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Posts categorized under Codes Archives - Page 6 of 9 - Building Connections

New Code Interpretation for Fire Wall Continuity

October 29, 2021

SDCI recently published a new code interpretation, 706.5 Fire Wall Horizontal Continuity, to clarify our policy for fire wall continuity. To encourage the development of more affordable housing, the Seattle Building Code was amended in 2018 to allow an additional story of Type IIIA wood construction. This is allowed as long as additional safety measures are provided, including fire walls to subdivide the building into compartments.

Filed Under: Building Connections, Codes

Stormwater Code and Manual Q&A Sessions and Online Training

August 3, 2021

The City of Seattle Stormwater Code and Manual became effective July 1, 2021. Please visit our Stormwater Code website as a great deal has changed with this update. We know there will be a lot of questions about the changes, so we are hosting live question and answer sessions every Wednesday this August. These are small, informal sessions to answer any question that you have. SDCI has also prepared online training materials that you can view at any time. 

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Heat Pump Refrigerant Line Insulation Requirements Under Seattle Energy Code

July 13, 2021

Recently there has been confusion on interpreting the insulation requirements for refrigerant lines connecting the indoor and outdoor units of heat pumps.  The following are SDCI’s requirements for insulating refrigerant lines and how they differ between residential buildings and commercial buildings.

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SEPA Decision for Seattle’s Permanent Floodplain Development Regulations

July 1, 2021

In February of 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) required Seattle to update our floodplain regulations to include FEMA’s new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS). FEMA’s adoption of the new map and study also included an audit of Seattle’s floodplain regulations. Through the audit, FEMA identified several places in Seattle’s code that needed to be amended in order to comply with the minimum standards in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). FEMA included the following required amendments in their audit: new definitions and updates to existing definitions to meet minimum standards; updates to the regulatory floodway development standards; and the inclusion of newly mapped coastal high hazard flood zone (VE zone) and required regulations for this zone.

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The Updated Stormwater Code Is Now Available

June 30, 2021

The City of Seattle Stormwater Code and Manual became effective July 1, 2021. Please visit our Stormwater Code website as a great deal has changed with this update. SDCI has prepared multiple training materials to help prepare applicants that are posted on the website. We are also hosting virtual Q&A sessions each Wednesday in July and August at 2:00 p.m.

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2018 Seattle Energy Code Trainings Available

June 1, 2021

The 2018 Seattle Energy Code went into effect on March 15, with a number of significant changes from the prior edition that impact HVAC systems, lighting, water heating, energy modeling, and more. These changes continue Seattle’s move towards a high-efficiency, carbon neutral building stock.

Filed Under: Building Connections, Codes

2021 Stormwater Code Effective July 1

May 4, 2021

The 2021 Stormwater Code and Manual update is on track to become effective on July 1, 2021. The new rules will replace the current Stormwater Code and Directors’ Rules, which are administered jointly by SDCI and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). For more information, visit our Updating Stormwater Regulations Background page. Draft documents of the revised rules and summary of the Stormwater Code changes are available on the Updating Stormwater Regulations Project Documents page. You can find recordings from three of the Public Meetings that highlighted the code changes on the Updating Stormwater Regulations Get Involved page. 

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Updated Green Building Incentives

April 6, 2021

SDCI’s green building permit incentives aim to create more efficient buildings that center around clean electric energy, water, and resource conservation with a focus on human health. Projects can gain additional height or floor area or a faster building permit in exchange for meeting specific green building goals and certification. SDCI updated the Green Building Standard and Priority Green Expedited on March 15, 2021.

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Public Meeting for Seattle’s Permanent Floodplain Development Regulations

March 31, 2021

The City currently has interim Floodplain Development Regulations in effect through February 2022 so that the City’s floodplain map and development regulations are consistent with federal law. Here is a link to the Interim Floodplain Development Regulations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) required updates to maps and regulations based on the February 2020 updated floodplain map for King County. This map (called the Flood Insurance Rate Map) identifies properties that are at risk of flooding and is used to determine which properties are required to have flood insurance.

Filed Under: Building Connections, Codes

2018 Seattle Codes Effective as of March 15

March 31, 2021

The 2018 Seattle construction codes went into effect on March 15, 2021. Unless your project is vested to an earlier code, all new permit applications are required to use the 2018 version of the building, residential, existing building, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, elevator, and fire codes and the 2020 versions of the electrical and boiler codes. A summary of key changes can be found on the Project Documents page of SDCI’s 2018 Seattle Code Adoption webpage.

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