DEC REQUEST DS2012-037 STAFF ANALYSIS

 

 

ISSUE: DS2012-037. Petitioner seeks a Declaratory Statement on ASCE Standard 7-10 and the applications of Florida Product approval system, Section 1609.4.3 of the Florida Building Code, Building and Chapter R4403.9.1 of the Florida Building Code, Residential.

 

Petitioner in DS2012-37 seeks clarification of the following questions:

Questions:

1)       Do I need to update my current (2007) Florida product approval #FL 3203-R2 to meet the new Florida Building Code 2010, ASCE 7-10? Yes or No?

2)      Do I need to meet exposure ratings (B,C,D) of the Florida Building Code 2010 section 1609.4.3 Building Section and ASCE 7-10 (FL) Where Florida Building Code 2007 ASCE 7-05 only applies Exposure “C”? Yes or No?

3)      Is it correct that Florida Building Code 2010, ASCE 7-10 (FL) specifies higher lateral loads of 3.1 to 1 for all building heights.  Where the Florida Building Code 2007, ASCE 7-05 only specified 1.9 to 1.0 for buildings 60’ or less. Yes or No.

4)      Is it correct that the Florida Building Code 2010, ASCE 7-10 (FL) specifies the use of uplift pressure equal to 1.5 to 1 and the Florida Building code 2007, ASCE 7-05 used no additional uplift pressure?  Yes or No?

5)      Do I need to meet both the higher lateral loads and uplift loads? Yes or No?

6)      I am correct to say the 2010 FBC – Residential Section R4403.9.1 Building and Structures, and every portion thereof, shall be designed and constructed to meet the requirements of chapter 26 through 31 of ASCE 7-10? Yes or No?

7)      Does the Governor want the FBC 2010, ASCE 7-10 (FL) to be applied to building doors, garage doors windows and roof tiles? Yes or No?

Background: 

 

            HB704

                        Section 16

4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, exposed mechanical equipment or appliances fastened to a roof or installed on the ground in compliance with the code using rated stands, platforms, curbs, slabs, or other means are deemed to comply with the wind resistance requirements of the 2007 Florida Building Code, as amended. Further support or enclosure of such mechanical equipment or appliances is not required by a state or local official having authority to enforce the Florida Building Code. This subsection expires on the effective date of the 2013 2010 Florida Building Code.

 

2010 Florida Building Code, Mechanical

 

301.12 Wind resistance.
Mechanical equipment, appliances and supports that are exposed to wind shall be designed and installed to resist the wind pressures on the equipment and the supports as determined in accordance with the Florida Building Code, Building. Roof-mounted mechanical units and supports shall be secured to the structure. The use of wood "sleepers” shall not be permitted.

 

Rule 61G20-3.007 Product Approval by the Commission.

Section 4(e) states:

(e) Approval shall be valid until such time as the product changes decreasing the product’s performance, the standards or provisions of the Code affecting the product change, or the approval is otherwise suspended, revoked, or superseded by a Commission approved revision to the approval. Changes to the Code shall not be construed as voiding the approval of products previously installed in existing buildings provided such products met building code requirements at the time the product was installed.

(emphasis added)

Section 4(f) states:

(f) When a new edition of the Code does not require a material or substantive change for an approved product, the manufacturer of the approved product shall affirm that his or her approved product meets the new edition of the Code. As part of application for self-affirmation, if the evaluation report refers to the previous edition of the Code, the manufacturer of the approved product shall submit a statement from an approved evaluation or validation entity that the product complies with the subsequent code version via an attachment uploaded and submitted through the BCIS. Self-affirmation is subject to review and verification by the Program Administrator.

(emphasis added)

 

Floridabuilding.org – Product Approval

            FL3203-R2

Description: Aluminum A/C Stand w/ Telescopic Cross Member

          Category – Structural Components

          Subcategory – Pre-engineered AC stands

Compliance Method- Evaluation report from an Architect or Engineer

Limits of Use – This product is valid for use within the HVHZ - Limitations of use per engineering drawing #04-RME-0005

 

Florida Building Code, Building

1609.4.3 Exposure categories. An exposure category shall

be determined in accordance with the following:

 

Exposure B. For buildings with a mean roof height of

less than or equal to 30 feet, Exposure B shall apply

where the ground surface roughness as defined by Surface

Roughness B prevails in the upwind direction for a

distance of at least 1,500 ft (457 m). For buildings with a

mean roof height greater than 30 feet, Exposure B shall

apply where Surface Roughness B prevails in the upwind

direction for a distance of at least 2,600 feet (792 m) or

20 times the height of the building, whichever is greater.

 

Exposure C. Exposure C shall apply for all cases where

Exposures B or D do not apply.

 

Exposure D. Exposure D shall apply where the ground

surface roughness, as defined by Surface Roughness D,

prevails in the upwind direction for a distance of at least

5,000 feet (1524 m) or 20 times the height of the building,

whichever is greater. Exposure D shall extend inland from

the shoreline for a distance of 600 feet (183 m) or 20 times the height of the building, whichever is greater from an Exposure D condition as defined in the previous sentence.

 

 

1609.8 Rooftop structures and equipment.

The lateral force on rooftop structures and equipment with Af less than (0.1Bh) located on buildings of all heights shall be determined from Equation 29.5-1 of ASCE 7 in which the value of GCf shall be taken as 3.1. GCf shall be permitted to be reduced linearly from 3.1 to 1.1 as the value of Af is increased from (0.1Bh) to (Bh). The value of G from Section 26.9 of ASCE 7 shall not be used. Additionally, a simultaneous uplift force shall be applied, given by Equation 29.5-1 of ASCE 7 in which GCf = 1.5 and Af is replaced by the horizontal projected area, Ar, of the rooftop structure or equipment. For the uplift force GCf shall be permitted to be reduced linearly from 1.5 to 1.0 as the value of Ar is increased from (0.1BL) to (BL).

Florida Building Code, Residential

SECTION R4403.9

HIGH-VELOCITY HURRICANE ZONES — WIND LOADS

R4403.9.1 Buildings and structures, and every portion thereof, shall be designed and constructed to meet the requirements of Chapters 26 through 31 of ASCE 7.

 

Staff Recommendation:

Questions:

1)      Question: Do I need to update my current (2007) Florida product approval #FL 3203-R2 to meet the new Florida Building Code 2010, ASCE 7-10? Yes or No?

Answer:  The State Product Approval Program is optional to that of the local product approval.  Should you elect to update your current state product approval “#FL 3203 –R2” for compliance with the 2010 Florida Building Code, then the answer is “Yes”.

2)      Question: Do I need to meet exposure ratings (B,C,D) of the Florida Building Code 2010 section 1609.4.3 Building Section and ASCE 7-10 (FL) Where Florida Building Code 2007 ASCE 7-05 only applies Exposure “C”? Yes or No?

Answer:  For the purpose of demonstrating compliance with the 2010 Florida Building (FBC), compliance with the applicable provisions of ASCE 7 – 2010 and the FBC are required.  At minimum, the product in question must demonstrate compliance with Exposure B.   

3)      Question: Is it correct that Florida Building Code 2010, ASCE 7-10 (FL) specifies higher lateral loads of 3.1 to 1 for all building heights.  Where the Florida Building Code 2007, ASCE 7-05 only specified 1.9 to 1.0 for buildings 60’ or less. Yes or No.

Answer:  In accordance with Section 1609.8 of the FBC, B, the answer is “Yes”.   

 

4)      Question: Is it correct that the Florida Building Code 2010, ASCE 7-10 (FL) specifies the use of uplift pressure equal to 1.5 to 1 and the Florida Building code 2007, ASCE 7-05 used no additional uplift pressure?  Yes or No?

Answer:  In accordance with Section 1609.8 of the FBC, B, the answer is “Yes”.    

5)      Question: Do I need to meet both the higher lateral loads and uplift loads? Yes or No?

Answer:  In accordance with Section 1609.8 of the FBC, B, the answer is “Yes”.   

6)      Question: I am correct to say the 2010 FBC – Residential Section R4403.9.1 Building and Structures, and every portion thereof, shall be designed and constructed to meet the requirements of chapter 26 through 31 of ASCE 7-10? Yes or No?

Answer:  With regard to the product in question and in accordance with Section R4403.9.1 of the FBC, B, the answer is “Yes”.

7)      Question: Does the Governor want the FBC 2010, ASCE 7-10 (FL) to be applied to building doors, garage doors windows and roof tiles? Yes or No?

Answer: The answer to this question is outside the scope of the Declaratory Statement request.