Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
FROM:	Kurt Schroeder, Asst. Director, Planning & Development Services
C:	Scott McCullough, Planning & Development Services Director Barry Walthall, Building Official
DATE:	February 22, 2016
RE:	Adoption of 2015 International Codes – Request to defer action on new requirements for storm shelters in K-12 educational facilities and critical emergency operations facilities

Background

The City Commission is scheduled to review and consider a series of proposed ordinances to adopt the 2015 International Code Council (ICC) series of model construction codes (with proposed local amendments) during its February 23, 2016 meeting (Regular Agenda Item No. 2).  A Staff Memo provides background on the various 2015 ICC codes and the 2015 code review process, and highlights significant changes to the City’s current construction codes (the 2012 ICC series of codes, with local amendments).

One significant change noted in the Staff Memo is the new 2015 International Building Code (IBC) requirement for storm shelters in new or expanded critical emergency operations facilities and K-12 educational facilities.  In the 2015 IBC, storm shelters are required to be designed and constructed to withstand a wind speed of 250 MPH (in accordance with ICC-500 standards developed by ICC in consultation with the National Storm Shelter Association and FEMA, and first published in 2008).  The new requirements do not apply to renovation projects where the existing building footprint is not expanded.

The 2009 and 2012 editions of the IBC did not require storm shelters for new or expanded buildings, or for any specific use category.  However, storm shelters voluntarily constructed as separate detached buildings or as safe rooms within buildings for the purpose of providing safe refuse from storms that produce high winds (such as tornados), were required to be designed and constructed per ICC-500 design standards.

Several weeks ago, staff sent an email to USD 497 representatives and others who may be affected by this new storm shelter requirement.   On February 19, 2016, USD 497 School Superintendent, Dr. Rick Doll, informed Interim City Manager Diane Stoddard that USD 497 has significant concerns regarding the new storm shelter requirements, as proposed.  Dr. Doll also requested further opportunity to review and discuss the proposed 2015 IBC requirements, and/or possible alternative requirements/code amendments, with the City.  Dr. Doll expressed the School District’s intent to meet safety needs of students and to provide safer shelter from high winds, but also expressed concern about the potential high cost of designing and building storm shelters and/or safe rooms to meet the new 2015 IBC (ICC-500) standards.

Staff Recommendation

Staff is recommending that proposed Ordinance No. 9168 (adopting the 2015 IBC) be approved on first reading, but with the 2015 IBC code requirements for storm shelters in K-12 educational facilities and critical emergency operations facilities revised to mirror current requirements, which allow voluntary construction of storm shelters.   If Ordinance No. 9168 is approved on first reading, the Ordinance will be amended, as appropriate, for final approval at second reading.

Staff further recommends that additional review of the new 2015 IBC storm shelter requirements (and/or modified, alternative provisions) be conducted among USD 497 representatives, private school representatives, emergency operations facility owners/operators, the Building Code Board of Appeals and staff over the next 3-6 months.  Results and recommendations for any code amendments would be brought back to the City Commission for discussion and final direction/action.