Virginia Administrative Code › Title 13 - HOUSING › Agency 5 - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › Chapter 63 - VIRGINIA UNIFORM STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE › Part II - Existing Buildings › Section 13VAC5-63-420 - Section 103 Application of code

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Section 103.1 General. All administrative
				  provisions of the VCC, including requirements for permits, inspections, and
				  approvals by the local building department, provisions for appeals from
				  decisions of the local building department, and the issuance of modifications,
				  are applicable to the use of this code, except where this code sets out
				  differing requirements. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement
				  and a specific requirement in the VEBC, the specific requirement shall
				  govern.
B. Section 103.1.1 Use of
				  performance code. Compliance with the provisions of a nationally recognized
				  performance code when approved as a modification shall be considered to
				  constitute compliance with this code. All documents submitted as part of such
				  consideration shall be retained in the permanent records of the local building
				  department.
C. Section 103.1.2
				  Preliminary meeting. When requested by a prospective permit applicant or when
				  determined necessary by the code official, the code official shall meet with
				  the prospective permit applicant prior to the application for a permit to
				  discuss plans for the proposed work or change of occupancy in order to
				  establish the specific applicability of the provisions of this code.
D. Section 103.2 Change of occupancy. A
				  building or structure undergoing a change of occupancy shall comply with the
				  provisions of this code for change of occupancy, except as provided for in
				  Section 102.2.1 for Group I-2 or I-3. Permitting, inspections, and certificate
				  of occupancy issuance shall be in accordance with the administrative provisions
				  of the VCC.
When impractical to achieve compliance with this code for
					 the new occupancy, the building official shall consider modifications upon
					 application and as provided for in Section 106.3 of the VCC.
E. Section 103.3 Retrofit requirements. The
				  local building department shall enforce the provisions of Section 1101 that
				  require certain existing buildings to be retrofitted with fire protection
				  systems and other safety equipment. Retroactive fire protection system
				  requirements contained in the IFC shall not be applicable unless required for
				  compliance with the provisions of Section 1101.
F. Section 103.4 Nonrequired equipment. The
				  following criteria for nonrequired equipment are in accordance with §
										36-103 of the Code of Virginia.
				  Building owners may elect to install partial or full fire alarms or other
				  safety equipment that was not required by the edition of the VCC in effect at
				  the time a building was constructed without meeting current requirements of the
				  code, provided the installation does not create a hazardous condition. Permits
				  for installation shall be obtained in accordance with the VCC. In addition, as
				  a requirement of this code, when such nonrequired equipment is to be installed,
				  the building official shall notify the appropriate fire official or fire
				  chief.
G. Section 103.4.1 Reduction
				  in function or discontinuance of nonrequired fire protection systems. When a
				  nonrequired fire protection system is to be reduced in function or
				  discontinued, it shall be done in such a manner so as not to create a false
				  sense of protection. Generally, in such cases, any features visible from
				  interior areas shall be removed, such as sprinkler heads, smoke detectors, or
				  alarm panels or devices, but any wiring or piping hidden within the
				  construction of the building may remain. Approval of the proposed method of
				  reduction or discontinuance shall be obtained from the building
				  official.
H. Section 103.5
				  Requirements relating to maintenance. Any requirements of the IEBC requiring
				  the maintenance of existing buildings or structures are invalid.
Note: Requirements for the maintenance of existing
					 buildings and structures and for unsafe conditions are contained in the
					 VMC.
I. Section 103.6 Use
				  of Appendix A. Appendix A of the IEBC provides guidelines for the seismic
				  retrofit of existing buildings. The use of this appendix is not mandatory but
				  shall be permitted to be utilized at the option of an owner, the owner's agent,
				  or the registered design professional involved in a rehabilitation project.
				  However, in no case shall the use of Appendix A be construed to authorize the
				  lowering of existing levels of health or safety in buildings or structures
				  being rehabilitated.
J. Section
				  103.7 Use of Appendix B. Appendix B of the IEBC provides supplementary
				  accessibility requirements for existing buildings and facilities. All
				  applicable requirements of Appendix B shall be met in buildings and structures
				  being rehabilitated.
K. Section
				  103.8 Use of Resource A. Resource A of the IEBC provides guidelines for the
				  evaluation of fire resistance ratings of archaic materials and may be used in
				  conjunction with rehabilitation projects.
L. 103.9 Construction documents. Construction
				  documents shall be submitted with the application for a permit. The work
				  proposed to be performed on an existing building or structure shall be
				  classified on the construction documents as repairs, alterations, change of
				  occupancy, addition, historic building, or moved building. Alterations shall
				  further be classified as Level 1 or Level 2. Any required elevation certificate
				  shall be prepared by a certified land surveyor or registered professional civil
				  engineer licensed in Virginia.
Exception: Construction documents or classification of the
					 work does not need to be submitted when the building official determines the
					 proposed work does not require such documents, classification, or
					 identification.
Statutory Authority: §
												36-98 of the Code of
						Virginia.