Carpinteria Municipal Code Ch. 15.70 Building Seismic Safety

A. The purpose of this chapter is to promote public safety and welfare by reducing the risk of death or injury that may result from the effects of earthquakes on unreinforced masonry-bearing wall buildings. Such buildings have been widely recognized for sustaining life-hazardous damage, including partial or complete collapse during moderate to strong earthquakes.

B. The provisions of this chapter are intended as minimum standards for structural seismic resistance established primarily to reduce the risk of life loss or injury. Compliance with these standards will not necessarily prevent loss of life or injury or prevent earthquake damage to rehabilitated buildings. This chapter does not require alteration of existing electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire safety systems unless they constitute a hazard to life or property.

C. This chapter provides systematic procedures and standards for identification and classification of unreinforced masonry-bearing wall buildings based on their present use. Priorities, time periods and standards are established by which these buildings are required to be structurally analyzed and rehabilitated.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

This chapter shall apply to all buildings identified by street address within the survey of potentially hazardous buildings completed in 1989. This chapter shall also apply to all buildings for which construction began prior to the adoption of the 1955 Edition of the Uniform Building Code on February 9, 1956 and which utilize unreinforced masonry walls as an element of construction, except (i) single-family residences, duplexes or buildings containing less than five dwelling units and used exclusively for residential purposes, and (ii) buildings owned and occupied by federal, state or county governments.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

For purposes of this chapter, the applicable definitions in Sections 2302 and 2312 of the 1982 Uniform Building Code, and Chapter 24, Section 2407 Special Provisions for Seismic Zone 4 shall apply and are incorporated by reference.

A. "High-risk building" means any potentially hazardous building having an occupant load in excess of one hundred (100) persons, as determined by UBC Section 3302(a), except (i) a building having exterior walls braced with masonry or wood frame crosswalls of at least full story height with a minimum length of one and one-half (1 ½) times the story height, spaced less than forty (40) feet apart in each story, or (ii) a building occupied less than twenty (20) hours per week. Any building meeting one of these exception criteria shall be classified as a Medium Risk Building.

B. "Low-risk building" means a Potentially Hazardous Building having an occupant load of less than twenty (20) occupants, as determined by UBC Section 3302(a).

C. "Moderate-risk building" means a Potentially Hazardous Building not classified as a High Risk or (i) meeting one of the exception criteria stated in the definition of High Risk Building, or (ii) having an occupant load of twenty (20) occupants or more, as determined by UBC Section 3302 (a).

D. "Potentially hazardous building" means a building for which construction began prior to the adoption of the 1955 Uniform Building Code on February 9, 1956 and which is constructed of unreinforced masonry wall construction. All potentially hazardous buildings shall be classified as high, medium or-low risk buildings.

E. "UBC" means as follows: the Uniform Building Code, 1982 Edition, Chapter 23 is adopted by reference for structural engineering standards.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

A. Code adoption by reference for the purpose of Chapter 15.70, the seismic safety ordinance only, the following uniform codes with amendments as set forth in this chapter are adopted by reference:

1. Uniform Building Code, 1982 Edition including the Appendix thereto, and the Uniform Building Code Standards, 1982 Edition, as published by the International Conference of Building Officials.

2. Uniform Housing Code, 1982 Edition, as published by the International Conference of Building Officials.

3. Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1982 Edition, as published by the International Conference of Building Officials.

4. National Electrical Code, 1981 Edition, as published by the National Fire Protection Association.

5. Uniform Plumbing Code, 1982 Edition, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.

6. Uniform Mechanical Code, 1982 Edition, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.

7. The special and engineering tables (Tables 15.70.040A through 15.70.070L) set out in this chapter are adopted for purposes of this chapter.

B. The codes set out in subsection A of this section and any standards and secondary codes adopted by reference therein are on file in the office of the city clerk and are available for public inspection (as required in Section 15.08.080).

TABLE 15.70.040A

TABLE 15.70.040B TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLIANCE

TABLE 15.70.040C SERVICE PRIORITIES AND EXTENDED TIME PROVISIONS

TABLE NO. 15.70.040D HORIZONTAL FORCE FACTORS BASED ON OCCUPANT LOAD

TABLE NO. 15.70.040E Z FACTOR

TABLE NO. 15.70.040F /FACTOR

TABLE NO. 15.70.040G HORIZONTAL FORCE FACTOR /S FOR PARTS OR PORTIONS OF STRUCTURES

Table No. 15.70.040H Regulated Elements

TABLE NO. 15.70.040I ALLOWABLE VALUE OF HEIGHT-THICKNESS (H/T) RATIO OF UNREINFORCED MASONRY WALLS WITH MINIMUM QUALITY MORTAR

TABLE NO. 15.70.040J VALUES FOR EXISTING MATERIALS

TABLE NO. 15.70.040K ALLOWABLE VALUES OF NEW MATERIALS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXISTING CONSTRUCTION

TABLE NO. 15.70.040L ALLOWABLE SHEAR STRESS FOR TESTED UNREINFORCED MASONRY WALLS

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

A. The building official shall survey the city records to determine which buildings are potentially hazardous and shall notify each building owner pursuant to Table 15.70.040C. The building owner will be identified by the most recent information available from the property tax assessor's office, of risk category to which each building been assigned. Upon receipt of this notification, owners of potentially hazardous buildings shall submit to the city a seismic safety structural analysis of the building prepared by a civil or structural engineer or architect licensed by the state in accordance with the standards adopted by the city council and the following schedule:

B. 1.

Permits and Construction. Unless otherwise excepted, each structure identified and classified as a potentially hazardous building shall meet all of the requirements outlined in Appendix Chapter One of the Uniform Code For Building Conservation as amended by local ordinance. Where the scope of work proposed by the owner of a structure identified and classified as a potentially hazardous building is limited to compliance with this chapter, requirements for permit approval shall be exclusive to those outlined within this chapter. Minor exterior work, such as parapet bracing or wall anchor plate installation, shall be subject to planning staff review and review by architectural review board.

2. In the event a change of use of an identified seismic risk structure is proposed as described in Section 14.68.020, as set out in Section 15.70.040, Development Plan, Time Provision Tables 15.70.040B and 15.70.040C, shall apply, with all construction meeting the requirements of the 1982 Uniform Building Code Section 502.

C. 1.

Exception. The owner of the identified seismic risk structure may propose to, and the building official may approve, an alternative proposal for the structural retrofitting and alternate construction materials for their building providing the proposal complies in all respects with the parameters of the 1982 UBC.

2. Owners of structures identified and classified as potentially hazardous buildings, who through compliance to this chapter would be forced to displace residents, may, so as to minimize the displacement of persons, be extended special consideration by the building official with regard to Table 15.70.040C, service priorities and extended time provisions.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

A. Property owners appealing the determination that their building is potentially hazardous must do so in writing to the building official in accordance with Section 204 of the Uniform Building Code. Such appeals shall be filed with the city clerk within 180 days of the service date for the notice of building classification. All appeal requests shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount set by resolution of the city council and shall include verification that construction began after February 1956, that materials used were other than unreinforced masonry. The building official shall review all materials used in support of appeals prior to scheduling the appeal and may reclassify such buildings based upon the information submitted.

B. All decisions and appeals shall be governed by standards and procedures established by the city council, this code and the building official, and all decisions of the city council shall be final.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter within the limits established herein is guilty of a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 1.08.010.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

It shall constitute a new and separate offense for each and every month during any portion of which a violation of, or failure to comply with, any provision or requirement of this code is committed, continued or permitted by any person, firm or corporation and shall be punishable accordingly.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)

The building official may promulgate administrative rules and policies for the administration of this chapter.

(Ord. 454 § 1 (part), 1989)