Building code amendments will address fire, earthquake safety
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

A public hearing to adopt building code amendments dealing with earthquakes, wildfires and high winds in Simi Valley has been set for Dec. 3.

The City Council two weeks ago introduced an ordinance that will require rigorous building requirements for any new construction projects, including housing and commercial developments, beginning next year.

Amal Sinha, deputy director/ building official for the city of Simi Valley, said the new codes are adopted to improve structural design for public safety in relation to local geologic, climatic and topographic conditions.

"We have learned from the fires and the high winds," Sinha said. "The different codes address new products and new materials coming out in the market. As we gather more knowledge, our practices show over time that certain things need to be changed."

The California Building Standards Commission publishes a new edition of building code every three years and gives municipalities six months to adopt amendments locally. The new codes will be in effect Jan. 1, 2008.

Adoption of the new ordinance will give Simi Valley the flexibility to improve upon the codes to suit specific needs of the city, Sinha said.

"For example, Simi Valley is in close proximity to urban wildfire zones," Sinha said. "For that reason, in certain areas, the houses exposed have different standards- like how to build them so they're more fire resistant."

According to the ordinance, the city is in need of special drainage precautions because of periods of intense rainfall.

The high groundwater table also causes concern, so special considerations must be in place to ensure structural integrity for buildings constructed in those areas, Sinha said.

California's position in a severe earthquake zone also influences some of the new amendments, such as increasing the sizes of nails to protect walls from falling off buildings in the event of such a disaster.

"The size of the nails, the number used and even the spacing between the nails is considered to make stronger, more earthquakeresistant structures," Sinha said. "We have increased the standard for better protection."

Sinha said that all people and associations involved in new building projects, such as government officials, architects, engineers, contractors and developers, participate in new code development.

"It's an open process," he said. "The professionals provide good information from the field on how codes can be changed or improved to provide better safety and better use of new materials."

Upon adoption of the ordinance, city and building officials will be required to attend classes to learn the new information.

The new standards will be applied only to new projects. Sinha said the existing buildings will still be subject to the older standards, unless the building is renovated or its use is changed.