Building Consistency Meeting
Residential
Date: 8/5/09 Recorder and minutes prepared by: Danny Wooten/Jeff Griffin
Staff present: Gene Morton, Jeff Griffin, Harold Sinclair, Patrick Biddy, Don Sprinkle,
Darrell McAllister, Ralph Vernon, David Williams, Steve Kellen, Ron Featherstone,
Billy Yandle, Mike Creech, George Rogers, Morton Robins, Russ Fischer, Jimmy Butler,
Steve Pearson, Rob Bock.
Public present: Greg Sloan (Ryland Homes); Bob Mckee (Ryan Homes); Steve
Reynolds (Bldrs, 1st source); David R. Schwieman (DR Schwieman, Inc); Wayne
Carter (J&B Development); Daniel Mcbride (Cunnane Group); Jason Whitener
(Southern Tradition Homes); Rob Merrell/Kevin Ratcliff (Griffin Masonry); Terry
Cleary (Meeting Street Homes); Darek Burns (Essex Homes); Darren Price (M/I
Homes); T. Dale Coe (Evergreen Dev. Group).
Topics/Subject
Decisions/Conclusions/Actions
Old
Business
None
New
Business
This bill was passed and signed by the Governor on August 5th and is
related to the expiration date of project permits from a period of January
1st 2008 thru December 31st 2010. If you had an active permit on
January 1st 2008 the time line for permit expiration has been extended
and the clock basically will not start until after December 31st, 2010
(suspension period), see attached information.
Townhouse
Issue brought related to area separation walls in townhouses, related to
fireblocking on fireblocking at plate lines as pictured below. In dealing with this type of
area separation rated wall system the break away clips shown in the picture below also
wall assemblies help to hold off the metal H stud from the interior combustible framing,
this ¾” thermal gap is a requirement in the assemblies unless tested
otherwise. Since this interior wall must be held off the area separate
wall then combustible fireblocking is prohibited both at plate lines and
at 10’ horizontally as listed in section R602.8. Most manufactures of
this type wall system will recommend the use of their liner as
fireblocking at these locations which will allow for the wall to be held
off the interior walls as required and will meet the fireblocking
requirements of the code (fireblocking is required at the top and bottom
plates between floor levels). In the absence of a liner at these locations
an approved non-combustible material can be used like rock wool and
fiberglass insulation.
NC Senate bill
831
Landings at
exterior doors
Example of unapproved 1x4 wood boards in contact with H stud
(prohibited installation).
Discussed the changes in the NC 2009 code related to landings or floors
at exterior doors per section R311.4.3. This section requires landings or
floors on both sides of an exterior door no lower than 1 ½” from top of
thresholds with 3 specific exceptions listed. Each exception was
discussed in detail as listed below:
Landing can drop
on all doors
including exit
door as long as
they inswing
Stairs can
lead straight
to door with
no landing
if inswing
and not the
required
exit door
8 ¼”
Exception #3 is the same as #2 but allows for a drop of 8 1/4” even on
outswing doors with the added language dealing with floors. So the
intent is a surface area larger than a landing such as a deck.
Masonry
chimney
terminations
Department reorg efforts
Discussed a printing error with the termination of masonry chimneys as
found in section R1003.9. This section should read “Chimney’s shall
extend at least 2 feet higher than any portion of a building within 10
feet, but shall not be less than 3 feet above the highest point where the
chimney passes through the roof.
We discuss the current state of the Department’s re-organizational
efforts which included a brief discussion of the 2 working models. The
committee’s working on these efforts (which including industry
representatives) have come up with 2 models that work. Both of these
models were presented to the BDC and current efforts are to select the
best working model. The models are either trade drive with variations or
project team driven by geography and project type, further
review/discussions to follow.
Screened in
porch
protection
against decay
Issue came up where a contractor was placing tile on a screened in
porch plywood floor in which he only ran a ribbon of 16” pressure
treated flooring around the perimeter in which he thought was exposed
to the elements. An area in a screen in porch is not completely protected
from the elements and the code now is very specific on what has to be
protected as listed in section R319 item #8 which is new:
#8 All portions of a porch screen porch or deck from the
bottom of the header down including posts guardrails
pickets steps and floor structure
SB831—Extend Permits Regarding Land Development
The N.C. General Assembly recently passed key legislation that will help home builders in this
tough economic time. SB 831—Extend Permits Regarding Land Development extends the
duration of all state and local permits and approvals affecting the development of real property in
North Carolina. The extension applies to all development approvals that are current and valid at
any point from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2010.
If a permit was issued prior to and was valid at any time during the permit extension period
(January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010), the remaining time of validity is added beginning
January 1, 2011.
For example, if a builder received a one-year permit on June 1, 2007, then seven months
of the permit had passed when the extension period started on Jan. 1, 2008. The new law
“pauses” the permit duration for the extension period (January 1, 2008 through December
31, 2010) and the remaining 5 months of validity will start on January 1, 2011.
If a permit was issued between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010, the running period of the
permit will not begin until the suspension is lifted December 31, 2010.
For example, if a builder receives a one-year building permit on June 1, 2009, the permit
will not expire until December 31, 2011, because the running period will not start until
January 1, 2011.
Eligible permits are automatically extended, and no request or application must be made for the
extension. There are no fees associated with the extension.
The following permits will be suspended:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Building permits issued under the State Building Code.
Approval of sketch plans, preliminary plats, plats regarding subdivision of land, site-specific
development plans or phased development plans, development agreements, or building
permits issued by cities or counties.
Water and wastewater permits issued by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) or local health departments.
Stream origination certifications and water quality certifications issued by DENR.
Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) major permits, minor permits and any other permit
issued under CAMA.
Environmental impact statements and findings of no significant impact required pursuant to
the State Environmental Policy Act.
Erosion and sedimentation control plan approvals granted by the N.C. Sedimentation
Control Commission or local government.
Air quality permits issued by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC).
Certificates of appropriateness issued by a preservation commission of a city.