REGULAR CALLED MEETING BUILDING AND FIRE BOARD OF APPEALS Wednesday March 27 @ 1:30 PM- In Person Permitting Development Center; Conference Room 1401-1402 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr Austin, Texas 78752 Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, contact rick.arzola@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Ron Buys(R. Alter); Alan Schumann-Chair(Ellis); Ben Abzug(Velasquez); Aubrey Brasfield-V Chair(Fuentes) A.J Juraska(Pool); Gary Wilks(Kelly); Jim Rumbo(Alter), Alison Satt(Madison) Oren Mitzer (Qadri) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. Approve the Minutes from Regular Called Meeting from August 23, 2023 APPROVAL OF MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION - 2. Approve a recommendation for a local code amendment that will require natural lighting in a bedroom of residential use commercial property in accordance with the International Building Cod, section 1204 DISCUSSION 3. Review of the proposed 2024 International Property Maintenance Code amendments. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Rick Arzola at Development Services Department, Building Inspections, at (512) 974-2417, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
Code Amendments for Bedroom Window Requirements Engagement Format • Presentation followed by question and answer session • Two ways to participate: - Written questions can be handed in; they will be read aloud and answered live. - Raise your hand. A microphone will be provided for you to ask one question out loud. (We can return to you if you have additional questions) What Prompted the Proposed Changes? • Concerns about UT student housing were shared with Council Member Zo Quadri's office. • The concerns focused on the code compliance of windowless bedrooms. • This led to conversations with DSD and AIA Austin about amending code related to windowless bedrooms and resulted in the creation of an Austin City Council Resolution. Austin City Council Resolution – Sept. 2023 • Initiated Code amendments to require access to natural light for all sleeping rooms in new buildings • The intent of the amendment is to provide natural light to all sleeping rooms in commercial construction, whether it be borrowed or direct light to the outside through a window. • Included proposed language for the Code amendments • Directed the City Manager to bring a proposed ordinance to Council before August 2024 Timeline for Bedroom Window Code Amendment Process* * Dates subject to change Code Adoption Timeline* • If approved in April 2024, the bedroom window amendments will go into effect on May 1, 2024*. • Upon approval these amendments will be carried over to the 2024 Code • If the 2024 code amendments are approved by City Council, it is anticipated that they will go into effect in 2025.* * Dates subject to change 2021 International Bldg Code (IBC) Chapter 2 Definitions Dwelling Unit – A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. Sleeping Unit - A single unit that provides rooms or spaces for one or more persons, includes permanent provisions for sleeping and can include provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units. 2021 International Bldg Code (IBC) Section 1204 Lighting 1204.1 General Every space intended for human occupancy shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings in accordance with Section 1204.2 and shall be provided with artificial light in …
Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals Board Meeting Approved Minutes March 27, 2024 The Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals met in a Regular Meeting on March 27, 2024 Board Member, Schumann called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Ben Abzug, Ron Buys, Aubrey Brasfield, Allison Satt, Oren Mitzer, Jim Rumbo and Allan Schumann Board Members Not in Attendance: Gary Wilks and Ashley Juraska Staff in Attendance: Rick Arzola (DSD), Todd Wilcox (DSD), Shirley Ellis(DSD) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. The minutes from the February 21, 2024, Special called meeting were approved as written. Board member Abzug made a motion to accept the minutes as written, board member Buys second the motion. Motion pass 7-0. Board member Wilks and Juraska were absent. DISCUSSION and ACTION: 2. Recommendation for Code Amendment for Bedroom Requirement- Development Services Department Building Official Todd Wilcox provided and presented a power point to board members in lieu of an Austin City Council resolution that initiated a code amendment to require access to natural light for all sleeping rooms in buildings. This resolution was initiated by Council member Zo Quadri’s office where concerns were shared from University of Texas student housing that having bedroom less windows could lead to concerns for human health in physical health, sleep, depression, lack of productivity and mortality rates. After the presentation was concluded and very few comments from board members, a recommendation was made to approve the code amendment change, which if approved the bedroom window amendments will go into effect on May 1, 2024, and will be carried over the 2024 Code which is anticipated to go into effect in 2025. Board member Satt made a motion to approve the recommendation, Board member Schumann seconded. Motion passed 7-0. Board member Wilks and Juraska were absent. 3 FUTURE AGEND ITEMS: 1. Code Amendments to be determined. 4 ADJOURN – Board member Brasfield a made a motion to adjourn the meeting, board member Schumann second the motion to adjourn. Motion passed 7-0. Board member Wilks and Juraska were absent for this meeting. The minutes were approved at the May 22, 2024 meeting on board member Abzug motion, board member Schumann second the motion on a 7-0 vote. Board member Wilkes and Juraska were absent.
