San Jose Municipal Code Part 7 Structural Test and Special Inspections (chapter 17)

Local geological conditions - The San Francisco/Bay Area region is densely populated and located in an area of high seismic activities. San José is bound by two major faults, the Hayward and San Andreas faults, that are capable of producing major earthquakes. Results from studies after the Northridge Earthquake indicated that a lot of the damages were attributed to lack of quality control during construction resulting in low construction quality. The proposed modification to improve quality control during construction need to be incorporated into the code to assure that new buildings and additions to existing buildings are designed and constructed in accordance with the scope and objectives of the California Building Code.

(Ords. 28166, 28838.)

Section 1705.3 of CBC is amended to read as follows:

1705.3 Concrete Construction. The special inspections and tests of concrete construction shall be performed in accordance with this section and Table 1705.3.

Exceptions: Special inspections and tests shall not be required for:

1. Isolated spread concrete footings of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock, where the structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, f'c, no greater than two thousand five hundred pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 MPa).

2. Continuous concrete footings supporting walls of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock where:

2.1.

The footings support walls of light-frame construction;

2.2.

The footings are designed in accordance with Table 1809.7; or

2.3.

The structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, f'c, no greater than two thousand five hundred pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 Mpa), regardless of the compressive strength specified in the approved construction documents or used in the footing construction.

3. Nonstructural concrete slabs supported directly on the ground, including prestressed slabs on grade, where the effective prestress in the concrete is less than one hundred fifty psi (1.03 Mpa).

4. Concrete foundation walls constructed in accordance with table 1807.1.6.2.

5. Concrete patios, driveways and sidewalks, on grade.

(Ords. 28166, 28838, 29334, 29806, 30326.)