Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
Section 14.7.8.13 - STRUCTURALA.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.I.Walls. Walls that are being reconstructed or replaced shall be constructed in accordance with the maximum height-to-thickness ratios specified in Table A1-G of 14.7.7 NMAC. Minor repairs and in fills may be constructed in a manner similar to the original walls without conforming to the requirements of Table A1-G.J.Foundations. Foundations constructed of historic materials may be repaired and their use continued when a design prepared by a registered design professional is provided to the code official and any deficiencies in the roof drainage system have been corrected. Exception. Subject to the approval of the code official, the requirement for a design prepared by a registered design professional may be waived for minor repairs to otherwise sound foundations.K.Change of occupancy. A change of occupancy to a historic earthen building shall be allowed to comply with the provisions of this section for repairs and alterations subject to the conditions listed below. A change of occupancy not meeting these conditions shall comply with 14.7.7 NMAC. (1) The calculated occupant load of the new use does not exceed 299.(2) The change of occupancy does not result in the building being placed in a higher seismic, wind, or occupancy category based upon Table 1604.5 of 14.7.2 NMAC.(3) The change of occupancy does not result in an increase of more than five percent in uniform or concentrated loads based on Table s 1607.1 of 14.7.2 NMAC. Exception. The code official is authorized to accept existing floors and approve operational controls that limit the live loads on such floors.14.7.8.13 NMAC - Rp, 14.7.8.13 NMAC, 1-1-08, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVII, Issue 21, November 15, 2016, eff. 11/15/2016, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11, June 13, 2023, eff. 7/14/2023