seminar we passed out the initial draft of the new code proposed by the County. 75-167 Kalani St Suite 202 Kailua Kona HI 96740 Tel: 808-329-7887 Fax: 808-326-4153 E-mail: dinmoreandcisco@hawaii.rr.com In adopting the model building code into the local building eode, the County typically amends (by adding to, deleting firom, or modifying) the previsions of the model code to suit specific local objectives and needs. After reviewing the initial draft of the proposed new building code, we had concerns and reservations about some of the new provisions introduced in the proposed-new code. When the County held general information public meetings in i*lilo and Kona we voiced our initial concerns. The AIA continued communications with the Department of Public Works and narrowed- its focus in on the major areas of concerns. These included: - Plan review waiver proposal to expedite building permit applications - Amendment to delete the Simplified Seismic Design provisions from the 1997 IJ~C. In the process we met with the Mayor, officials of the Department of Public Works, and Council members Pilago and Isbell to share and explain those concerns. Most of those issues were eventually resolved. In a more recent draft of the proposed new code, a new provision ~~°as added concerning "package home permitting" (Section 1g6.3.~ EXCPTIC~ far package homes). Though we concur with the objective, this new provis-ion is aimed at achieving, we have concerns and reservations about the mechanism proposed to achieve them. the proposed provision would allow construction of potentially hundreds of homes off one sot of County reviewed and approved plan. "his would inherently suggest that such a set of plan sho~:€Id receive a higher level of scrutiny by the ~uildinc~ department during the plan review process than that is given to a set of plan that is be used to build a single house. however, the proposed provision instead of elevating, actually lowers the level of scrutiny given to the plans of these package home. In doing so, the proposed ,provision works against the basic public policy objective of the building code and the plan review process, which is to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare. the hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee (hSEAC} working under the State Civil defense has also studied this issue, and has offered a solution that strikes a balance between the objectives of promoting affordable housing and those of public safety. fihis solution in the form of a readily adoptable amendment was sent to the haw~ii County wilding ®epartment for consideration. As an organization, we concur with the views of the hSEAC, and support the adoption of the amendment proposed by them. copy of the their proposed amendment is enclosed. In summary we support the adoption of the 1997 U.Q.C. code with this one recommended change. Th-ere are other relatively minor outstanding issues that we have communicated to the department of Public Works. We think that these outstandin0 issues could be addressed at the adoption of the X003 International wilding Code by the County of ~iawaii or by administrative rule. Sincerely, Code Arr~endment Study Committee Hawaii Island Section Honolulu Chapter American Institute of Architects Cc. Committee: ~"errance Cisco Paul deck Kari Kimura fob ~~espor Jack Parazette Afaq Sarwar