City and County of San FranciscoDepartment of Building Inspection

Code Advisory Committee


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Notice of
Regular Meeting of the
CODE ADVISORY COMMITTEE


DATE:                              March 20, 2002 (Wednesday)

TIME:                              9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.                              

LOCATION:                    1660 Mission Street, Suite 2001

This Committee meets regularly every third Wednesday of the month at 1660 Mission Street, Room 2001. 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 Alan Tokugawa at (415) 558-6004.


AGENDA

1.0           Call to Order and Roll Call and confirmation of quorum.                    (2 minutes)                                                  (2 minutes)

2.0          Approval of minutes of prior Code Advisory Committee (CAC) the Regular Meetings of February 20, 2002.                                                            (5 minutes)

3.0          Report on status of appointments to vacant seats on CAC.           (5 minutes)          

4.0          Review and discussion regarding proposed Administrative Bulletins:
                                                                                                              (40 minutes)

a.          AB-056 "Disabled Access Compliance Permits and Documentation." This bulletin will establish a procedure under which permit applicants can achieve and document full or partial building accessibility.

b.          AB-040 "Referral of Architects and Engineers to License Boards." This bulletin will provide guidelines and procedures for referring architects and engineers to their respective license boards under certain instances of incompetence, negligence, disregard of codes, and falsification of information. The possible action will be to formulate a recommendation to the full Code Advisory Committee for their further action.          
c.          Administrative Bulletins that are scheduled to be included in the next edition of the San Francisco Building Code.          

d.          Status of Bulletins previously approved by CAC but not yet approved by Building Inspection Commission and Director of Building Inspection.                                        
                                                                                
5.0          Discussion regarding enforcement by the Department of Building Inspection of the provisions of California Building Code Appendix Chapter 12, Division IIA, Sound Transmission Control. (Hanson Tom)                                        (15 minutes)

6.0          Status of on-going programs within Technical Services Division:          (15 minutes)

a.          Report and discussion of the proposed building codes changes for the 2001 code.
b.          Update on Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS).
c.          Report on other current TSD activities related to code and procedure development.
                                                                                          
7.0          Subcommittee Reports:                                                                      (30 minutes)

          a.          Housing Code Subcommittee:                               
                    Subcommittee Chair:          Jim Reed
                    Subcommittee Member: Jerry Cunningham, P.E.

                    1)          Discussion and possible action regarding proposed revisions, corrections, and additions to the 1998 Housing Code in preparation for the 2001 edition of the San Francisco Housing Code.

          b.          Fire and Life Safety Subcommittee:                                        
                    Subcommittee Chair:          Jerry Cunningham, P.E.
                    Subcommittee Members: Charles Breidinger, P.E., Carolynn Abst

          1)          Discussion and possible action regarding disposition of Group R, Division 1 Occupancy hallway ventilation standards which were previously required under the 1995 San Francisco Building Code.           The possible action will be to make a recommendation to the full Code Advisory Committee for their further action.

2)          Discussion and possible action regarding proposed revisions, corrections and additions to the 1998 California Building Code in preparation for the 2001 edition of the San Francisco Building Code. The following chapters will be discussed:

                    Chapter 3*                    Use or Occupancy
                    Chapter 4*                    Special Use and Occupancy
                    Chapter 5                              General Building Limitations
                    Chapter 6*                    Special Use and Limitation
                    Chapter 7                              Fire-resistant Materials and Construction
                    Chapter 8*                    Interior Finishes
                    Chapter 9*                    Fire Protection Systems
                    Chapter 10*                    Means of Egress
                    Chapter 13                    Energy Conservation
                    Chapter 31E                    Tents and Membrane Structures
                    Chapter 35                    Uniform Building Code Standards

                    * San Francisco amendments in this chapter


c.          Administrative & General Design Subcommittee                    
                    Subcommittee Chair:          Frederic Freund          
Subcommittee Members: Dorie Lee; Arnold Lerner, AIA; Zachary Nathan, AIA; Tony Sanchez-Corea.

1)          Report and possible action regarding a proposed Administrative Bulletin No. 95-11, "The Area of Remodel in an Existing Building." This bulletin will provide guidelines for determining the area of remodel in an existing building in order to assess the level of access required within and triggered by the renovation, structural repair, remodeling, addition or alteration.

                              2)          Discussion and possible action regarding proposed revisions, corrections and additions to the 1998 California Building Code in preparation for the 2001 edition of the San Francisco Building Code. The following chapters will be discussed:

                              Chapter 1*                    Administration
                              Chapter 2*                    Definitions and Abbreviations
                              Chapter 10A*          Security Requirements
                              Chapter 12*                    Interior Environment                    
                              Chapter 14*                    Exterior Wall Coverings
                              Chapter 15*                    Roofs and Roof Structures
                              App. Chap.15*          Re-roofing          
                              Chapter 24                    Glass and Glazing
                              Chapter 25*                    Gypsum Board and Plaster
                              Chapter 26*                    Plastic
                              Chapter 30*                    Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving Walks
                              Chapter 31*                    Special Construction
                              Chapter 31B                    Public Swimming Pools
                              Chapter 31F*                    Signs
                              Chapter 32*                    Construction in the Public Right-of-Way
                              Chapter 35                    Uniform Building Code Standards
          
                              * San Francisco amendments made to this chapter.


d.          Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Subcommittee:                    
Subcommittee Chair:          Charles Breidinger, P.E.
Subcommittee Member: Jim Reed

e.          Structural Subcommittee:                                                             
Subcommittee Chair:          James Guthrie, S.E.
Subcommittee Member: J. Edgar Fennie, AIA

          f.          Disability Access Subcommittee                                                  
Subcommittee Chair: Lee Philips
Subcommittee Members: Arnie Lerner, AIA., Zachary Nathan, AIA; Tony Sanchez-Corea, III; Nicholas Palter

8.0          Secretary's report on upcoming events, announcements and tasks for the CAC.
                                                                                                                        (5 minutes)          
9.0          Committee Member's and Staff's identification agenda items for the next meeting, as well as current agenda items to be continued to another CAC regular meeting or special meeting, or a subcommittee meeting. CAC discussion and possible action regarding administrative issues related to building codes.          (3 minutes)

10.0          Public Comment on items not on this agenda but within the jurisdiction of the Code Advisory Committee. Comment time is limited to 3 minutes or at the call of the Chair.

11.0          Adjournment.                    



          Note to Committee Members: Please review the appropriate material and be prepared to discuss at the meeting. If you are unable to attend, please call Alan Tokugawa at (415) 558-6004. The meeting will begin promptly.



DRAFT #2

ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN
March 4, 2002



NO. AB 056

SUBJECT:                    Disabled Access

TITLE:                    Disabled Access Compliance Permits and Documentation



PURPOSE:          The purpose of this Bulletin is to establish a procedure under which permit applicants can achieve and document full or partial building accessibility. It is the intent of the Department of Building Inspection to document, under permit, buildings or portions of buildings that are in full compliance with accessibility requirements, thus reducing the need for permit applicants to submit reference drawings and other duplicative documents in areas deemed in full compliance.

REFERENCES:          1998 San Francisco Building Code
                                                            Chapter 11A, Housing Accessibility
                                                  Chapter 11B, Accessibility to Public Buildings, Public Accommodations, Commercial Buildings and Publicly Funded Housing
                                                  Section 106.3.3 Information on plans and specifications          
                                                            Section 106.4.3 Validity of permit.

DISCUSSION:                              Project sponsors must meet certain disability access requirements as part of the permit and construction process. The submittal of documentation of to demonstrate disabled access compliance for each area of construction work has posed a burden on Permit Applicants and the Department of Building Inspection in permit application submittal and review time to confirm that required access provision have been met. To help reduce this burden the Department will accept a separate Permit Application documenting disabled access compliance under current building codes. This will obviate the problem of repeated submittal and review of multiple sets of identical documents for a single building. Such separate permit for disabled access compliance may then be referenced on subsequent permit applications, assuring full required disabled access compliance under each such permit.

                                                  In order to demonstrate compliance with disabled access requirements, project sponsors must submit documentation accompanying permit applications. Such documentation may include drawings or, where a building or a portion of a building has been determined under previous permit to be in compliance with disabled access requirements, may include a letter of compliance referencing completed permits and related drawings on file with the Building Department.

                                                  
PROCEDURES

The following procedures apply for the submittal and approval of permits which result in the issuance of a Disabled Access Letter of Compliance.

Two basic cases apply.
          Case A.          Building owner or project sponsors wishes to be granted a Disabled Access Letter of Compliance independent of other permit work which might trigger disabled access (i.e. other tenant improvement work.)
          Case B                    Disabled Access is triggered by another Permit Application. Work, when completed, will qualify for a Disabled Access Letter of Compliance


Case A          

If a building owner wishes to document full or partial access compliance, a permit application may be submitted indicating, as the description of work, Disabled Access Compliance Documentation.

A permit application for Disabled Access Compliance Documentation should include a permit cost valuation based on a minimum fee of $500.00. All work done by the Department of Building Inspection prior to permit issuance will be billed on an hourly basis in accordance to Table 1-B, Item 1, Back check fee. Any construction work that is determined to be necessary under this permit application shall be properly valued and appropriate permit fees shall be charged for such valuation.
Case B
When disabled access work is required to be done as a part of other construction work the following procedures apply:

a)          Separate permits should be submitted for 1) the tenant improvement work and 2) the related disabled access improvements. These permits shall be linked by having clearly stated on the permit application for the disabled access work "To comply with Disabled Access required under Permit Application #_______________." The permit application for the associated construction work should, similarly, note "Disabled Access work related to this construction is being done under Permit Application #_____________." The two permit applications must be submitted together.
b)          The valuation of each permit shall be based on the actual amount of work to be done. For example, a tenant improvement permit would include all work except related Disabled Access work, which is to be separately valued on the accompanying Disabled Access Permit.
c)          These two permits may be routed separately for Plan Review and may be approved separately, however the two permits must be issued together. The Building Department may route these permits in accordance with policies and regulations developed by the Department.

General Procedures for Cases A and B

a)          All permits must be accompanied by submittal documents that indicate full compliance with those portions of the building that the project sponsor wishes to certify. Such portions may include parking, entry, path of travel, public areas such as lobbies, elevators, restrooms, and other disabled access features. Individual tenant spaces are not included as part of this compliance documentation.

b)          Following application submittal, the application for Disabled Access Compliance Documentation should be routed to the Director of Permit Services for assignment to a plan checker. During plan review, field verification of conditions may be required by the Department. Such field verification would be billed as an additional plan review fee, based on as back check time (see SFBC Table 1-B, Item #1; Back check fee.)

c)          Other permits for tenant improvement work during the period when the Disabled Access Compliance Documentation permit is under review need only reference the Permit Application number for the Disabled Access Compliance Documentation permit.

d)          A permit issued for Disabled Access Compliance Documentation may be referenced by subsequent permits to demonstrate that disabled access compliance is being addressed or that such work has been completed.

Field Inspection

Field Inspection of disabled access features shall be done by an inspector with special expertise in this field as designated by the Director.

Permit Time Limits

a)          Plan review time limits shall be as detailed in SFBC Section 106.3.7 based on the permit valuation. For permits linked under Case B, such time limits shall be based on the higher valued permit.

b)          Following issuance of permits, all work must be started and completed within the times allowed based on the permit valuation. See SFBC Section 106.4 of San Francisco Building Code. For permits linked under Case B, such time limits shall be based on the higher valued permit.

c)          Permit extensions shall apply per SFBC Section 106.4.4. Linked permits shall be extended and/or expired simultaneously.

d)          No extensions will be granted on the general construction permit under Case B if work on the Disabled Access Compliance Documentation permit has not begun within the initial permit time frame as shown in SFBC Table A.

Certificates of Occupancy

a)          A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued in accordance with the policies of the Department of Building Inspection.

b)          A Certificate of Final Completion for Disabled Access Compliance Documentation permits may be issued following completion of all work and sign-off by the District Building Inspector or by other staff assigned by the Director. For Case B work, linked permits shall be signed-off simultaneously.


Issuance of Letter of Compliance

Upon completion and final sign-off of any Permit Application for Disabled Access Compliance Documentation the Department will issue a Disabled Access Letter of Compliance indicating the scope of approved disabled access compliance and any special conditions or exceptions that may apply, including such items as Unreasonable Hardships or Access Appeal Commission Decisions. The Disabled Access Letter of Compliance must be copied onto any plans that are submitted for subsequent work on the building which intend to refer to this compliance permit. The Department has the authority to revoke any such letter at any time for any reason if disabled access is not being provided in full accord with the requirements of the law or in compliance with the conditions of the letter. A copy of the letter must be copied into the plans for each Permit Application that intends to reference that prior approval.

The Department will require that any issued Disabled Access Letter of Compliance conform to changes to disabled access regulations as they occur. This will require a review and update of each Disabled Access Letter of Compliance upon adoption of each new edition of the California Building Code or relevant amendment to that code. Additional permits and plans may be required to verify conformance with such code changes.

When Access Appeals Commission decisions relate to portions of the building covered by this Letter of Compliance, such appeals decisions will be referenced in the letter and all AAC conditions must be met as a condition of the letter. When the Access Appeals Commission has defined a time period as part of an appeal decision, such time period will be noted by date of expiration on the letter of compliance. Issues related to that AAC decision must be reconsidered following the expiration of such time period.


DISTRIBUTION:


Attachment: Sample Disabled Access Letter of Compliance

Disabled Access Letter of Compliance


Building Address:

Block/Lot:

Compliance Permit Application Number(s):


Code Applied:

List of Specific Features that have been determined to be in compliance:







Special Conditions or Restrictions
          
          AAC Decision(s)
          Unreasonable Hardship Request(s) granted
          Cost thresholds
          Planning Department or other Department special conditions
          Other Special Conditions




Reconsideration and reissuance required on [date]


Plan Reviewer Signature:

Inspector Signature:

Chief Inspector Signature:


Date of Letter of Compliance:




          


          ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN

          Draft # 2          
                    
          


NO. AB-040

DATE                    :          March 1, 2002 [This bulletin supercedes AB-004 dated 05/17/84]

SUBJECT          :          General Administrative Procedures

TITLE                    :          Referral of Design Professionals and Contractors to Regulatory Agencies



PURPOSE          :          The purpose of this bulletin is to establish guidelines and procedures for referring design professionals and contractors to the State License Boards review for possible disciplinary action when the Department of Building Inspection believes there are serious violations of State regulations.


REFERENCE          :          California Business and Professions Code, Division 3. Professions and Vocations
California Business and Professions Code, Section 325-327, Consumer Complaints
California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Professional and Vocational Regulations          


DISCUSSION:                    These guidelines shall be used in instances where a licensed design professional or contractor appears to be in substantial noncompliance with the regulations governing their activities. Such substantial noncompliance may include activities which appear to be, but not be limited to, unlicenced practice, gross incompetence, negligence, violation of local codes and regulations, or the provision of false or misleading information.

The Department of Building Inspection shall review concerns based on information available and make recommendations as are believed to be consistent with public safety and welfare. The Department shall not hold hearings, take testimony, engage in debate with the regulated or licensed persons, or otherwise assume the role of another regulatory agency.






PROCEDURE:                    

When it comes to the attention of the Department of Building Inspection through an employee or a complaint from the public that there may be substantial noncompliance with regulatory requirements the following actions should be taken.


1.                              A public complainant shall be given information regarding filing a complaint directly with a licensing or regulatory agency. If the Department believes that a complaint received from the public may be of interest to the Department of Building Inspection to review for further action, in addition to providing information to the complainant regarding the direct filing of a complaint, a staff person shall make note of the complaint and proceed as detailed below.
          
2.                              Any staff person of the Department of Building Inspection who believes that there may be an issue of substantial noncompliance shall immediately bring the matter to the attention of their supervisor who shall immediately notify the Division head.
                    
3.                              A brief written summary of the concern shall be prepared by the staff person, their supervisor or the Division head.

4.                              The staff person, their supervisor, and their Division head shall review the matter with a Deputy Director, in consultation with the City Attorney, to determine if there are reasonable grounds for further review of the matter.
                    
5.                              If a further review is determined to be appropriate by the Deputy Director, a staff person assigned by that Deputy Director shall review the matter and prepare a report containing the following information:


A.          A description of the concern which has led the Department to consider referral for review by the regulatory agency
B.          All report, notes and other documentation from inspectors or other persons with immediate knowledge of the issues related to the potential complaint.
C.          All permit application forms and other permit documents related to the potential complaint.
D.          Letters, plans, calculations and all other documents which might aid in the review of the matter.
E.          Other relevant information such as license and insurance information, complaints by other City agencies or outside parties, other DBI actions, etc.
F.          Department and other City records which may reveal other instances of possible noncompliance.


6.                              The Deputy Director, following consultation with the City Attorney, shall review the completed report and make a determination to:
                    
A.          undertake further research and reporting
B.          dismiss the matter
C.          recommend to the Director to proceed with a referral to a regulatory agency
D.          take other action as they deem appropriate


7.                              If the Deputy Director's determination is to recommend a referral to a regulatory agency, a complaint shall be prepared by a person assigned by the Deputy Director, based on the rules and regulations of the regulatory agency. The complaint shall be accompanied by a cover letter prepared for the signature of the Director.

8.                              The complete file, including a cover letter prepared for the Director's signature, a written recommendation for referral by the Deputy Director, the formal complaint referral in a form required by the regulatory agency, and the Department's report and related documentation shall be forwarded to the Director for review.
                    
9.                              The Director may request additional information, may dismiss the matter, or may sign the complaint and refer the matter to the appropriate regulatory agency.


Where a professional organization has developed a formal program for the review of alleged violations of standards of practice, the Director of the Department of Building Inspection may chose to refer a complaint to that organization.



                                                  

                                                                                          Signed by:



                                                                                          
                                                                                          Frank Y. Chiu, Director                    Date
                                                                                          Department of Building Inspection


                                                                                          Approved by the Building Inspection Commission on
                                                                                          (Date)




attachments: Complaint filing information for various regulatory agencies.


P:\Bulletins\currentdevelopdraft\AB-040dft.doc


DRAFT

ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN

August 26, 1997




NO.AB.

SUBJECT          :          The Area of Remodel in an Existing Building
TITLE          :          Area of Remodel - A Definition.



PURPOSE                    :          The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide guidelines for determining the area of remodel in an existing building in order to assess the level of access required within and triggered by the renovation, structural repair, remodeling, addition, or alteration.

                    By applying these guidelines, the design professional may be able to design a code complying level of access into projects valued either above or below the threshold amount for administrative approval by the Department of Building Inspection.

REFERENCES          :          California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 24, Part 2, Section 402(n), Section 3109A, Section 3112A(a).

DISCUSSION          :          Most existing buildings and facilities are required to be made accessible when alterations, structural repairs, or additions are made to such buildings or facilities under Section 3112A(a). These requirements apply to the specific area of remodel, which must generally be made accessible under the same standards as if the building were newly constructed. In addition, certain key accessible requirements are triggered by the remodeling and include a primary entrance, a primary path of travel, restroom facilities, telephones, and drinking fountains serving (but typically outside of) the area of remodel.







                              Sometimes it is difficult for both permit applicants and plan checkers to clearly define the area of remodel for purposes of assessing the level of access triggered by the improvement. A large tenant improvement taking place on each level of a three story tenant space in some instances would trigger an elevator (path of travel) or at least improvements to an existing elevator, as well as restrooms, drinking fountains, and telephones on three different levels. A smaller tenant improvement occurring on the ground floor of the same tenant space might only trigger a primary entrance, path of travel, and restrooms on the ground level.

                              A seismic retrofit that requires relatively minor bolting of floor and wall frame elements throughout the entire structure might have no localized definable area of remodel, because the work could take place with relatively no disruption to the interior elements or within non-occupiable spaces.

                              But more commonly, a tenant will undertake a remodeling venture within a very specific portion of the tenant space or building. This interpretation and ruling provide a method for identifying these specific areas so that designers, plan checkers, and building inspectors can ensure that a reasonable, code complying level of access is provided with each individual remodeling project.
          
                    It is the interpretation of this Department that the area of remodel is narrowly defined by the actual work performed in the specific area of a building or facility, and also by its relationship with adjoining elements. Partitions, walls, and corridors which redefine or improve existing spaces, and enclose or draw boundaries around an area, create a box within which generally everything shall comply with all of the requirements for a new building. Exceptions are when individual elements remain untouched within this area.














                    Example: An applicant submits plans to the Building Department to remodel an existing restaurant. The scope of work includes relocating partitions, enlarging the kitchen with new counters, and the installation of new built-in seating booths with some movable tables. An existing bar and counter remain untouched except for the application of a new coat of varnish. In this case, all of the new partitions and associated doors, corridors, aisles, and counters, and seating, would be considered the area of remodel and would need to comply with the provisions for new construction. In addition, a primary entrance and restrooms, drinking fountains, and telephones serving the area of remodel would have to be made accessible. The existing bar however was not remodeled and even though it may be physically located within a space which was remodeled around it, would not be subject to the access requirements.

                              Path of travel features such as stairs, ramps, doors, and elevators, when newly constructed or remodeled, may be closely linked with other elements which together become a more inclusive feature such as entrances.

          Example: An applicant submits plans to install a new door in an existing location. The new door would need to meet all of the requirements for new construction such as width, height, hardware, etc.. The door however opens out over an existing landing which is sloped steeper than 1/4" per foot and adjoins a ramp which lacks handrails. Since these three elements, ramp, landing, and door, together constitute an entrance, all of these elements would be considered the area of remodel and would have to comply. The landing may require reconstruction, and the ramp would require handrails etc.

                              Just because a tenant occupies multiple levels and is under going substantial improvements does not necessarily mean that all of the levels are being remodeled and therefore that a vertical path of travel via ramp or elevator is triggered to connect the multiple levels.












          Example: An applicant submits plans to construct new partitions, new restrooms, and built-in casework within a space that includes a legal mezzanine. There will be offices located on the mezzanine level, but the only improvements taking place up there are of a cosmetic (painting) nature. All of the new work on the ground floor would have to comply with the new code requirements because that work is taking place within the area of remodel, but since the mezzanine is not actually being altered with the exception of painting which does not trigger access, there would be no requirement to provide a path of travel to that level since it is not a part of the area of remodel.

                              A structural repair such as dry-rot repair or a seismic retrofit, may take place on the exterior of a building, or within spaces which are not typically occupied. Section 3103A(a) Exception 1 exempts the requirement to provide an accessible path of travel by ramp or elevator to floors or portions of floors which are not customarily occupied. However it is important to remember that structural repairs still trigger access, and the code very clearly requires at least the entrance, restrooms, drinking fountains, telephones, and parking serving the area of remodel. Furthermore, there are no accessibility requirements for anchor bolts, exterior diagonal braces, or crawl space basement wall framing within the area of remodel, other than the access which is triggered by the structural repair. These types of projects may have no definable area of remodel for purposes of assessing an entrance, path of travel, and number of restrooms serving the area..

                    Example: An applicant submits plans for the seismic retrofit (structural repair) of a two story commercial building. The value of the work is $150,000.00 and consists of upgrades to the foundation within a crawl space, anchor ties to the underside of the floor joists, and improvements to the roof diaphragm. The majority of this work takes place in non-occupiable spaces within the crawl space or on top of the roof. The remainder of the work involves very minor localized plaster demolition at individual anchor locations. In this example there is no definable area of remodel outside of the non-occupiable spaces.

                    The access triggered by this project would be an accessible entrance, restrooms for each gender on the ground floor, and drinking fountains, telephones, and parking if provided. An elevator or other path of travel to the basement or roof would not be triggered.





          Buildings or portions of buildings may contain more than one occupancy or use, only one of which may be subject to the accessibility requirements. A seismic retrofit or structural repair in a building like this may have work which occurs throughout the entire building but for purposes of assessing the area of remodel, only that portion of the building subject to the accessibility requirements would be considered.

                              Example: An applicant submits plans for the seismic retrofit of a four story mixed-use unreinforced masonry building. The upper three stories are existing residential units which are exempt from the access requirements due to their original construction pre-dating 1986. The ground floor is occupied by three small commercial units. The seismic retrofit work will affect the entire building and is valued at $200,000.00.

                    Since the upper levels are an exempt occupancy, there is no requirement to provide access at all either to or on the upper levels. For purposes of evaluating the amount of access required on the ground floor commercial level, it would be appropriate to place a value upon the amount of seismic strengthening taking place on that level. This may be accomplished by either dividing the total value of the project by the number of floors in the building, or by relying upon a verifiable estimate provided by a design professional or contractor. In this example, if we divide the total value $200,000.00 by the number of floors (4), then we arrive at a total amount per floor equal to $50,000.00. Since only the ground floor is subject to the access requirements, then the total value of seismic work subject to the access requirements is $50,000.00. This project would then be eligible to use the 20% disproportionality rule for projects valued under the threshold. In this case the area of remodel subject to the access requirements would only be the ground floor areas affected by the work.

                    There are a number of buildings and occupancies which were previously exempt from the access requirements but since the code revision of 1994 which incorporated more restrictive requirements from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are no longer exempt. Those buildings are listed in Section 3112 A (a) Exception 2 and they are eligible to use the 20% disproportionality clause for areas above and below the ground floor regardless of the total construction cost. In evaluating the area of remodel in these buildings for purposes of assessing the level of access serving that area, it may be necessary to look at the work on a floor by floor basis similar to the example above.





                    Example: An applicant submits plans to seismically retrofit a three story building through the installation of a moment resisting brace frame, collector beams, and anchors which involve the penetration and substantial alteration of all three levels. The value of the work is $450,000.00. The ground floor must clearly be fully accessible since this level has always been subject to the access requirements and since the value of the work is over the threshold. The upper two stories were previously exempt however under Section 3112A(a) Exception 2 and are eligible to use the 20% rule. For purposes of assessing the level of access required on the upper levels it would again be appropriate to divide the total value of the work, $450,000.00 by the total number of floors, three, to arrive at a figure which represents the amount of work done on each floor. A verifiable estimate from the engineer, contractor, or design professional would also suffice. In this example, the figure we arrive at is $150,000.00 per floor. The upper two stories must each be provided with the accessible features at the rate of 20% of $150,000.00 which equals $30,000.00 per floor. Access shall be provided in the priority listed with first priority the front entrance, second priority the path of travel, and third priority restrooms for each gender.






























DISTRIBUTION:

AIA                    (5)                    BOA           (1)                    CA          (2)          DPW/DAC          ( 1)
AGC                    (5)                    BOE          (1)                    CAO          (1)          PSF                              ( 1)
ASHRAE          (1)                    BOMA          (2)                    DCP          (5)          SEAONC                    ( 1)
BCM                    (1)                    BPA          (1)                    DPW          (2)          SFFD                              (12)
                                                                                          SPUR                              ( 1)

Access Appeals Commission                                        ( 5 )
Board of Examiners                                                            ( 8 )
Building Code Advisory Committee                                        (15)
Chamber of Commerce                                                  ( 1 )
Daily Pacific Builder                                                            ( 1 )
Housing Construction                                                  ( 1 )
Mayor's Office                                                            ( 1 )
Residential Home Realtors                                        ( 1 )
Seismic Safety Program                                                  ( 1 )
S.F. Board Realtors                                                            ( 1 )
Unreinforced Masonry Building Appeals Board                    ( 9 )

Department of Building Inspection:

Director                                                                      ( 1 )
Deputy Directors                                                            ( 2 )
Administration                                                            ( 6 )
Building Inspection                                                            (40)
Central Permit/Records Management                              (40)
Code Enforcement Division                                        ( 2 )
Commercial Plan Check                                                  (20)
Customer Services                                                            (40)
Disability Access Complaints                                        ( 4 )
Electrical Inspection                                                            (22)
Housing Inspection                                                            (20)
Management Information Systems                                        ( 1 )
Plumbing Inspection                                                            (15)
Residential Plan Check                                                  ( 6 )
UMB/Major Projects                                                            ( 8 )
Mechanical Plan Check                                                  ( 2 )

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