Hawthorne Municipal Code Ch. 15.32 Existing Building Code

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 50020, and 50022.1 to 50022.10, inclusive, of the Government Code of the state and subject to the particular additions, deletions and amendments set forth in this chapter, the rules, regulations, provisions and conditions set forth in that certain code entitled "2022 California Existing Building Code," including Appendix A Chapters A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, and Appendix B and standards therein contained, promulgated and published by the International Code Council and the California Building Standards Commission, one full printed copy of which, printed as a code in book form, were by the council ordered filed and which have been filed in the office of the city clerk, expressly incorporated herein and made a part hereof as fully and for all intents and purposes as though set forth herein at length, are hereby established and adopted as the rules, regulations, provisions and conditions to be observed and followed in the construction, alteration, improvements, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal, demolition, conversion, area and height, of existing buildings or structures or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures in the city; and subject to the additions, deletions and amendments set forth in this chapter, said code with its Appendix A Chapters A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, and Appendix B and the said standards containing said rules, regulations, standards, provisions and conditions is hereby established and adopted by reference, and the same shall be designated, known and referred to as the "existing building code" of and for the city.

(Ord. 2239 § 10, 2023)

Section 302.7 is added to read as follows:

302.7 Parapets and appendages.

302.7.1 General compliance. Whenever the Building Official determines by inspection that, as a result of inadequate construction or bracing to resist horizontal forces, an existing parapet or appendage attached to and supported by an exterior wall of a building is likely to become a hazard to life or property in the event of earthquake disturbance, and such parapet or appendage is not an immediate hazard or danger as described in Section 115, the Building Official may provide the owner of the building or other person or agent in control of the building where such parapet or other appendage exists, with a written notice specifying the hazards and the inadequacies of the construction or bracing. The owner of the building or other person or agent in control of the building shall, within 12 months from the date of such written notice, eliminate the hazard as set forth below. Any person receiving notice as set out in this Section may appeal, in the manner provided by Section 112, to the Building Board of Appeals.

302.7.2 Wall anchor. The parapet or appendage shall be removed and the remainder of the wall shall be anchored at the roof line, or it shall be reconstructed so that it will conform structurally as near as it is practicable to do so with the requirements of Chapter 16 of the California Building Code, or it shall be otherwise braced and strengthened in a manner satisfactory to the Building Official, so that it will resist a reasonable degree of horizontal forces without becoming dislodged with danger of falling.

302.7.3 Inspection of existing condition. Where, in the opinion of the Building Official, it is necessary to open a portion of roof, wall, or ceiling of a building in order to determine the structural condition of any parapet or appendage, the Building Official may order the owner to make such opening and the owner shall comply with said order at the owner's sole cost and expense.

Appendix A, Chapter A4, Section A401.2 is amended to read as follows:

A401.2 Scope. The provisions of this chapter may be used for voluntary seismic improvements to all existing Occupancy Group R buildings of wood construction or portions there-of where the structure has a soft, weak, or open-front wall line, and there exists one or more stories above.

Appendix A, Chapter A4, Section A404.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:

[BS] A404.1 Limitation. These prescriptive measures shall apply only to two-story buildings and only when deemed appropriate by the Building Official. These prescriptive measures rely on rotation of the second floor diaphragm to distribute the seismic load between the side and rear walls of the ground floor open area. In the absence of an existing floor diaphragm of wood structural panel or diagonal sheathing, a new wood structural panel diaphragm of minimum thickness of ¾ inch (19.1 mm) and with 10d common nails at 6 inches (152 mm) on center shall be applied. A California licensed architect or engineer shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Section A404, and shall approve and stamp the construction documents.

Appendix A, Chapter A4, Section A407.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:

[BS] A407.1 Structural observation, testing and inspection. Structural observation, in accordance with Section 1704.6 of the California Building Code, shall be required for all structures in which seismic retrofit is being performed in accordance with this chapter. Structural observation shall include visual observation of work for conformance to the approved construction documents and confirmation of existing conditions assumed during design. Structural testing and inspection for new construction materials shall be in accordance with the building code, except as modified by this chapter.

(Ord. 2239 § 10, 2023)