Building and Fire Board of Appeals November 9, 2020 Building and Fire Board to be held November 9, 2020 at 2:00 PM with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (November 8 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Building and Fire Board Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-550-5836 or at rick.arzola@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to rick.arzola@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Junta de Apelaciones de Edificios y Bomberos 9 de noviembre de 2020 Building and Fire Board se llevará a cabo el 9 de noviembre de 2020 a las 2:00 p.m. con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (8 de noviembre al mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión del edificio y la junta de bomberos, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta al 512-550-5836 o al rick.arzola@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. Una vez que se haya llamado …
2021 Tentative Meeting Schedule for Building & Fire Code Board of Appeals The board shall meet monthly at 1:30 pm or when the board is legally required to meet to comply with a legal deadline. MEETING DATES CANCELLED DATES Notes (The 4th Wednesday) January 27, 2021 February 24, 2021 March 24, 2021 April 28, 2021 May 26, 2021 June 23, 2021 July 28, 2021 August 25, 2021 September 22, 2021 October 27, 2021 *11/18/2021 **12/16/2021 Election of Officers Annual Report Due 2021 Schedule Due/Moved due to Holiday Moved due to Holiday Remember to note change in regular meeting date if it conflicts with a holiday.
Flat-top Fence Purpose To discuss a code change that would impact fence design for the life and safety of children, pets, wildlife and contractors in our community. Reasons Fences Are Built • Privacy • Security • Marking of property • Safety • Decorative purposes The proposed language could affect security and design. Minimum Restrictions on Fence Design or Materials • § 25-2-899 - FENCES AS ACCESSORY USES An ornamental fence is a fence with an open design that has a ratio of solid material to open space of not more than one to four; and a solid fence is a fence other than an ornamental fence. • Height restrictions are the most controversial • The swimming pool code is the most restrictive making it unclimbable with a minimum height requirement, self-closing and self-latching gates • Commercial properties are exempt from a building permit when the fence height is 7 feet or less; Residential is exempt when it is 8 feet or less What Started the Discussion In March 2018, one month shy of his 3rd Birthday, Kade Damian died after his neck became stuck between two bars on a wrought iron fence. His feet could not reach the bottom bar and he died almost instantly. His father, a trained first responder, could not revive him; even though Kade was found only minutes after climbing the fence. PROPOSED LANGUAGE 123.1 Fence Design. A fence design with potential climbable features shall not be designed with entrapment and/or impalement features protruding from the top of the fence. A. A non-climbable fence is as determined by the swimming pool B. An entrapment is less than 6 inches of clear space. C. A fence replacement of 50 percent or more requires compliance code. with this section. D. Voluntary compliance on existing fences that are at the maximum height will be exempted from the maximum height requirement, if the addition or modification does not extend an additional 6 inches above the original height.
Safe Fencing Code for Kade Kade Damian 4/21/15 to 3/22/18 C H AN G E S T ART S W IT H Y OU www.kadeskrusaders.org Heartbreak to Advocacy I couldn't save Kade, but I can work to protect others Julie Damian- Kade's Mother Fence Dangers E N T RAP M E N T Head & Neck trapped between exposed pickets Animals have been trapped between the pickets at hips, head, shoulders. IM P AL E M E N T & D E C AP IT AT ION Fall onto exposed pickets Loss of body parts W h y i s C h a n g e N e e d e d ? Fact: Kids like to climb F E N C E S P ROVID E T H E P E RF E C T OP P ORT UN IT Y AN D C H AL L E N G E F OR C H IL D RE N OF AL L AG E S Local Code Change Examples: City of Lakeway & Sun City in Georgetown, TX A simple wording change will save lives Cost Involved We have found that it does not cost the fence manufacturer any more to make an exposed picket fence panel vs. a flat topped one. There should be absolutely no increase cost to the consumer/Austin resident or builder. Since the code change sought only effects fences moving forward, there is no cost to the City or residents for this change. When a fence needs replaced it would then be brought up to code, if necessary, with a flat topped design. BE F ORE & AF T E R DIY Repair at a Daycare Citizen Video Tutorial about modifying a fence. DIY " Y o u d o n o t n e e d to h i re a fe n ce e xp ert u n l e s s y o u ju s t w a n t to . Y o u ca n cu t o ff th e s p i ke s wi th a s a wza l l a n d th e n p l u g th e h o l e s w i th p l u g s th a t a re a v a i l a b l e fro m Am a zo n …
On March 22, 2018 my life changed forever. In a moment, my heart was shattered and the pieces sent scattering everywhere. A normal day after school turned tragic. From snack at the table inside to calling 911 was less than 5 minutes. We were all outside in different parts of the yard when Kade was able to leave our back yard. Kade was found unconscious hanging by his neck at the top of our neighbor’s 4-foot-tall wrought iron exposed picket fence. He had attempted to climb over to go to his friend’s house. Kade had never left the yard without us before. Because of this short fence’s design, he was able to get a simultaneous foothold on the bottom horizontal bar and handhold on the top horizontal bar in his attempt to climb the fence. Being able to use his feet and hands as leverage allowed my two-year-old to get his head completely over the pickets but he couldn’t get the rest of his body over. When he came back down, his neck became wedged between the pickets and over the top horizontal bar where he hung and died. My husband found him and started CPR immediately. He is a trained first responder. I called 911 and within minutes they arrived and took Kade to Seton Williamson. He was pronounced dead at 5:02 pm. Click to view a video we made about what happened. I am here today to ask for your support in making changes to the code concerning fencing in Austin, TX. This code change costs the people, business owners, and stake holders of Austin nothing. Yet, it is vital to the safety of wildlife, pets, and children. In early 2019, the City of Lakeway passed fence code change shortly after seeing a news story about what happened to Kade. A group called Citizen Advocates for Animals had been working on change due to the high volume of deer found entrapped, gutted, and impaled on the wrought iron fences in the City. Why people think that this type of fence can do those things to a deer and not a human is beyond me. The group was successful in getting the new fence code passed. The new code simply states that “all fences, including wood, wrought iron, and ornamental fencing, shall be continuously flat topped without spikes or sharp points.” This simple wording change could have saved Kade’s …
Building and Fire Board of Appeals November 9, 2020 Building and Fire Board to be held November 9, 2020 at 2:00 PM with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (November 8 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Building and Fire Board Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-550-5836 or at rick.arzola@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to rick.arzola@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Junta de Apelaciones de Edificios y Bomberos 9 de noviembre de 2020 Building and Fire Board se llevará a cabo el 9 de noviembre de 2020 a las 2:00 p.m. con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (8 de noviembre al mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión del edificio y la junta de bomberos, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta al 512-550-5836 o al rick.arzola@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. Una vez que se haya llamado …
PHTA and ICC Joint Response to Diving Envelope Questions BACKGROUND RESPONSES The provisions found within the 2018 ISPSC chapter 8 and relevant sections below were derived from and are consistent with the 2003 and 2011 editions of the ANSI/APSP-5 Standard for Residential Inground Swimming Pools. 1. What is the trigger (minimum) height above water that requires a diving envelope? A1: A Type I-V diving envelope is required only when manufactured or fabricated diving equipment is present. Pools that do not meet any of the minimum diving water envelopes, found in table 804.1 and figure 804.1, are classified as Type 0 pools. If a pool is classified as Type 0, manufactured or fabricated diving equipment must not be installed on the pool. The code does not restrict deck elevation in any Type pool including Type 0. 808.1 Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment shall be in accordance with this section. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment and appurtenances shall not be installed on a Type O pool. 2. Can a raised bond beam be considered an elevated platform that requires a diving envelope? For clarity in answering this question, our understanding of a raised bond beam aligns with this example - https://www.infinitepools.com/2019/01/15/what-is-raised-bond-beam-rbb/ A2: The elevated portion of the deck, or “raised bond beam”, as shown in the given picture contained in the above link, is not designed or intended for diving and does not constitute manufactured or fabricated diving equipment. Therefore, it does not trigger the application of section 804 or table 804.1. One can attempt to dive from any deck surface, and it is the responsibility of the owner and users to exercise appropriate personal judgment and responsibility (including constant adult supervision of children) in and around swimming pools. 808.8 Stationary diving platforms and diving rocks. Stationary diving platforms and diving rocks built on-site shall be permitted to be flush with the wall and shall be located in the diving area of the pool. Point A shall be in front of the wall at the platform or diving rock centerline. 808.9 Location. The forward tip of manufactured or fabricated diving equipment shall be located directly above Point A as defined by Section 808.6. 808.12 Platform height above waterline. The height of a stationary diving platform or a diving rock above the design waterline shall not exceed the dimensions in Table 808.12. DIVING PLATFORM OR APPURTENANCE HEIGHT ABOVE …
Diving Envelope n 1 Purpose To review building official’s interpretation requiring diving envelope when elevated surfaces are within 4 feet of the water edge. 2 Building Official Interpretation is the opinion of the building official It that all manufactured or field fabricated elevations that create a potential diving apparatus, located within the water edge, and not designed or 4 feet of intended as diving equipment per section 808 of the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), will be required to have a diving envelope as per section 804 of the same code. 3 Reasons For Interpretation For the purpose of clarification, Builders interpret the code to require a diving envelope only when the platform or appurtenance is designed as a launch point. 4 Determination This determination was made based on language provided in the 2018 ISPSC commentary and another recognized industry standard ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 2011. 808.1 Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment shall be in accordance with this section. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment and appurtenances shall not be installed on a Type O pool. ❖ Manufactured diving equipment includes diving boards and jump boards. Fabricated diving equipment includes built-on-site platforms, diving rocks, cavern roofs, etc. Where a pool is not designed in accordance with the minimum diving water envelope dimensions of Table 804.1, the pool is a non-diving pool and diving equipment, manufactured or fabricated, must not be installed on the pool. 1.8 Definitions - ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 2011 Standard for Residential In ground Swimming Pools. Manufactured or field fabricated diving equipment for in ground swimming pools diving board/stand combination or manufactured platform. The term “field fabricated” covers diving platforms that may be fabricated on site, including but not limited to: platforms incorporated into elevated planters or water features, split-level decks, boulders, or diving rocks that may be poured into or mounted on a pool deck, etc. 5 Platform Height Above Waterline 808.12 Platform height above waterline. The height of a stationary diving platform or a diving rock above the design waterline shall not exceed the dimensions in Table 808.12. Type O. A non-diving pool. 6 Minimum Diving Water Envelope 7 Minimum Requirements 8 Official ICC Stance SECTION 104 DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE CODE OFFICIAL [A] 104.1 General. The code official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this code. The code official shall have the authority to render interpretations of this …
SECTION 807 POOL FLOORS 807.1 Floor slopes. Floor slopes shall be in accordance with Sections 807.1.1 through 807.1.3. 807.1.1 Shallow end. The slope of the floor from the beginning of the shallow end to the deep area floor slope transition point, indicated in Figure 804.1 as Point E to Point D, shall not exceed 1 unit vertical in 7 units horizontal. 807.1.2 Shallow to deep transition. The shallow to deep area floor slope transition point, indicated in Figure 804.1 as Point D, shall occur at a depth not less than 33 inches (838 mm) below the design waterline and at a point not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) from the beginning of the shallow end, indicated in Figure 804.1 as Point E, except as specified in Section 809.7. 807.1.3 Deep end. The slope of the floor in the deep end, indicated in Figure 804.1 as Point B to Point D, shall not exceed a slope of 1 unit vertical in 3 units horizontal (33- percent slope). 807.2 Shallow end water depths. The design water depth as measured at the shallowest point in the shallow area shall be not less than 33 inches (838 mm) and not greater than 4 feet (1219 mm). Shallow areas designed in accordance with Sections 809.6, 809.7 and 809.8 shall be exempt from the minimum depth requirement. TYPES I–V. Residential pools suitable for the installation of diving equipment by type. TYPE O. A non-diving residential pool. 808.8 Stationary diving platforms and diving rocks. Stationary diving platforms and diving rocks built on-site shall be permitted to be flush with the wall and shall be located in the diving area of the pool. Point A shall be in front of the wall at the platform or diving rock centerline. 808.1 Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment shall be in accordance with this section. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment and appurtenances shall not be installed on a Type O pool.
