New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 14 - HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION › Chapter 7 - BUILDING CODES GENERAL › Part 8 - 2021 NEW MEXICO HISTORIC EARTHEN BUILDINGS › Section 14.7.8.13 - STRUCTURAL

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A.
General.
Historic earthen buildings undergoing repairs,
				alterations, or a change of occupancy shall comply with the applicable
				provisions of this section.
B.
Intent.
It is the intent of this section to preserve the integrity
				of qualified historic earthen buildings while providing a reasonable level of
				safety for the building users.
C.
Report.
The structural condition of a historic earthen building
				undergoing repairs, alterations, or change of occupancy shall be investigated
				and evaluated in a written report that shall be filed with the code official.
				When deemed necessary by the code official, the report shall be prepared by a
				registered design professional.
D.
Unsafe structural elements.
Where it is determined that a
				component or a portion of a building or structure is dangerous, as defined
				herein, and is in need of repair, strengthening, or replacement, only that
				specific component or portion shall be required to be repaired, strengthened,
				or replaced.
E.
Reduction of
				strength.
Alterations shall not reduce the structural strength or
				stability of the building, structure, or any member thereof.
F.
Repairs and alterations.
Where the report finds that the majority of the existing building is in sound
				structural condition and capable of supporting the use for which it is
				intended, structural repairs and alterations shall be permitted with original
				or like materials and original methods of construction, subject to the
				provisions of this section.
G.
Roofs.
Earthen roofs may be repaired and their use continued where
				the structural report indicates that the supporting structure will adequately
				support the earthen material load and any additional materials introduced for
				repair to the earthen roof. A plan specifying materials used to repair an
				earthen roof and the method of application of such materials shall be prepared
				by a registered design professional and presented to the code official.
Exception.
Subject to the approval of the code official, the
				requirement for a plan prepared by a registered design professional may be
				waived for minor repairs where the structural report indicates adequate support
				and where the repairs continue the use of the existing historic material and
				construction details, and where any drainage deficiencies have been
				corrected.
H.
Bond
				beams.
(1) When a wall is being
				replaced or is in need of substantial repair, and the existing building has no
				bond beam, provisions shall be made for adequately distributing any
				concentrated loads from the roof structure into the wall. When deemed necessary
				by the code official, such provisions shall be detailed by a registered design
				professional.
(2) Where the
				original roof structure is removed from more than fifty percent of the
				aggregate area of the building, a continuous bond beam shall be provided in
				accordance with the requirements of this code for new
				construction.