Orange County Grand Jury
• 2002-2003
• Agency Response
Response to:
Wood Roofs Are Dangerous 02/10/03, 90K
Civic Center Margie L. Rice Mayor*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 4 findings
F1
There is a lack of uniformity in local building codes involving roofs for identical environmental conditions within Orange County. Response: We acknowledge that there are different standards being used in Orange County concerning roofs based on different conditions that exist in the County. Although the environmental conditions are similar throughout the County, the geographic and topographic conditions differ considerably. The perceived "lack of uniformity" actually has a very logical basis as to allowing each locale to determine the level of mitigation of hazards necessary to provide for the degree of safety that is "equal" to other areas of the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Each responding jurisdictional agency should consider amending the building code to require the most fire retardant class of roof covering (Class A) for the new construction of all residential structures (Group R) in all fire zones. (Findings 1 through 4) Response: We have considered the recommendation and believe that Class "B" roofing is adequate for all residential structures in our jurisdiction. However, we will reconsider this recommendation during the next cycle of the code adoption in 2005, due to the widespread use of Class "A" for new construction.
F2
The testing and qualification standards of wood shakes and shingles are below the environmental conditions of Orange County. Response: The standards for fire retardant pressure treatment of wood, used for up to a Class "A" roof assembly, to the best of our knowledge, has proved to be consistent with the State Fire Marshal's recommendations and requirements. We do not have any data that would support Finding 2 in our jurisdiction. Nevertheless, local jurisdictions do not establish testing criteria and qualification standards. National testing agencies such as the International Code Council (ICC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) are the appropriate agencies to respond to this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Each responding jurisdictional agency should consider amending the building code to require the most fire retardant class of roof covering (Class A) for re- roofing of all residential structures (Group R) in all fire zones, when more than 50 percent of the roof is replaced within one year. (Findings 1 through 4) Response: City of Westminster has adopted a minimum Class "B" for all re- roofing, regardless of percentages of the roof being replaced. We believe that Class "B" roof assembly is adequate for existing structures in our jurisdiction for the reasons stated above. In conclusion, our analysis indicates that a Class "B" roof assembly is appropriate for Westminster. However, we intend to support the efforts of the Grand Jury in code uniformity and take part in the Orange County Uniform Code Program for the amendment and adoption process of the California State Building Code through the involvement of our Building Official with Orange Empire Chapter of ICC. We will continue working within the guidelines of developing uniform codes for safer buildings that our society is willing to accept and able to afford. If you have any questions, please contact our Building Official, Soroosh Rahbari at (714) 898-3311 x 250. Sincerely, Margia Margie L. Rice, Mayor City of Westminster Council Members cc:
F3
The cities' and county's roofing codes do not adequately take into account the climate, particularly the Santa Ana winds, and topographical conditions unique to Orange County. Response: This may be the case with some jurisdictions; however, we believe that we have adequately considered these conditions as they relate to our community. City of Westminster has adopted Class "B" as the minimum standard roof assembly for all occupancies, where the State codes would have allowed non-rated or Class "C" installations.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Fire conflagrations stress finite fire fighting resources especially during the period of Santa Ana Winds. Response: This is primarily true of communities with wildland/urban interface, designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Westminster and surrounding cities do not have any such zones and the record of the past decades does not support this finding as it relates to our area. We recognize that some areas of the County, that may include heavy brush and vegetation, have caused this referenced demand on available resources of the adjoining jurisdictions with mutual aid agreements. Orange County Fire Authority would be able to respond in detail on this issue.
No recommendations for this finding
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.