CHAPTER 5

SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS

SECTION 501 GENERAL

501.1 Scope. Buildings and structures shall be constructed in accordance with the International Building Code and this code.

Exceptions:

1. Accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet (11 m2) in floor area when located at least 50 feet (15 240 mm) from buildings containing habitable spaces.

2. Agricultural buildings at least 50 feet (15 240 mm) from buildings containing habitable spaces.

501.2 Objective. The objective of this chapter is to establish minimum standards to locate, design and construct buildings and structures or portions thereof for the protection of life and property, to resist damage from wildfires, and to mitigate building and structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels. The minimum standards set forth in this chapter vary with the critical fire weather, slope and fuel type to provide increased protection, above the requirements set forth in the International Building Code, from the various levels of hazards.

SECTION 502 FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY

The fire hazard severity of building sites for all buildings hereafter constructed, modified or relocated into wildland-urban interface areas shall be established in accordance with Appendix C.

The fire hazard severity is allowed to be reduced by implementing a vegetation management plan in accordance with Appendix B.

SECTION 503 IGNITION-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION

503.1 General. Buildings and structures hereafter constructed, modified or relocated into or within wildland-urban interface areas shall meet the construction requirements in accordance with Table 503.1. Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 ignition-resistant construction shall be in accordance with Sections 504, 505 and 506, respectively.

SECTION 504 CLASS 1 IGNITION-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION

504.1 General. Class 1 ignition-resistant construction shall be in accordance with Section 504.

504.2 Roof covering. Roofs shall have a Class A roof covering or a Class A roof assembly. For roof coverings where the profile allows a space between the roof covering and roof decking, the space at the eave ends shall be firestopped to preclude entry of flames or embers.

TABLE 503.1 IGNITION-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTIONa

On small screens, each row is shown as a card so every table heading and value remains visible.

DEFENSIBLE
SPACEc
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
Moderate Hazard High Hazard Extreme Hazard
Water Supplyb Water Supplyb Water Supplyb
Conformingd Nonconforminge Conformingd Nonconforminge Conformingd Nonconforminge
Nonconforming IR 2 IR 1 IR 1 IR 1
N.C.
IR 1
N.C.
Not Permitted
Conforming IR 3 IR 2 IR 2 IR 1 IR 1 IR 1
N.C.
1.5 x Conforming Not Required IR 3 IR 3 IR 2 IR 2 IR 1

a. Access shall be in accordance with Section 402.

b. Subdivisions shall have a conforming water supply in accordance with Section 402.1.

IR 1 = Ignition-resistant construction in accordance with Section 504.

IR 2 = Ignition-resistant construction in accordance with Section 505.

IR 3 = Ignition-resistant construction in accordance with Section 506.

N.C. = Exterior walls shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1-hour and the exterior surfaces of such walls shall be noncombustible. Usage of log wall construction is allowed.

c. Conformance based on Section 603.

d. Conformance based on Section 404.

e. A nonconforming water supply is any water system or source that does not comply with Section 404, including situations where there is no water supply for structure protection or fire suppression.

2006 UTAH WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE 15