The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, published by the International Code Council, as adopted and amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC, and as may subsequently be amended, is hereby adopted by reference as though fully set forth herein, with the following additions and amendments; provided, that any law enforcement action commenced under any prior code shall remain in full force and effect unless the misconduct charged under a prior code is lawful under the newer code or standard.
(Ord. 568 § 1, 1980; Ord. 824 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1016 § 1, 1990; Ord. 1036 § 1, 1990; Ord. 1124 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1201 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1313 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1538-04 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1632-07 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1718 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1836 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1939 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2042 § 1, 2021; Ord. 2099 § 1, 2023)
Section 109 of the International Building Code is amended as follows:
109.2 Schedule of permit fees. On building, structures, electrical, fire sprinkler, fire alarm, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid in accordance with Table 1-A-Building Permit Fees of the 1997 edition of the Uniform Building Code and all subsequent amendments thereto, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, which table is hereby adopted by reference. The fee for plan review shall be 65% of the permit fee.
109.3 Building permit valuations. Permit valuations shall include total value of work, including materials and labor, for which the permit is being issued, such as electrical, fire sprinkler, fire alarm, gas, mechanical, plumbing equipment and permanent systems and shall be established in accordance with February 2012 and all subsequent amendments hereto Building Evaluation Data published by International Code Council on their website www.iccsafe.org.
109.4 Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, fire sprinkler, fire alarm, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a fee equal to the required permit fee, excluding the plan review fee. Such fee shall be in addition to the required permit fees.
(Formerly 15.04.108; Ord. 1538-04 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1796 § 6, 2012; Ord. 1836 § 2, 2013)
Section 113 of the International Building Code is amended to read as follows:
113.1 General. Appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the building official relative to the application and interpretation of this code, shall be heard and decided by the Hearing Examiner in accordance with FMC 2.92 and FMC Title 14.
113.2 Limitation on authority. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply or an equally good or better form of construction is imposed. The Hearing Examiner shall have no authority to waive requirements of this code.
(Formerly 15.04.112; Ord. 1656 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1836 § 3, 2013)
Section 114 of the International Building Code is amended as follows:
114.4 Violation penalties. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building or structure or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of this code.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this code is committed, continued or permitted.
(Formerly 15.04.113; Ord. 1538-04 § 3, 2004; Ord. 1777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2012; Ord. 1836 § 4, 2013)
Section 903 of the International Building Code is amended as follows:
903.2.1.1 Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-1 occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.
4. The fire area contains a multitheater complex.
903.2.1.3 Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-3 occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where the main floor is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit.
903.2.1.4 Group A-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-4 occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.
Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where the main floor is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit.
903.2.2 Group B. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group B occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Throughout all Group B fire areas greater than 6000 square feet.
For the purpose of this section, additions exceeding 60 percent of the value of such building or structure, or alterations and repairs to any portion of a building or structure within a twelve-month period that exceed 100 percent of the value of such building or structure shall be considered new construction. In the case of additions, fire walls shall define separate buildings.
903.2.3 Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 6000 square feet.
2. Throughout every portion of educational buildings below the level of exit discharge.
Exception: An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any fire area or area below the level of exit discharge where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.
3. Throughout all newly constructed Group E occupancies having an occupant load of 50 or more for more than 12 hours per week or four hours in any one day. A minimum water supply meeting the requirements of NFPA 13 shall be required. The fire code official may reduce fire flow requirements for buildings protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
For the purpose of this section, additions exceeding 60 percent of the value of such building or structure, or alterations and repairs to any portion of a building or structure within a twelve-month period that exceed 100 percent of the value of such building or structure shall be considered new construction. In the case of additions, fire walls shall define separate buildings.
EXCEPTIONS
1. Portable school classrooms, provided aggregate area of clusters of portable school classrooms does not exceed 5,000 square feet (1465 m2); and clusters of portable school classrooms shall be separated as required in Chapter 5 of the building code.
2. Group E day care.
When not required by other provisions of this chapter, a fire-extinguishing system installed in accordance with NFPA 13 may be used for increases and substitutions allowed in Sections 504.2, 506.3, and Table 601 of the building code.
903.2.4 Group F. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group F occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Where a Group F fire area exceeds 6000 square feet;
2. Where a Group F fire area is located more than three stories above grade; or
3. Where the combined area of all Group F fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m2).
Exception: An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any fire area or area below the level of exit discharge where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.
903.2.7 Group M. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a Group M occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Where a Group M fire area exceeds 6000 square feet;
2. Where a Group M fire area is located more than three stories above grade; or
3. Where the combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m2).
903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire rating and throughout every apartment house two or more stories in height (e.g., for the purpose of this section, a structure with two stories and a basement shall be considered as exceeding two stories) or containing 5 or more dwelling units, every congregate residence two or more stories in height or having an occupant load of 20 or more, and every hotel two or more stories in height or containing 5 or more guest rooms. Residential or quick-response standard sprinklers shall be used in the dwelling units and guest room portions of the building. Sprinklers shall be provided to protect exterior exit balconies and covered exterior exit stairs. For the purpose of this section, area separation walls shall not define separate buildings.
903.2.9 Group S. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group S occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
1. Where a Group S fire area exceeds 6000 square feet;
2. Where a Group S fire area is located more than three stories above grade; or
3. Where the combined area of all Group S fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m2).
903.2.9.1 Repair Garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings used as repair garages in accordance with Section 403, as shown:
1. Buildings, two or more stories in height, including basements, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 6000 square feet.
2. One-story buildings with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 6000 square feet.
3. Buildings with a repair garage servicing vehicles parked in the basement.
903.2.9.2 Bulk storage of tires. Buildings and structures where the area for the storage of tires exceeds 6000 square feet shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
(Ord. 1538-04 § 4, 2004; Ord. 1656 § 6, 2008; Ord. 1739 § 1, 2011)