Minutes Building Cde Bd 2 28 02 MINUTES OF MEETING
BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS
DATE: February 28, 2002
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: Conference Room A, City Hall
CHAIR: Steve Gudenkauf
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ron Jahns, Chuck Carr, Rich Luchsinger and Jim Kolf
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF: Rich Russell
MEDIA: None
OTHERS: None
1. The meeting was called to order by Chair Gudenkauf. It was announced that
the meeting was being held in conformance with the Iowa Open Meetings
law.
2. Kolf motioned to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2002 meeting.
Luchsinger seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
3. A discussion was held regarding the 2000 International Building Code and
International Residential Code. The following issues were seen as concerns
by members of the Board: the Certificate of Occupancy for single-family
dwellings and Appendix F (Radon Mitigation), which is supported by staff and
the Environmental Stewardship Commission.
The Board discussed the cost of the passive system installation. Their
estimates were $250-300. Jim Kolf felt that to not install this system is
irresponsible. Steve Gudenkauf felt that other parties in the transaction of
buying a house could require it. The buyers and lenders were noted. The
retrofit would be difficult if a builder waited until near the end of the project to
install the system, if required by the buyer or lender. Rich Luchsinger felt it
was a health issue, but was also concerned about creating a false sense of
security by installing the system. Follow-up testing would be a good idea. A
board member asked why the federal government isn't requiring the systems
if it is such a health risk. A benefit of the system is that the basements are
drier and less smelly because of the circulation caused by the system.
The members also recommended to keep the stair geometry at 8"maximum
rise and 9" minimum run.
Steve Gudenkauf felt that there wasn't much need for the Certificate of
Occupancy requirement because the City hasn't been receiving many
complaints about the new homes. This is a valid point if we can assume the
average homeowner knows what the minimum safety requirements are.
Kolf moved to adopt the 2000 International Building Code without
amendments. Luchsinger seconded, The motion carried 5-0.
Gudenkauf moved to adopt the 2000 International Residential Code with
the elimination of the Certificate of Occupancy requirement and an
amendment to the stair geometry requirements of Section R110 to reflect the
requirements of the 1997 Uniform Building Code. Carr seconded. The
motion carried 3-2 (Kolf and Luchsinger voting no).
Kolf moved for the inclusion of Appendix F (Radon Mitigation) as part of the
International Residential Code. This motion died for a lack of a second.
4. The Wisconsin Code for Historic Buildings was briefly discussed. Luchsinger
moved to recommend adoption of the Wisconsin Historic Building Code
as an alternative available to owners of older buildings. Kolf seconded.
Motion carried 5-0.
5. Rich will wait to make his recommendation on the code adoptions until the
Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical Boards provide input on their respective
provisions in the IRC and the Historic Preservation Commission provides
input on the Wisconsin Code for Historic Buildings.
Carr motioned to adjourn. Jahns seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
Approved this day of
Rich Russell, Secretary
,2002.
Chair