Ordinance 2950CITY OF ALAMEDA ORDINANCE NO.2950
New Series
AMENDING THE ALAMEDA MUNICIPAL CODE BY
ADDING ARTICLE XVIII (EARTHQUAKE HAZARD
REDUCTION IN EXISTING WOOD FRAME ONE
AND TWO STORY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES)
TO CHAPTER XIII (BUILDING AND HOUSING)
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Alameda that:
Section 1.The Al-meda Municipal Code is amended by adding Article
XVIII , Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing One to Two Story Residential
Structures, to Chapter XIII , Building and Housing, consisting of subsections 13-
70.1 through 13-70.6 which shall read as follows:
ARTICLE XVII.EARTHQUAKE. HAZARD REDUCTION IN EXISTING
WOOD FRAME ONE TO TWO STORY RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES
13-70.Purpose
The provisions.of thisarticl e are .intended to. promote public safety and
welfare by reducing therisk of earthquake-induced damage to existing wood frame
residential structures. The voluntary minimumstandards contained in this Article
shall substantially improve the seismic performance oftheseresidential buildings
but wil not necessarily prevent all earthquake damage. When fully followed , these
standards wil strengthen the portion of the structure that is most vulnerable to
earthquake damage. This article does not require alteration of existing electrical
plumbing, mechanical , or fire safety systems unless they constitute a hazard to life
or property.
13-70.Scope
This chapter sets standards for strengthening that may be approved by the
Building Official without requiring plans or calculations prepared by an architect or
engineer. In accordance with the restrictions outlned below one of two prescriptive
standards may be used.
a. Standard Plan A Residential Seismic Strengthening Plan. The
provisions of this article may be applied to one and two story, conventional light-
frame wood construction , Group R , Division 3 Occupancies.
1. The provisions of this article do not apply to buildings or elements
thereof, listed below.
(a) Buildings without a continuous perimeter concrete foundation.
(b) Buildings with cripple walls that exceed four feet in height.
(c) Buildings exceeding two stories in height.
(d) Buildings or portions thereof, constructed on a concrete slab on
grade.
(e) Buildings where the Building Official determines conditions exist
that are beyond the scope of the prescriptive requirements of this
chapter.
b. Chapter A3 2006 International Existing Building Code. The provisions
of this article may be applied to one to two story, conventional light-frame wood
construction , Group R , Division 3 Occupancies , containing one or more of the
structu ral weaknesses specified in See 13-70.2 (b) 2
1. The provisions of this section do not apply to the buildings , or elements
thereof , listed below. These buildings or elements require analysis by an engineer
or architect in accordance with Section A301.3 of the 2006 International Existing
Building Code to determine appropriate strengthening:
(a) Group R-, R-20r R-4.occupancies with more than four dwelling
units.
(b) Buildings with a lateral-foree-resisting system using poles or
columns embedded in the ground.
(c) Cripple walls that exceed 4 feet in height.
(d) Buildings exceeding three stories in heightand any three-story
building with cripple wall studs exceeding 14 inches in height.
(e) Buildings where the Building Offcial determines that conditions
existthat are beyond the scope ofthe prescriptiveTequirements
of Chapter A3 ofthe2006 International Existing Building Code.
(f) Buildings or Portions thereof constructed on concrete slabs on
grade.
2. Structural Weaknesses. For the purposes of this section structural
weaknesses shall be as specified below.
(a) Sill plates or floor framing that are supported directly on the
ground without an approved foundation system.
(b) A perimeter foundation system that is constructed only of wood
posts supported on isolated pad footings.
(c) Perimeter foundation system that is not continuous.
Exceptions:
1. Existing single story exterior walls not exceeding
10 feet in length , forming an extension of floor
area beyond the line of an existing continuous
perimeter footing.
2. Porches , storage rooms , and similar spaces not
containing fuel-burning appliances.
(d) A perimeter foundation system that is constructed of
unreinforced masonry or stone.
(e) Sill plates that are not connected to the foundation or that are
connected with less than what is required by the building code.
Exceptions:
1. When approved by the Building Official
connections of a sill plate to the foundation made
with other than sil bolts may be accepted if the
capacity of the connection is equivalent to that
required by the building code.
(f) Cripple walls that are not braced in accordance with the
requirements of Section A304.4 and Table A3-A of the 2006
International Existing Building Code, or cripple walls not braced
with diagonal sheathing or wood structural panels in accordance
with the building code.
13-70.Submittal Requirements
a. Standard Plan A Residential Seismic Strengthening Plan. When
submitting for building permit using the provisions of Section 13-70.2(a) the
applicant shall be required to submit 4 copies of the completed Standard Plan
Residential Seismic Strengthening Plan available for the City of Alameda Permit
Center.
b. Chapter A3 2006 International Existing Building Code. When submitting
for building permit using the provisions of Section 13-70.2(b) the applicant shall be
required to submit 4 copies of all necessary plans to show compliance with
Chapter A3 of the 2006 IEBC.
13-70.Fees
Plan review and inspection fees shall be established by resolution of the
City Council.
13-70.Inspections
a. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to
inspection by the Building Official and such construction work shall remain
accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. The following
inspections by the Planning and Building Department may be required for work
permitted under this chapter:
1. Pre-construction,
2. Footings or forms
3. Foundation bolt lanchor plate installation
4. Concrete slab or underfloor inspection
5. Installation of blocking,
6. Plywood panel installation on cripple wall
7. Metal hardware installation,
8. Other inspections as required by the California Building
Standards Code.
9. Final Inspection.
Prior to final inspection , smoke detectors shall be installed in the attached dwelling
(s) in accordance with the building code requirements.
13-70.Incentives
a. The requirements of this Chapter are voluntary. In order to encourage
the largest application of this Chapter the following incentives are offered for those
projects that use the prescriptive provisions of Section 13-70.2 (a) or (b).
1. Plans are not required to be prepared by a licensed
architect or engineer.
2. Projects do not require upgrades of the plumbing,
mechanical , electrical or fire life/safety systems unless
they constitute a hazard to life or property.
13-70.Findings
The City of Alameda is located within Seismic Zone 4.
The City Council desires to lessen the risks to life and property of the
residents of the City of Alameda posed by a major earthquake in Northern
California.
The California Building Code does not contain provisions governing the
earthquake retrofit of existing wood frame residential structures.
The City Council , therefore, has determined to implement voluntary
prescriptive retrofit standards for existing one to two story residential structures
and to provide incentives to encourage the use of these standards.
Section 2.If any section , subsection, sentence , clause or phrase
of this ordinance is, for any reason , held invalid or unconstitutional , such decision
shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this
ordinance. The City Council of the City of Alameda herby declares that it would
have passed this ordinance , and each section , subsection, sentence , clause or
phrase hereof , irrespective of the fact thatanyone ormore sections , subsections
sentences , clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional.
Section 3.All former ordinances or parts thereof conflicting or
inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance hereby adopted, to the extent of
such conflict only, are hereby repealed.
Section 4.The City Clerk of the City of Alameda is hereby directed
to cause this ordinance to be published in the Official Newspaper of the City of
Alameda
Section 5.This ordinance and the rules , regulations, provisions,
requirements, orders and matters established and adopted hereby shall take effect
and be in full force and effect 30 days after the date of its final passage and
adoption.
Attest:
Lara Weisiger , City CI
City of Alameda
******
, the undersigned , hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was duly and regularly
adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the
day of August , 2006 by the following vote to wit:
AYES:Councilmembers Daysog, deHaan, Gilmore , Matarese , and
Mayor Johnson - 5.
NOES:None.
ABSENT:None.
ABSTENTIONS:None.
IN WITNESS , WHEREOF , r have hereunto set my hand and affxed the official seal of said City
this 16 day of August , 2006.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda