City of Ralston, NE Building Code

[Added 5-17-2022 by Ord. No. 1307]

2018 International Building Code Amendments:

Section 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Building Code of the City of Ralston, hereinafter referred to as "this code."
Section 105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following:
Building:
1.	One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided that the floor area is not greater than 200 square feet (18.58 m2).
2.	Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high.
3.	Oil derricks.
4.	Retaining walls that are not over 6 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIA liquids.
5.	Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity is not greater than 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width is not greater than 2:1.
6.	Sidewalks and driveways. (Approach requires a curb cut permit).
7.	Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
8.	Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.
9.	Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, are not greater than 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and are installed entirely above ground. Pools must conform with the Ralston Plumbing Code and the Ralston Municipal Code.
10.	Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.
11.	Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one-and two-family dwellings.
12.	Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies, supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
13.	Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753 mm) in height.
Section 202, Definitions. Add the following definitions:
ELECTRICAL CODE: The electrical code for this jurisdiction shall be the State of Nebraska Electrical Division current adopted edition National Electrical Code (NEC).
FIRE CODE: The fire code for this jurisdiction shall be the State of Nebraska Fire Marshal's current adopted edition of the National Fire Protection Association Code (NFPA).
FUEL GAS CODE: The fuel gas code for this jurisdiction shall be the adopted Rules and Regulations by Black Hills Energy.
ICC ELECTRICAL CODE: Wherever reference is made to the ICC Electrical Code it shall mean "Electrical Code." See definition for "Electrical Code."
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CODE: Whenever reference is made to the International Energy Conservation Code, it shall mean the International Energy Conservation Code as adopted and amended by this jurisdiction.
INTERNATIONAL EXISTING BUILDING CODE: Whenever reference is made to the International Existing Building Code, it shall mean the International Existing Building Code as adopted and amended by this jurisdiction.
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE: Whenever reference is made to the International Fire Code it shall mean "Fire Code." See definition for "Fire Code."
INTERNATIONAL FIRE GAS CODE: Wherever reference is made to the International Fire Gas Code it shall mean NFPA 54, as adopted in Chapter 40 of the Omaha Municipal Code. See definition for "Fuel Gas Code."
INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE: Wherever reference is made to the International Mechanical Code it shall mean "Mechanical Code." See definition for "Mechanical Code."
INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE: Wherever reference is made to the International Plumbing Code it shall mean "Plumbing Code." See definition for "Plumbing Code."
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE: Wherever reference is made to the International Property Maintenance Code it shall mean "Property Maintenance Code." See definition for "Property Maintenance Code."
MECHANICAL CODE: The mechanical code for this jurisdiction shall be the current edition of the International Mechanical Code as adopted by Chapter 9 of the Ralston Municipal Code.
PLUMBING CODE: The plumbing code for this jurisdiction shall be the current edition of the Ralston Plumbing Code as adopted by Chapter 9 of the Ralston Municipal Code.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE: The property maintenance code for this jurisdiction shall be the current edition of the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted by Chapter 9 of the Ralston Municipal Code.
PUZZLE ROOM: A type of special amusement area in which occupants are encouraged to solve a challenge to escape from a room or series of rooms.
Section 303.4 Assembly Group A-3:
Add Puzzle Room to the list.
Section 411.1 General. Revise the first sentence to read as follows:
Special amusement buildings having an occupant load of 50 or more, and puzzle rooms of any size shall comply with the requirements for the appropriate Group A occupancy and Sections 411.1 through 411.17.
Section 423, Storm shelters.
Section 423.2 Construction. Add the following exceptions:
1.	Peer review is not required for storm shelters.
2.	Sanitation facilities shall be required only in Group E and Group I-4 occupancies and the critical emergency operations listed in Section 423.3.
3.	Sanitation facilities support systems shall be required only in the critical emergency operations listed in section 423.3.
Section 423.4 Group E Occupancies. Revise section and subsections to read as follows:
Section 423.4 Occupancies. Storm shelters shall be provided for Group E, Group I-1, Group I-4, Group R-2, Group R-4 and mobile home residential uses.
Exceptions:
1.	Buildings meeting the requirements for shelter design in ICC 500.
2.	In-home daycare services, provided that the home has a below grade basement readily available to provide shelter from a storm.
Section 423.4.1 Required occupant capacity. The required occupant capacity of the storm shelter shall include all of the buildings on the site and shall be the greater of the following:
1.	The total occupant load of the classrooms, vocational rooms and offices in the Group E occupancy.
2.	The occupant load of any indoor assembly space that is associated with the Group E occupancy.
3.	For residential uses types, the storm shelter size shall be computed for each unit as follows:
Efficiency and one-bedroom		10 sq. ft.
Two-bedroom		15 sq. ft.
Three-bedroom		20 sq. ft.
Four-bedroom		25 sq. ft.
Exceptions:
1.	Where a new building is being added on an existing site, and where the new building is not sufficient size to accommodate the required occupant capacity of the storm shelter for all of the buildings on the site, the storm shelter shall at a minimum accommodate the required occupancy for the new building.
2.	Where approved by the code official, the required occupant capacity of the shelter shall be permitted to be reduced by the occupant capacity of any existing storm shelters on the site.
Section 423.4.2 Location. Storm shelters shall be located within the buildings they serve or shall be located where the maximum distance of travel from not fewer than one exterior door of each building to a door of the shelter serving that building does not exceed 1,000 feet (305m). Detached storm shelters shall be located on the same parcel as the buildings they serve.
Section 503.14.4 Occupied roofs. Add the following sentence:
All such structures intended for human occupancy shall have guard rails that comply with Section 1015 regardless of their height above the plane of the roof.
Add Exception No. 3: Private roof top decks less than 735 square feet that are accessed from within an individual dwelling or sleeping unit and are intended and designed for the sole use of the owner or tenant.
Add the following to Table 509 Incidental Uses.

ROOM OR AREA	SEPARATION AND/OR PROTECTION
Storage rooms over 100 square feet	1 hour or provide automatic fire-extinguishing system

Section 1014.7 Clearance. Revise 1-1/2 inches (38 mm) to be 2-1/4 inches (57 mm).
Section 1208, Access to Unoccupied Spaces. Add a new subsection to read as follows:
Section 1208.4, Service and Maintenance. Unless otherwise required by this code, access to normally unoccupied spaces for the purposes of building or equipment service or maintenance is permitted to be fixed ladder or alternating tread device.
Section 1502 Roof Drainage. Add a new subsection as follows:
Section 1502.5, Rain Water. When roofs are sloped to drain over the edge, scuppers or gutters and downspouts, adequately sized, pitched and supported, shall installed to conduct rain water to ground level. Rain water shall be discharged at least three feet away from the building foundation in a direction parallel to the adjoining property line when the discharge point is within 20 feet of the adjoining property line.
Table 1507.2.8.2, Valley Lining Material. In the Gage column, for Galvanized steel, delete the number 26 and replace it with 28.
Section 1511.3.1.1 Exceptions. Revise no. 2 as follows:
2.	Where the existing covering is slate, clay, cement, asbestos-cement tile, or asphalt shingles.
Section 1607 Live Loads. Add a new subsection to read as follows:
Section 1607.13.6 Top level or parking garages. Where top levels of parking garages are exposed to snow loading, the structural design of the top-level structural elements shall be based upon a specific snow storage or removal plan. The snow removal plan shall be included in the construction documents that are submitted for building permits, and shall include provisions for snow removal, temporary storage in specific areas, maximum snow heights and other parameters to clearly indicate to the building official and building owner the necessary means of snow removal.
Section 1607.9 Vehicle Barriers. Add the following sentence to footnote "a" to read as follows:
Access to floors designed for passenger cars only shall be restricted by an appropriate overhead barrier located not more than 7'-6" above the floor at the point of entry.
Section 1607.13.2.1 Ordinary Roofs, awnings and canopies.
Delete (Equation 16-26) in its entirety and replace it with L_r = 25 psf
Table 1610.1 Soil Lateral Load. Change the values for Active pressure and At-rest pressure to read as follows:

DESCRIPTION OF BACKFILL MATERIAL	UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION	DESIGN LATERAL SOIL LOAD (pounds per square foot per foot of depth)
DESCRIPTION OF BACKFILL MATERIAL	UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION	Active pressure	At-rest pressure
Well-graded, clean gravels; gravel-sand mixes	GW	30	60
Poorly graded clean gravels; gravel-sand mixes	GP	30	60
Silty gravels, poorly graded gravel-sand mixes	GM	45	60
Clayey gravels, poorly graded gravel-and-clay mixes	GC	45	60
Well-graded, clean sands; gravelly sand mixes	SW	30	60
Poorly graded clean sands; sand-gravel mixes	SP	30	60
Silty sands, poorly graded sand-silt mixes	SM	45	60
Sand-silt clay mix with plastic fines	SM-SC	45	60
Clayey sands, poorly graded sand-clay mixes	SC	45	60
Inorganic silts and clayey silts	ML	45	60
Mixture of inorganic silt and clay	ML-CL	45	60
Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity	CL	45	60
Organic silts and silt clays, low plasticity	OL	Note b	Note b
Inorganic clayey silts, elastic silts	MH	Note b	Note b
Inorganic clays of High plasticity	CH	Note b	Note b
Organic clays and silty clays	OH	Note b	Note b

Section 1704.2: Special inspections and tests. Add first paragraph to read as follows:
Testing and special inspection shall be performed in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications, the approved Statement of Special Inspections, and the building code. The Special Inspection and Testing Services do not supersede or replace the inspections performed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) nor other observations required by the building code. Contractor shall coordinate work to be performed with the AHJ and the special inspector and testing agencies.
Section 1704.2.1: Special Inspector Qualifications. Add paragraphs to read as follows:
Qualification for special inspectors and testing technicians for any material or work performed shall meet the respective qualification(s) listed below, or as otherwise approved by the building official. Multiple qualifications and/or personnel may be required. Personnel may alternatively quality by holding a current Registered Civil or Structural Engineer License and having at least three years' relevant and verifiable experience. No matter how the qualification is met, the Prime Special Inspection and Testing agency for the project shall submit to the building official documentation confirming the qualifications have been met for each applicable individual performing special inspection and/or testing for structural steel and steel construction other than structural steel (e.g., metal deck) shall be in accordance with Chapter N of ANSI/AISC 360-10:
Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. Alternatively, for welding special inspections and testing, personnel may be qualified as an ICC Structural Welding Special Inspector or for bolting special inspections and testing, personnel may be qualified as ICC Structural Steel and Bolting Special Inspector.
Qualifications for personnel performing special inspections and testing for structural concrete shall be in accordance with ACI 311.7-14: Inspection Services Specifications for Cast-in-Place Concrete Construction. An ICC Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector must also carry the applicable ACI Concrete Inspector or Technician qualification.
For masonry construction special inspections and testing, personnel shall be qualified as an ICC Structural Masonry Special Inspector.
For construction on soils and/or deep foundations special inspections and testing, personnel shall be qualified as an ICC Soils Special Inspector.
For fire protection construction special inspections and testing, personnel shall be qualified as an ICC Spray Applied Fire Proofing Special Inspector.
For Exterior Insulation & Finish Systems (EIFS) constructions special inspections and testing, personnel shall be qualified as an Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry (AECI) Certified EIFS Inspector.
For nonstructural components special inspections and testing, personnel shall be qualified as any type of ICC Special Inspector.
Section 1704.2.5.1 Fabricator approval. Add a second paragraph to read as follows:
The following are considered approved fabricators:
Steel fabricators holding an appropriate certificate from the American Institute of Steel Construction,
Steel Joist Manufactures holding membership in the Steel Joist Institute,
Precast/Prestressed Concrete suppliers holding membership in the Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) together with plant certification in the appropriate products group and categories in the PCI Plant Certification Program.
The steel fabricator is required to be a current AISC-Certified Fabricator.
The steel erector is required to be a current AISC-Certified Erector.
The precast erector is required to be a current PCI-Certified Erector.
Section 1803.5.3 Expansive soil. Add a new subsection to read as follows:
Section 1803.5.3.1 Collapsible soils. Portions of the Omaha Metropolitan Area are underlain by low-unit weight soils that can collapse when saturated. Additional studies shall be made to evaluate the presence and extent of collapse-susceptible soils and to assess the effects of any collapsible soils identified at the site on the performance of the structure.
Section 1808.1 General. Add the following to the end of this section:
Footings shall be constructed of concrete.
Section 1809.5 Frost Protection. Delete this section and the exceptions in their entirety and replace them with:
Except where erected on solid rock or otherwise protected from frost, foundation walls, piers, and other permanent supports of buildings and structures larger than 750 square feet in area or 10 feet in height shall extend below the established frost line. The established frost line shall be 42 inches below the exterior grade.
1.	The bottom surface of footings for unattached garages and unattached storage buildings of wood or metal not more than 750 square feet in area shall not be less than 1 foot below grade.
2.	The bottom surface of foundations that bear on rock surfaces is not required to be below the established frost line provided the rock does not have seams or cracks or contain disintegrated material that could serve as reservoirs for water which could be subject to freezing.
3.	The support of buildings by posts embedded in the earth shall be designed as specified in Section 1808. Wood posts or poles embedded in soil or concrete shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative.
Section 1809.9 Masonry-unit footings. Revise to read: Masonry-unit footings are not allowed.
Section 1809.12 Timber footings. Revise to read: Timber footings are not allowed.
Section 1810.3.13 Seismic Ties. Revise the second sentence to read as follows:
Unless it can be demonstrated that equivalent restraint is provided by reinforced concrete beams with slabs on grade or reinforced concrete slabs on grade, or laterally loaded piles or drilled shafts in competent soil, or confinement by competent rock, hard cohesive soil or very dense granular soils, ties shall be capable of carrying, in tension or compression, a force equal to the lesser of the product of the larger pile cap or column design gravity load times the seismic coefficient, S_DS divided by 10, and 25 percent of the smaller pile or column design gravity load.
Section 2303.3.1.1 Truss design drawings. Add no. 15 to read as follows:
15.		The seal of a professional engineer licensed in the state of Nebraska.
Chapter 29, Plumbing Systems. Delete this chapter in its entirety and change to read as follows: Plumbing systems shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the Ralston Plumbing Code as adopted by Chapter 9 of the Ralston Municipal Code.
Section 3109.1, General. Change to read as follows: Swimming pools shall comply with the current edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as adopted by Chapter 9 of the Ralston Municipal Code.
Specifically, not adopted are Appendix Chapters A, B, D, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, and M of the International Building Code, 108 editions.

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Editor's Note: Amendments to the Residential Code are found in Attachment 1, Residential Code Amendments, as an attachment to this chapter.

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Editor's Note: Former Section 9-502, Building Code, Amended, previously codified herein and containing Ordinance No. 814 was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 904.