The codes published by the International Code Council, Inc. are the predominant building codes used throughout the United States. These codes are updated on a three-year cycle. They establish minimum standards to safeguard life and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction and installation of new buildings and alterations to existing buildings. Adopting updated building safety codes enables the City of Sparks to address all aspects of safe and sound construction, including structural integrity, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, and energy efficiency.

Additionally, Building Officials in Northern Nevada have strived to bring a more consistent approach to the way building codes are adopted and interpreted in this region. Beginning in 2006, and again in 2012 and 2018, the region’s Building Officials, acting as a steering committee for the northern Nevada building code amendment process, created amendment packages specific to our region’s climatic and geographical characteristics, including frost depths, wind speeds and seismic requirements. These amendments to the International Code Council’s published codes are referred to as the Northern Nevada Amendments.

Over the past year, more than sixty representatives from the building industry, jurisdictions across northern Nevada and the Northern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council participated in code committees for each specialty, i.e. residential, commercial, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc. for development of the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments.

Near the conclusion of the 2018 amendment process, the Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN) proposed additional changes. Most substantively, this included proposed reductions (to 2009 code levels) to a building’s thermal envelope if renewable energy generation is used in a building. National and local energy code experts expressed concern and did not support reducing the thermal insulating factors. This position is based on the determination that the combination of a well-insulated building and use of renewable energy generation is the best pathway to reducing use of non-renewable energy. The steering committee concluded, therefore, that reduction of a house’s insulation was not in the region’s best interest and did not include BANN’s requested changes in the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments.

Bill 2750 is an ordinance providing for adoption of the most recent (i.e., 2017 and 2018) editions of building codes published by the International Code Council, as well as the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments to these codes. The proposed ordinance will amend Title 15, Buildings and Construction, of the Sparks Municipal Code (SMC), specifically Chapters 15.01 – International Building Code, and 15.05 – Administrative Code.

If the City Council adopts the 2018 building codes, per Section 1 of the ordinance the City will accept building permit applications using either the 2012 building codes or the 2018 building codes during a grace period from adoption of the 2018 codes thru June 30, 2019.

Highlights of proposed 2018 building code changes include:

• An updated wind load determination report on Northern Nevada’s historical wind speeds allowed for a 15 percent reduction to basic wind speed design calculations.
• Local seismic (earthquake), frost protection and snow load requirements are established from analysis of local data.
• Baby changing tables are required in new buildings and tenant improvements.
• The 2018 International Residential Code requires fire sprinklers in all houses but, per the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments, fire sprinklers are not required in residences of less than 5,000 square feet in size.
• The Energy Conservation Code includes raised standards intended to make buildings more energy efficient and reduce operating costs.
• Arch fault or ground fault protection at electrical plugs is required throughout a house to protect people from fire and shock hazards.
• New code provisions allow for multi-level podium style construction used for apartments with a parking garage located on the lower levels.

Please note that one change was made to the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments between the First and Second Readings of Bill 2750: on page 14, the footnotes to Table 1608.2.1 were inadvertently omitted in the document provided for the First Reading. These footnotes were added to the document provided for the Second Reading of Bill 2750.

1. Approve Bill 2750 adopting the 2018 editions of the building codes published by the International Code Council and the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments
2. Approve Bill 2750 adopting the 2018 editions of the building codes published by the International Code Council and the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments with changes
3. Reject or postpone adoption of the 2018 codes and provide direction to the City Manager.

I move to adopt Bill No. 2750, an Ordinance amending Title 15 of the Sparks Municipal Code and adopting the 2018 Editions of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Existing Building Code, International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, International Swimming Pool And Spa Code, 2017 Edition National Electrical Code, and the 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments, each of which are to become effective July 1, 2019.