Transcript Document 7234803

Daniel E. Nichols, P.E.
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History of Uniform Code
Applicability and enforcement
Flood provisions: facts vs. myths
Protection in the future
Wrap-up/questions
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Fire Protection Engineer; New York State Department of
State
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Member of several International Code Council Committees
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Division of Code Enforcement and Administration
Currently assigned to Kingston regional office
Chairman, Fire Code Technical Subcommittee
Active participant and manager; Disaster assistance response teams to
southern tier, Catskills, and Long Island
IBC- Fire Safety (past chairman)
IBC- General
CTC- Elevator Lobby
Ad Hoc on Healthcare
Member of several National Fire Protection Association
Committees
 Historic Buildings and Cultural Resources
 Residential Board and Care
 Research Foundation on Smoke Alarm Functionality
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In the early 1950’s, the Multiple Dwelling Law and
Multiple Residence Law were created
First statewide requirements for construction
 Still in effect todaay
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At the same time, State Government starts to create
a voluntary adoptable construction standard
“State Building Construction Code”
 Very reminiscent to the first edition of the Basic Building
Code, published by Building Officials and Code
Administrators (BOCA)
 All building types covered by 1959 (single family,
residential, and commercial)
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In the early 1970’s, State Government creates a
voluntary adoptable fire prevention standard
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“Uniform Fire Prevention Code”
In 1980, a survey shows that approximately
30% of the State has some sort of building or
fire prevention code in place
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Mainly found around the big 5 cities, Long Island,
and the Hudson Valley
Communities could adopt any standards they wish;
at least 6 different building codes a 3 different fire
prevention codes were in place; not counting selfcreated documents
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1980- Two major fires
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November 21, 1980; MGM Grand- Las Vagas, NV
 Hotel/Casino Fire- 85 dead
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December 4, 1980; Stouffers Inn- Harrison, NY
 Conference Center- 26 dead
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Contributing factors identified were the
inconsistency of building and fire prevention
codes; or lack thereof
Town of Harrison did not have any codes
 Neighboring City of White Plains had a very restrictive
building and fire prevention ordinance
 Stouffers was built on the line
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Chapter 707 of the Laws of 1981 created the “Uniform Fire
Prevention and Building Code Act”
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Article 18 of the Executive Law
Unique in it’s application
Creates a Statewide Building and Fire Prevetion Code
Locals cannot adopt laws to lower the minimum requirements
Locals cannot adopt laws to raise the minimum requirements
without State approval
 Locals are required to enforce the Uniform Code, or surrender
their authority to the State
 Governments, including the State itself, is obligated to enforcement
on government-owned buildings and premises
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All governments must be enforcing ‘something’ by 1982
All governments must use the new Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code by 1984
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Each City, Town, Village and County is responsible for
code enforcement within their jurisdiction
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Counties enforce requirements on county-owned buildings
Any county or local government can ‘opt-out’ of code
enforcement
 Reverts to the next level of government of as delegated by the
Secretary of State
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Must meet the minimum requirements set by the Secretary of
State
 19 NYCRR Part 1203
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City of New York permitted to continue with building and fire
codes by Executive Law
State Agencies must also follow the Uniform Code
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Done with an agency-designated code compliance manager
Many agencies delegate their responsibility to other agencies
 OGS, DHESES, etc.
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Several State Agencies have licenses and/or
construction requirements that are
aligned/misaligned with the Uniform Code
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Department of Health
 Day Programs
 Assisted Living
 Cross connection requirements (Plumbing)
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Office of Mental Health
Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Department of Environmental Conservation
Department of Labor
The Uniform Code is a regulation, and is not
automatically superseded by other regulations
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Flood-resistant construction is based upon
whether a building is in a ‘flood hazard area’
Within the 1% chance per year flood plain (100 year
event)
 Designated as a flood hazard area on a community’s
flood hazard map or otherwise designated
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RUNOFF FLOODING
WAVE ACTION
FLOODING
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“Flood evacuation zones”
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Developed by local jurisdictions to prioritize
evacuation needs, based on flood potential, access,
and population
Not a tool for determining flood-resistance of
buildings
Useful as part of a fire safety and evacuation plan
“Freeboard”
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A prescriptive elevation requirement within the
Residential Code of New York State and ASCE 24
BOTH TERMS ARE NOT USED WITHIN THE BUILDING CODE OF NEW
YORK STATE
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Determine Building Category
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Medical buildings (Group I-2) with surgery or ED:
Category 4
Other medical buildings (Group I-2) over 50 patients:
Category 3
Other medical buildings, such as residential board
and care, assisted living, and small nursing homes:
Category 2
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Determine flood hazard area
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Base flood Elevation
Design Flood Elevation
Zone categories
Highlights of ASCE24-05;
FEMA.GOV
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Flood design becomes an issue in the 1970’s
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Model Building Code began recognition long after
the National Flood Insurance Program is developed
State of New York updates the code to national
standards in 2003 (previously based on 1951)
City of New York updates the code to national
standards in 2008 (previously based on 1968)
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Building codes are not retroactive for
construction features
Flood-resistant construction is required for:
New buildings
 Additions
 Substantially damaged
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Adopted building code in almost every state
and territory in the United States of America
Based on the combination of 3 regional model
code groups in 2000
Takes regional information and experience and
makes it available to all
Flooding- Mississippi, Texas
 Hurricanes: Carolinas, Florida, Louisiana
 Snow- Colorado, Maine, Vermont, Alaska
 Wildfires- Arizona, Utah, New York
 Earthquakes- California, Hawaii
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Emergency Power supplies
Building access
Stairs/ramps
 Personnel
 Evacuation
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Medical needs
Oxygen
 Waste disposal
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Fuel sources
Daniel E. Nichols, P.E.
New York State Department of State
Division of Code Enforcement and
Administration
1 Albany Ave. Suite G-5
Kingston , NY 12401
845.334.9768
[email protected]