Department of Building Inspection

Structural Subcommittee

CODE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Special Meeting of the Structural Subcommittee

DATE:                         March 9, 2004 (Tuesday)
TIME:                          3:30 p. m. to 5:00 p. m.                 
LOCATION:               1660 Mission St., Room 2001

                 
This Subcommittee meets regularly on the first Wednesday of each month at 130 Sutter Street, Room 600. (AIA Office).  If you wish to be placed on a mailing list for agendas, please call (415) 558-6205.

Note:   Public comment is welcome and will be heard during each item. Reference documents relating to agenda are available for review at the 1650 Mission Street, Suite 302. For information, please call David Leung at (415) 558-6033.

DRAFT MINUTES

1.0      Call to Order and Roll Call.

            Members: Jim Guthrie, S.E.; Chair; Ned Fennie, AIA; Michael Fretz, S.E.

Meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m.  Quorum established with 3 members present.
2.0Approval of the minutes of the Structural Subcommittee special meeting of February 10, 2004.                                     

No discussion.  Moved to next month’s meeting.

3.0      Discussion and possible action regarding structural attachments of rooftop solar photovoltaic system.

           The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the mounting of solar systems on roofs and to establish some rules for exemption of some installations of PV systems from detailed structural review.
          The following criteria considered for exemptions were discussed: weights of solar panels (typically between 3 to 5 lbs./sq. ft.); weights of layers of roofing membranes; capacities and structural construction of typical roof structures including minimum sizes and span of joists, age of buildings (pre-1930s, Victorians, etc.), occupancies of buildings (R3-single or 2 families, R1-apartments and hotels, mixed use, etc.), total projected roof areas, and pre-approved installation details.       

             Conclusions of the discussion are as follows: 

             Solar photovoltaic installations meeting all of the following criteria may be considered exempt from building  permit structural review:

1.Single roof membrane exists on the building
2.Pre-approved installation details of mounting system
3.Group R1 or R3 occupancy, or less than 5000 sq. ft. of total projected roof area for any occupancy.

            These proposed criteria will be moved forward to the full CAC committee dated 3/17/04 and will be included in an upcoming Interim Procedure and in Administrative Bulletin No. AB-076 under preparation.

             Pre-approved installation details shall be designed by the Engineer of the applicant, showing applicable types of roof construction with minimum sizes, spacings and spans of roof joists; these will be reviewed and approved by DBI engineering staff as typical installation details.

            Appendix Chapter 15 of the San Francisco Building Code may need to be amended to restrict re-roofing of existing roofs that have a PV installation in place to allow no more than a single roof membrane without structural review and approval by DBI.               

4.0Continue discussion and possible action on Special inspection requirements for signs and awnings.       

Continued to future meeting.

5.0       Continue discussion on possible update to structural standards in 2002 California Building Standards Code.

Continued to future meeting.

6.0Continue discussion and possible action on preliminary results of CAPSS program.

Continued to future meeting.           

7.0Continue discussion on DBI requirements for geotechnical reports. (DBI staff report)

Continued to future meeting.

8.0        Items 2.0, 4.0 through 7.0 are continued to the next meeting on April 13, 2004 (Tuesday), 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 1660 Mission Street, Room 2001.       

9.0       No public comment. 

10.0     Adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.