[Call to Order]
[00:00:07]
>> IT IS JANUARY THE 17TH AT 03:37, AND I WILL CALL THIS BUILDING STANDARDS MEETING TO OPEN.
>> GENTLEMEN, WE DO NEED TO ANNOUNCE OURSELVES FIRST.
>> YEAH, ANNOUNCE EVERYONE HERE FIRST.
>> I'M MARK DUNCAN, I'M AN ALTERNATE.
>> MY NAME IS MASON KLEINSMITH, A MEMBER.
>> JAY FEATHERSTONE, AN ALTERNATE.
>> SAM MOHAMMED, AN ALTERNATE.
>> YES. WILL, I COULD, MEMBER.
>> WAYNE SMITH, BUILDING OFFICIAL.
CHERYL FOO IS HERE, LEROY BENNETT, AND PAM LISTEN IS ALSO HERE.
ONE OF THE TASKS OF THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION IS TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF BUILDING CODES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND WE WANT TO DIVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THERE ARE COG AMENDMENTS THAT WE GENERALLY INCLUDE IN OUR LOCAL AMENDMENTS.
WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO AS WE NEED TO MAKE THEM FIT INTO OUR NEEDS.
I'M SORRY, I LOST MY SPOT THERE FOR JUST A SECOND.
WE CAN ALSO PROPOSE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS AS NEEDED AS WE GO THROUGH THERE.
HOWEVER, WE CANNOT REDUCE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS ALLOWED BY CODES.
THE STANDARDS THAT ARE PRESENTED FORTH BY BUILDING CODES, REGARDLESS OF WHICH ONE IT IS, WHETHER IT'S NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE OR BUILDING CODE, FIRE CODE, ANY OF THOSE, THOSE ARE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS.. WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITHIN THOSE MINIMUM STANDARDS.
WE CAN REDUCE THOSE MINIMUM STANDARDS, BUT WE CAN MAKE THEM STRICTER IF WE CHOOSE TO.
IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WILL DO THAT, THAT FIT THE NEEDS FOR DECATUR BETTER THAN THE MINIMUM STANDARDS AS PROPOSED IN THERE.
JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU MOVE FORWARD THAT THESE ARE MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IN THIS.
THEN ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING THAT MINIMUM STANDARD IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN AMENDMENT TO THAT.
AS WE GO THROUGH THESE, YOU WILL SEE THESE AMENDMENTS PROVIDED TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THOSE AMENDMENTS.
I HAVE THE BUILDING CODES, IF YOU NEED A COPY OF THAT TO LOOK THROUGH, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DISCUSS THESE IN PARTICULAR.
JAY CAME BY MY OFFICE YESTERDAY.
WE SAT DOWN AND DISCUSSED THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AMENDMENTS AT LENGTH YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE IN THERE.
REALLY DIDN'T COME UP WITH ANY NEW AMENDMENTS THAT WE WANTED TO ADD IN THERE, BUT WE DID FIND SOME THAT WERE EXISTING IN THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE THAT WE FELT DID NOT FIT INTO DECATUR.
WE HAVE PULLED SOME OF THOSE COG AMENDMENTS OUT OF THERE FOR THAT.
LEROY, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO ABOUT FIRE CODES AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE?
>> WELL, SORRY, I WASN'T REALLY PREPARED TO SAY ANYTHING BUT I USUALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM FINDING SOMETHING.
THE BIGGEST THING FOR US IS WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE CODES TO BE UPDATED.
THEY CANNOT GET ANY FURTHER OUT THAN TWO CODE CYCLES.
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE CODE IS A BIG PIECE TO OUR ISO RATING.
IF ISO RATINGS GO UP, SO DOES EVERYONE'S INSURANCE RATES.
I'VE MADE IT CLEAR SINCE BECOMING THE FIRE CHIEF, MY GOAL IS TO BE AN ISO ONE.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IS MAINTAINING STAFFING LEVELS, PREVENTION CODES.
[00:05:09]
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.SUPPORT OF WHAT WE BRING IS THE BEST.
FIRE CODE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN MOST BECAUSE OF THE LIFE SAFETY ISSUE TO IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE AMENDMENTS TO THEM THAT THEY THOUGHT WAS IN BEST INTEREST AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN JAIL NOW WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.
TRUST ME, WHEN I COME TO YOU I WILL GIVE YOU THE DIRECT INFORMATION OF WHAT'S THE BEST OPTION.
I'VE GIVEN MY DIVISION CHIEF PREVENTION.
WE NEED TO GET THESE UPDATED SOON.
>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE US SEVERAL MONTHS TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE AMENDMENTS, TO LOOK THROUGH EVERYTHING, AND TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
BUT I WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THAT JUNE TO AUGUST TIMEFRAME.
>> I'LL GO WITH JUNE. [LAUGHTER] BUT I WILL TAKE A SECOND, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COG AMENDMENTS, THOSE ARE WRITTEN BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES, FROM NORTH-CENTRAL TEXAS GOVERNMENT.
THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE WRITTEN TO BE TAILORED TO OUR AREA.
IF YOU ADOPT A CODE BOOK AS IT'S WHOLLY WRITTEN, THEN YOU'RE TAKING THE CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ENFORCING THINGS FROM THE WEST COAST AND THE EAST COAST.
THE COG AMENDMENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL.
ALL OF THEM ARE WRITTEN WITH OPTION A'S AND B'S, AND THOSE ARE TAILORED FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT SIDE, WHERE OPTION A MAY BE FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS 60 FIRE STATIONS AND PUT 100 PEOPLE ON A FIRE IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF IT.
THE OPTION B'S ARE MORE TAILORED TO SMALLER COMMUNITIES SUCH AS US.
BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO TALK WITH ANYTHING.
ANYBODY EVER WANTS TO COME SIT OUT IN MY OFFICE, I CAN TALK TO THEM CODES ALL DAY, BUT THANK YOU.
>> A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ISO RATING.
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS AN ISO RATING.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT HAS A BUILDING CODE EFFECTIVENESS GRADING SCHEDULE, WHICH IS ASSIGNED THROUGH THE ISO DEPARTMENT.
INSURANCE SERVICE ORGANIZATION IS WHAT ISO STANDS FOR.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ISO AUDIT FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME.
THE ISO AUDIT THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH WILL COVER A TIME FRAME, JANUARY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, SO WE ARE STILL IN THAT TIME FRAME THAT ALLOWS US TO USE THE CODES THAT WE'RE EXISTING UNDER RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF THAT AND PROVIDING THAT HIGHEST LEVEL OF EFFECTIVENESS FOR OUR BUILDING CODES AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS AND WE'RE NOT JUMPING THROUGH LARGE CHANGES THROUGH THE BUILDING CODES AS THEY MOVE ALONG.
LEROY AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH ABOUT WHEN TO UPDATE OUR BUILDING CODES.
THE BAD THING ABOUT THE BUILDING CODES, THEY COME OUT EVERY THREE YEARS, SO THERE'S A NEW ONE THAT'S COMING OUT IN 2024.
THOSE CODES ARE ALREADY WRITTEN, THEY ARE ALREADY TEACHING ON THEM.
THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING THAT AND IN SOME PLACES, THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALREADY IMPLEMENTING THOSE.
LEROY AND I OPINION ON THIS, I'M ASSUMING IT'S STILL THE SAME THAT WE WANT TO STAY ONE CODE CYCLE BEHIND BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO ISSUE ARATAS FOR THESE BUILDING CODES AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THEM.
AS THIS 2024 BUILDING CODE IS ROLLED OUT THIS YEAR, THEY WILL ISSUE RATAS WHEN CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE IN THAT, AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THAT BUILDING CODE CYCLE, THOSE ARATAS BECOME FEWER AND FEWER IN BETWEEN, AND YOU END UP WITH A VERY CLEAN EDITION OF IT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE END OF THAT CODE CYCLE.
THEN THE PROCESS STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.
THEY WILL ACTUALLY START SAY, THE 25, 27 CODE PROCESS WILL START LATER THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE 27 CODES.
THE 24 CODES WILL BE OUT THERE, WE WON'T LOOK TO MOVE TOWARDS THEM UNTIL 27.
[00:10:01]
WE WILL TRY TO MOVE TO 24 AND THE 27 CYCLE.>> WAYNE I MIGHT SAY, THE EASIEST WAY TO PUT THAT IS AFTER A CODE BOOK COMES OUT THE FIRST TWO YEARS.
IF YOU ADOPT IT RIGHT OFF THE FIRST TWO YEARS, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGING THE RULES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO BELIEVE BECAUSE IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
THE ONE EXCEPTION THAT I'M GOING TO POINT OUT IN THAT IS THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS A LAW IN PLACE THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS ADOPTS THE MOST RECENT NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE IN OCTOBER OF THE YEAR THAT IT'S PUBLISHED.
THIS IS THE 23 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
IT IS ONE YEAR OFF OF THE ICC CYCLES.
GENERALLY, YOU'RE ONE YEAR BEHIND WITH NEC.
WITH THE 2021 CODE CYCLE, FOR ICC, YOU WOULD GENERALLY ADOPT THE 2022 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, J AND I DID THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THE 22 AND THE 23 CYCLE THAT WILL HAVE US FLIP FLOPPING BACK AND FORTH.
IF WE DON'T ADOPT THE 23 FOR CLARITY AND EASE OF NAVIGATION.
JUST DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 23 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
THAT ALSO KEEPS US IN LINE WITH WHAT THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ADOPTED AND WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THAT.
>> ONE THING I WAS GOING TO SAY AS IT RELATES TO BUILDING CODES BEYOND ELECTRIC, FOR MOST OF THE BUILDINGS INDICATOR THOSE AREAS OF THE CODE WILL NOT CHANGE DRASTICALLY EXCEPT FOR ENERGY REQUIREMENTS.
WHILE IT IS A GOOD POINT THAT IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO DIGEST CHANGES FOR MOST OF THE BUILDINGS I FORESEE IN DECATUR, THERE REALLY WON'T BE THAT MUCH CHANGE IF WE ADOPTED THE MOST RECENT CODE EACH YEAR, THE WILD CARD.
THERE IS THE ENERGY DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH RENOVATION OF EXISTING AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THOSE WOULD BE THE ONE EXCEPTION TO NOT SEEING A LOT OF CHANGES IN BUILDINGS.
NORMALLY, THE CODE UPDATES ARE PRETTY WELL DOCUMENTED.
THEY BAR THE CHANGES IN THE TEXT.
I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR ADOPTING THE NEWER CODES AS SOON AS THEY COME OUT.
AS LONG AS WE MADE EXCLUSIONS WERE APPROPRIATE FOR ENERGY DESIGN CHANGES.
THERE'S A TOTAL OF 10 CODES THAT CITY OF DECATUR GENERALLY ADOPTS IN THERE.
THE HARDEST ONE TO KEEP UP WITH AS DOCTOR, POINTED OUT, IS THE ENERGY CODE.
I'M STILL NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE ENERGY CODE ON THIS CYCLE.
THERE'S LOTS OF CHANGES IN THERE.
WE ARE UNDER SOME REQUIREMENTS IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE IN TO ADOPT THAT AS WRITTEN.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ABLE TO PULL BACK SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO THE 2015, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE IS CURRENTLY UNDER.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE ENERGY CODE VERY SPECIFICALLY AND SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS.
I'VE ACTUALLY GOT IT PUSHED TOWARDS THE END OF THIS ADOPTION SCHEDULE JUST SO THAT I HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT MORE IN DETAIL.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
CAN I ASK YOU, WHAT CODE ARE WE CURRENTLY UNDER ICC?
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE UNDER THE 2017 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
>> WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS TO MOVE THE ICC CODES TO THE 2021 VERSION AND MOVE THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE TO THE 2023 VERSION.
>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ENCODES,
[00:15:02]
ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT IN GENERAL? WE ARE WORKING ON TRYING TO GET SOME CONTRACTORS MORE EMBEDDED INTO THIS GROUP SO THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND IN THESE CODES AND THE USE OF THESE CODES ARE ABLE TO HELP WITH THESE DECISIONS IN THERE.THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAD TALKED WITH J BEING A MASTER ELECTRICIAN ON HERE, HAVING HIM IN HERE TO WORK WITH THAT JOE GILLESPIE TO WORK WITH THE PLUMBING FUEL, GAS CODES.
WE GOT SOME FOLKS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO ON THE MECHANICAL SIDE OF IT RIGHT NOW, DR. ACKER IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL THE CODES AND WE'LL LEAN ON HIM PRETTY HARD TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THOSE.
BUT I WANT TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
I'VE ONLY GOT TWO THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD WITH YOU AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW THIS IS A NEW PROCESS, TRYING TO EASE EVERYBODY INTO THIS AND KEEP EVERYBODY'S COMFORT LEVEL ON SCALE SO THAT NOBODY FEELS LIKE THEY'RE OVERWHELMED AND ESPECIALLY ME.
WE'LL START WITH NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE AND I HAVE SOME PROPOSED CHANGES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALSO AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS.
THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING, WE'LL PROBABLY MEET EVERY MONTH OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IN ORDER TO GET THIS CODE ADOPTION ON SCHEDULE SO THAT WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE'RE NOT HOLDING THIS UP AND CREATING PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. [LAUGHTER].
>> TURN ON THE MIKE SO I CAN HEAR, SAM.
>> MY APOLOGIES. IF TWO PER MONTH ISN'T ENOUGH, MAYBE WE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT COME TO US.
>> ABSOLUTELY, WE CAN DEFINITELY INCREASE THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE COVERING EACH MONTH.
WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS, IF THAT WORKS BETTER.
I DON'T FORESEE A LOT OF PROBLEMS MOVING THROUGH THIS, BUT IF WE DO GET BOGGED DOWN ON SOMETHING, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADD SOME MEETINGS TO THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP IT MOVING FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT JAY AND I HAD SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT THE COG AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
HE WANTED TO POSTPONE VOTING ON THAT AT THIS POINT AND TIME UNTIL WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE COG AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAD HERE.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADD IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE COG AMENDMENTS ARE.
WE ARE REMOVING SOME OF THE COG AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
THOSE WILL GO BACK TO THE STANDARD CODE LANGUAGE THAT'S ALREADY IN THE CODE.
IT'S ONLY REMOVING THE AMENDMENT.
THAT CODE SECTION STILL EXISTS, AND SO IT WOULD BE THERE WITHOUT AMENDMENT TO IT.
OKAY. I AM ON THE COG BOARD FOR THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
I HELPED DO THE REVIEWS AND THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE ON THAT.
CHUCK SELLERS, OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR IS ON THE COG COMMITTEE FOR PLUMBING, MECHANICAL AND FUEL GAS.
I DON'T KNOW. LEROY, ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY COG AMENDMENT?
>> OKAY. BUT WE'RE VERY IN TUNE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE COG AMENDMENTS AND WE LOOK OVER THEM VERY DETAILED WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THESE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THESE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE TO START OFF WITH HERE.
JOE GILLESPIE IS NOT HERE TODAY, THAT'S OUR RESIDENT PLUMBER ON THIS, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GET HIM CAUGHT UP AND UP TO SPEED WITH
[00:20:05]
WHAT THAT IS SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING.THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING FORWARD EITHER ANOTHER TWO OR THREE CODES FOR THE NEXT MEETING IN FEBRUARY.
[ITEM 2: Discuss 2023 National Electric Code (NEC) with Local Amendments adoption review and recommendation schedule.]
WITH NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE CHANGES.HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE COG AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN THAT? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WANT TO CALL OUT IN THAT AND WE CAN WALK THROUGH WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, WHAT JAY AND I TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THIS AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT LEAVING AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PULLING FROM THOSE COG AMENDMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT REMOVING WAS THE ARTICLE 21052(C)(1).
YOU CAN FIND THAT ON PAGE 3 OF YOUR HANDOUT THERE.
THAT DEALS WITH COUNTERTOP AND WORK SURFACE EXCEPTIONS.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION THAT WENT ON WITH THIS AT THE COG COUNCIL FOR THIS BASED SPECIFICALLY ON WINDOW WALLS.
WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF THOSE INDICATOR.
THESE ARE AREAS ALONG THE BACKSPLASH OF A KITCHEN AREA THAT'S ALL GLASS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE HERE AT ALL, AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE.
YOU HAVE POP UP PLUG OPTIONS THAT COME UP OUT OF THE COUNTERS AND THERE'S SPECIFIC PLACES THAT PLUGS ARE REQUIRED IN KITCHEN AREAS, AND SO THOSE REQUIREMENTS WILL STILL BE IN PLACE.
THE COG AMENDMENT EXCEPTION 2.
WE'RE ADDING THAT EXCEPTION 2 BACK IN WHICH IS THAT A RECEPTACLE OUTLET CANNOT BE INSTALLED IN A WALL AREA SHOWN.
IT SHALL BE PERMITTED TO BE INSTALLED AS CLOSE AS PRACTICABLE TO THE COUNTERTOP AREA BEING SERVED.
WE WOULD NOT ADOPT THAT SPECIFIC AMENDMENT IN THERE.
ARTICLE 227, LOAD CALCULATIONS.
THIS IS SPECIFIC TO POWER PRODUCTION SYSTEMS USED IN OPTIONAL STANDBY AND BACK-UP SYSTEMS. IT ADDS A ARTICLE IN THERE THAT REQUIRES LOAD CALCULATIONS TO BE PROVIDED THAT SUBSTANTIATE THAT BACK-UP SYSTEM WHENEVER IT GOES IN.
IT JUST GIVES US MORE DOCUMENTATION TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THAT LOAD IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING AND THAT THE LOAD BEING SERVED BY THAT BACK-UP SYSTEM HAS CALCULATIONS TO BACK THAT UP.
WE LEFT ARTICLE 230.85(C) FOR EMERGENCY DISCONNECTS. YES, SIR.
>> I THINK WHEN WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE 220.7, WE WERE JUST GOING TO ADD THE REASON FOR CHANGE INTO THE LANGUAGE FOR THE CITY.
THE WHOLE HIGHLIGHTED AREA IS THE AMENDED LANGUAGE.
>> OKAY. JUST TO ADD BECAUSE IT WAS OPEN ENDED.
>> YEAH, IT PUT DOWN IN THERE THAT IT WILL SUBSTANTIATE THE CAPACITY OF POWER PRODUCTION SYSTEMS USED FOR OPTIONAL STANDBY BACK-UP USES.
>> I HAD THE OLD COPY, I THINK THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T SEE THAT YOU [NOISE].
>> I FORGOT. DO YOU NEED IT AGAIN?
>> YEAH, I DIDN'T HAVE THE CLEANED UP VERSION.
I JUST HAD THE OLD COPY AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD ALREADY CHANGED IT.
>> DR. ACKER, I WILL SEND THESE COG AMENDMENTS TO YOU SO THAT YOU HAVE A COPY OF THEM.
I WILL EMAIL THEM TO YOU AS SOON AS I GET BACK TO MY OFFICE THIS AFTERNOON.
>> ARTICLE 40884, JAY, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? DID THAT GET YOU TAKEN CARE OF?
[00:25:01]
DESCRIPTIONS, FIELD IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED.THERE'S NOT MUCH CHANGE WITH WHAT IS IN THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE AND WHAT THE COG AMENDMENT WAS THERE AND DID NOT SEE ANY REASON TO COMPLICATE ANYTHING IN THAT AND SO WE WENT JUST BACK TO THE STANDARD CODE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THERE, WHICH IS IDENTIFICATION OF CIRCUITS.
WE LEFT ARTICLE 410118 IN THERE, WE LEFT ARTICLE 42231, WHICH IS ACCESS TO APPLIANCES.
WE REMOVED ARTICLE 500.8A AND THIS HAD TO DO WITH SOME INFORMATIONAL NOTES THAT WERE PLACED IN THERE FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT ENGINEERS IN THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE, THE FIRST ARTICLE THAT'S IN THIS, THAT'S BEING CHANGED DEALS WITH ENGINEERING SUPERVISION.
IN ORDER TO DO ELECTRICAL PLANS, WE HAVE A SPECIFIC DEFINITION FOR THAT ENGINEERING IN THERE WHICH SAYS THAT IT WILL BE A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT IS ENGAGED PRIMARILY IN THE DESIGN OR MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE THIS 500.8 REITERATES THAT WE FEEL LIKE THAT IT'S ALREADY THERE AND THERE'S NO REASON TO DUPLICATE THAT ON THERE.
ARTICLE 5057 DEALS WITH CLASSIFIED AREAS, SO THESE ARE SPECIAL AREAS THAT HAVE CLASSIFICATIONS TO THEM FOR EXPLOSION, DEFLAGRATION, AND OTHER SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THERE.
WHAT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT PROVIDES IN THERE IS THAT WHENEVER A NEW BUILDING COMES IN THAT HAS ONE OF THESE AREAS THAT HAS TO BE CLASSIFIED, THE ENGINEER FOR THAT PROJECT NEEDS TO IDENTIFY THAT CLASSIFIED AREA SO THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIGURE THAT AREA OUT.
THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE DOESN'T PROVIDE FOR WHO IDENTIFIES THAT ZONE.
WE'RE GOING BACK IN WITH THIS AMENDMENT SAYING THAT ENGINEER OF RECORD FOR THAT PLAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING THAT AREA WHERE THESE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS ARE BEING USED.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT, WIRING METHODS, INSTALLATION, AND INSPECTIONS REQUIRED BY THE ENGINEER.
THAT ALL GOES BACK TO THE STATE OF TEXAS ENGINEER DEFINITION THAT'S ALREADY ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE FALSE CURRENTS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR THAT REACH THESE HEIGHTS.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 150,000-190,000 RMS FOR FAULT CURRENTS.
WE JUST DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT REACHES THAT HIGH.
IN THE FUTURE WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THAT CODE AMENDMENT COMING BACK IN, BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT HIGH, AND IT JUST CREATES ANOTHER LAYER THAT WE HAVE TO SORT THROUGH WHENEVER WE REVIEW THAT.
ARTICLE 690.9 D DEALS WITH TRANSFORMERS AND OVER-PROTECTION FOR INVERTERS.
THIS IS FOR SOLAR EQUIPMENT AND LIMITS THAT SO THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE OVER CURRENT PROTECTION FOR THOSE INVERTERS FROM THE TRANSFORMERS TO FEED THAT.
ARTICLE 705.8 IS DEALING WITH POWER PRODUCTION SOURCES THAT ARE RUN IN PARALLEL WITH PRIMARY SOURCES.
[00:30:06]
WE'VE TAKEN THE RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN OUT OF THAT.WE WANT AT LEAST A JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN OR A MASTER ELECTRICIAN TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMBINING THOSE TWO SYSTEMS. YOU'RE TYING TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY TOGETHER AND FEEL LIKE THAT'S MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT A HIGHER GRADE OF LICENSING WOULD REQUIRE ON THAT.
THAT'S ANOTHER SOLAR PROVISION THAT DEALS WITH ISLAND MODE.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT USED AROUND HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE LEFT IT IN THERE SO THAT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO USE THAT ISLAND MODE SO THAT THEY'RE CREATING AN ISLAND FOR THEIR ELECTRICAL SOURCE, IT STILL PROVIDES SOME REGULATION OF THAT.
WE DID TAKE OUT, ACTUALLY, THAT LAST SECTION, 71015A THAT WAS REMOVED BY THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE NEW NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
IT WAS AN AMENDMENT FROM THE 2020 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE, AMENDMENTS THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE 2023 CODE, AND SO THEY REMOVED IT COMPLETELY.
THAT ONE'S OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW.
THOSE ARE THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD WITH ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT JAY, YOU SAID THAT YOU WEREN'T REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD TAKING IN A VOTE ON THIS RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE TALK THROUGH THIS AND HAD TIME FOR SOME INPUT ON THAT.
>> YEAH. THAT WAS SOMETHING I WAS JUST THINKING IF WE WANTED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY AND CONTRACTORS NOTICE TO THESE AMENDMENTS BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY OPEN FOR DISCUSSION IF WE WANT TO PROVIDE THAT OR GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON SOME OF THESE THINGS OR NOT.
>> IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO LET THE CONTRACTORS KNOW THAT THESE ARE COMING AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> MY ONLY CONCERN IS AT LEAST IF WE HAVE THE DUE DILIGENCE TO HAVE THE MEETING, THEN IF THESE GO THROUGH AND ARE ADOPTED, WE'VE GIVEN EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THEM AND HAVE A SAY.
>> WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GET WITH OUR WEBSITE CURATOR SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME IN AND HAVE INPUT TO THIS, AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE THE GATEKEEPERS ON THIS, BUT THESE ARE MINIMUM STANDARDS AND SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND IF YOU DO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT TO THIS.
THESE ARE STILL MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SAFETY THAT'S REQUIRED BY BUILDING CODES.
IF WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT A VOTE ON THAT ONE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WE'LL PUT THAT OUT THERE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE ANY INTEREST THAT MAY BE OUT THERE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INPUT ON THAT.
WE ARE NOT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AT THE SIZE OF CITY THAT DECATUR IS TO HOLD THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THAT AT THIS LEVEL.
WE'LL BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC INPUT AT THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO WHEN THEY'RE ADOPTED FOR INPUT IF THEY WANT THAT.
>> I THINK THAT THE NEXT MEETING ON THE WAY WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT WOULD BE BOTH OF THOSE AT THE SAME TIME.
PUBLIC HEARING AND WELL, DEPENDING ON THE INTEREST.
>> ANY INPUT THAT THEY'D LIKE- [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE VOTE WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA PENDING INPUT.
>> BUT IF ALL OF THESE WILL BE ADOPTED BY AN ORDINANCE BY CITY COUNCIL WHENEVER WE MOVE TO THAT AND OF COURSE, ANY ORDINANCE REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING TO TAKE PLACE.
THERE'S MULTIPLE LEVELS AND MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THIS IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE ON THE AGENDA FOR A VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING AND WE'LL PUT SOME PUBLICATION OUT THERE IN THE MEANTIME.
[ITEM 3: Discuss 2021 ICC Code with Local Amendments adoption review and recommendation schedule.]
TALK ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE.[00:35:03]
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF AMENDMENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE, TO THAT PARTICULAR CODE THAT'S OUT THERE.OUR OFFICE IS MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOME ADDITIONAL LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO PUT IN THERE.
WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A DRINKING FOUNTAIN REQUIREMENT.
RIGHT NOW, THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE REQUIRES DRINKING FOUNTAINS IN ANY OCCUPANCY THAT HAS AN OCCUPANT LOAD OF 15 OR MORE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO PUSH THAT NUMBER UP IN PRETTY GOOD WAYS.
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW DRINKING FOUNTAINS DON'T GET USED A LOT IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
IT BECOMES MORE OF A HURDLE AND THEN IT'S UNUSED EQUIPMENT WHEN IT GOES IN THERE, SO WE WANT TO DRIVE THAT NUMBER UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER SO IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF TO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE UNTIL THEY HAVE THOSE HIGHER OCCUPANT NUMBERS.
ANOTHER ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE SUBSTITUTION OF DRINKING FOUNTAINS WITH BOTTLE FILLERS.
I'VE SEEN SOME LOCATIONS THAT HAVE DONE THAT, PROVIDED THAT OPTION SO THAT THOSE GET USED A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN IN BUILDINGS, BUT THOSE ARE NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE PLUMBING CODE AT THIS TIME.
WE CAN ADD THAT IN THERE AND IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THERE THAT IT WILL MEET THE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENT AS PRESCRIBED, AND THAT'S THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATIONS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS.
>> WHERE ARE THESE SECTIONS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH REGARD TO THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS?
>> IF YOU'LL LOOK ON THE SECOND TO LAST PAGE, AT THE VERY BOTTOM, THE SECOND PAGE, IT SAYS PAGE 3 AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT THERE, IT'S THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA.
IT SAYS 410-2, IT'S ALL OCCUPANCIES.
THE EXISTING LANGUAGE ON THERE IS STRUCK OUT AT THE 15 AND REPLACED WITH 49.
>> YOUR OCCUPANCIES, THEY GO IN GROUPS, AND 50 IS A BIG CHANGEOVER IN BUILDING CODE.
WHENEVER YOU HAVE 50 OCCUPANTS IN A BUILDING, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AS FAR AS EGRESS REQUIREMENTS AND EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO COME INTO PLACE WITH THAT, SO THAT'S WHY I PICKED THAT 49.
IT ISN'T JUST OUT OF THE BLUE, THAT IS A NUMBER WHERE THERE'S A TRANSITION IN THE CODE.
>> HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU HANDLE A BUILDING THAT'S GOT FIVE SPACES? THEY MIGHT HAVE MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE IN IT IN TOTAL, BUT EACH SUITE OR EACH UNIT HAS MUCH LESS THAN 49.
ARE YOU ARE YOU COUNTING UP ALL THE UNITS WITHIN A BUILDING?
>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW THAT BUILDING IS LAID OUT.
IF IT'S ONE BUILDING OR IF IT'S INDIVIDUAL SPACES, IT WOULD BE BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL SPACES UNLESS YOU HAVE A COMMON AREA THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO THAT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING ON THE BACK PAGE OF THAT, YOU'LL SEE SIX 6081711.
INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE ADDED SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE FOR BACKFLOW PREVENTERS FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSERS.
TCEQ REGULATES BACKFLOW PREVENTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY RECOGNIZED A CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER AS A HEALTH HAZARD BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THAT CARBON DIOXIDE TO GET BACK INTO THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY LINES, SO RATHER THAN THIS PARTICULAR BACKFLOW PREVENTER THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNING TO THAT, WE'VE ADDED A RPZ TO GO IN PLACE OF THAT, WHICH IS WHAT TCEQ RECOMMENDS FOR THAT.
THERE ARE A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WE MAY LOOK AT AT ADDING IN THERE.
[00:40:03]
THERE'S SOME SOLVENT CEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SANITARY DRAINAGE PIPING THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT.YOU MAY SEE A FEW ADDITIONAL CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD GO INTO THIS, BUT THESE ARE ALL LOCAL AMENDMENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE COG AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE, STILL NOT A LOT IN THAT PARTICULAR ONE.
SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A LOT INTO THAT, OTHER ONES YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT IN THERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SMALL CODE BOOK.
BUT DEFINITELY, THIS IS A DOABLE PROCESS THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND GET INTO THERE.
BUT THIS GIVES YOU SOME MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT, WHAT THE PROCESS IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY GET VOTES IN ON THIS SO THAT WE CAN PUT THESE BEHIND US AND GET THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN TAKE ALL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL AT THE SAME TIME.
AT THE NEXT MEETING WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT.
ANYBODY THAT HAS A QUESTION ON ANY OF THESE AMENDMENTS, PLEASE CALL ME.
WE'LL SIT DOWN, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW, TO GET THESE CODE AMENDMENTS IN PLACE AND HAVE US AN ADOPTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A FEBRUARY MEETING?
[ITEM 4: New and/or future business items.]
>> WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A FEBRUARY MEETING.
>> CHERYL WANTS ME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WILL ALSO BE A ZBA MEETING THAT DAY.
>> THE 21ST. HOLD ON FOR JUST A SECOND.
YES, ON THE 19TH THAT WOULD BE THE STANDARD ZBA BUILDING STANDARD COMMISSION MEETING, SO THAT MEETING IS MOVED TO THE 21ST.
>> 3:30. YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THESE, BEFORE IT GETS TO VOTE, IF THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR YOU, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
DROP ME AN EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, PHONE CALL, WHATEVER WORKS BEST FOR YOU SO THAT I CAN GET YOU ANSWERS TO THIS SO THAT WE'RE NOT SHOWING UP TO THE MEETING AND SAY, I'VE GOT TO GO DIG INTO THAT AND GO BACK TO IT.
NOT TO SAY THAT THAT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE WANT TO GET THEM ANSWERED.
BUT ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU RUN ACROSS A QUESTION FOR THESE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I WILL BE SENDING THESE OUT TO YOU PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO THAT YOU HAVE THESE AMENDMENTS SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THEM AND WORK THROUGH THEM AS WE GET THEM UP, AND WE CAN GET THESE VOTES IN THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. WE DIDN'T HAVE MINUTES TODAY TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS,
[ITEM 1: Approve the Minutes from the December 18, 2023, BSC Meeting]
AND I DON'T THINK WE DID LAST MEETING EITHER, SO WE'LL HAVE A DOUBLE REVIEW IN THE NEXT MONTH?>> YES, SIR. HOLIDAYS SNUCK UP ON US PRETTY QUICKLY, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STUFF GOING THROUGH OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY FEW MONTHS.
NOT AN EXCUSE, BUT IT IS THE REASON FOR IT.
OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU'VE GOT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO CODE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED, IF YOU HEAR SOMEBODY THAT HAS A QUESTION ON ONE IN PARTICULAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN CREATING AMENDMENTS JUST TO HAVE AMENDMENTS.
IF THERE'S NOT A REASON FOR IT, JUST LIKE WITH THAT NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE, THERE WAS NO REASON FOR SOME OF THOSE, LET'S GET THOSE OUT OF THERE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WADE THROUGH THAT WHENEVER SOMEBODY HAS HAPPENED TO ACTUALLY BE IN THE FIELD DOING THE WORK.
WE WILL MOVE THROUGH MOST OF THE CODE AMENDMENTS THAT COG HAS RECOMMENDED FOR THESE, BUT WE'LL HAVE A FEW HERE AND THERE THAT WE MAY REMOVE AND/OR ADD TO THESE SO THAT IT IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
>> THE ONLY AMENDMENTS THAT WILL VOTE ON SPECIFICALLY ARE THESE THOUGH, HERE, NOT ANY ADDITIONAL ONES?
>> THE PLUMBING AND THE ELECTRICAL WILL DEFINITELY BE VOTED ON AT THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
>> ALL OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT OR JUST SOME OF THEM?
[00:45:03]
>> EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY, YES.
>> I WILL GET WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN SET UP A TIME WHEN THEY WANT TO PRESENT THEIR CODE AMENDMENTS TO YOU.
PROBABLY WE'LL HAVE A SINGLE SESSION JUST FOR FIRE, JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF AMENDMENTS IN THE FIRE CODE WITH THE AB CITY OPTIONS THAT ARE IN THERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE TIME TO PRESENT THOSE AND WE'RE NOT HOLDING YOU GUYS HERE FOR HOURS ON END LOOKING AT CODE AMENDMENTS.
NOT EVERYBODY IS EXCITED ABOUT THEM AS WE ARE.
IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANY QUESTIONS TODAY.
THAT'S ALL OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOR THIS TIME.
>> NONE. SEEING AS THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO A CLOSE AT 04:23
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.