Section 1704.6 of the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code is amended to read as follows:
1704.6 Structural observations. Where required by the provisions of Section 1704.6.1, the owner or the owner's authorized agent shall employ a registered design professional structural observer to perform structural observations. The structural observer shall visually observe representative locations of structural systems, details and load paths for general conformance to the approved construction documents. Structural observation does not include or waive the responsibility for the inspections in Section 110 or the special inspections in Section 1705 or other sections of this code. The structural observer shall be one of the following individuals:
1. The registered design professional responsible for the structural design, or
2. A registered design professional designated by the registered design professional responsible for the structural design.
Prior to the commencement of observations, the structural observer shall submit to the building official a written statement identifying the frequency and extent of structural observations.
At the conclusion of the work included in the permit, the structural observer shall submit to the building official a written statement that the site visits have been made and identify any reported deficiencies that, to the best of the structural observer's knowledge, have not been resolved.
The owner or owner's authorized agent shall coordinate and call a preconstruction meeting between the structural observer, contractors, affected subcontractors and special inspectors. The structural observer shall preside over the meeting. The purpose of the meeting shall be to identify the major structural elements and connections that affect the vertical and lateral load resisting systems of the structure and to review scheduling of the required observations. A record of the meeting shall be included in the report submitted to the building official. Observed deficiencies shall be reported in writing to the owner or owner's authorized agent, special inspector, contractor and the building official. Upon the form prescribed by the building official, the structural observer shall submit to the building official a written statement at each significant construction stage stating that the site visits have been made and identifying any reported deficiencies which, to the best of the structural observer's knowledge, have not been resolved. A final report by the structural observer which states that all observed deficiencies have been resolved is required before acceptance of the work by the building official.
Section 1704.6.1 of the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code is amended to read as follows:
1704.6.1 Structural observations for structures. Structural observations shall be provided for those structures where one or more of the following conditions exist:
1. The structure is classified as Risk Category III or IV.
2. The structure is a high-rise building.
3. The structure is assigned to Seismic Design Category E, and is greater than two stories above the grade plane A lateral design is required for the structure or portion thereof.
Exception: One-story wood framed Group R-3 and Group U Occupancies less than 2,000 square feet in area, provided the adjacent grade is not steeper than 1 unit vertical in 10 units horizontal (10% sloped), assigned to Seismic Design Category D.
4. Such observation is required by the registered design professional responsible for the structural design.
5. Such observation is specifically required by the building official.
Section 1705.3 of the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code is amended to read as follows:
1705.3 Concrete construction. Special inspections and tests of concrete construction shall be performed in accordance with this section and Table 1705.3.
Exceptions: Special inspections and tests shall not be required for:
1. Isolated spread concrete footings of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock where the structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, fc, not more than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 Mpa) regardless of the compressive strength specified in the construction documents or used in the footing construction.
2. Continuous concrete footings supporting walls of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock where:
2.1. The footings support walls of light-frame construction;
2.2. The footings are designed in accordance with Table 1809.7; or
2.3. The structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, fc, not more than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 Mpa), regardless of the compressive strength specified in the construction documents or used in the footing construction.
3. Nonstructural concrete slabs supported directly on the ground, including prestressed slabs on grade, where the effective prestress in the concrete is less than 150 psi (1.03 Mpa).
4. Concrete foundation walls constructed in accordance with Table 1807.1.6.2.
54. Concrete patios, driveways and sidewalks, on grade.
Section 1705.13 of the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code is amended to read as follows:
1705.13 Special inspections for seismic resistance. Special inspections for seismic resistance shall be required as specified in Sections 1705.13.1 through 1705.13.9, unless exempted by the exceptions of Section 1704.2.
Exception: The special inspections specified in Sections 1705.13.1 through 1705.13.9 are not required for structures designed and constructed in accordance with one of the following:
1. The structure consists of light-frame construction; the design spectral response acceleration at short periods, SDS, as determined in Section 1613.2.4, does not exceed 0.5; and the building height of the structure does not exceed 35 feet (10 668 mm).
2. The seismic force-resisting system of the structure consists of reinforced masonry or reinforced concrete; the design spectral response acceleration at short periods, SDS, as determined in Section 1613.2.4, does not exceed 0.5; and the building height of the structure does not exceed 25 feet (7620 mm)
3. The structure is a detached one- or two-family dwelling not exceeding two stories above grade plane, is not assigned to Seismic Design Category D, E or F, and does not have any of the following horizontal or vertical irregularities in accordance with Section 12.3 of ASCE 7:
3.1 Torsional or extreme torsional irregularity.
3.2 Nonparallel systems irregularity.
3.3 Stiffness-soft story or stiffness-extreme soft story irregularity.
3.4 Discontinuity in lateral strength-weak story irregularity.
(`83 Code, § 15.04.280) (Ord. 99-7 § 1, 1999; Ord. 2003-01, § 1, 2003; Ord. 2007-21, § 1 (part), 2007; 2010-16 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2013-05 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2016-12 § 3, 2016; Ord. 2019-11 § 3, 2019; Ord. 2022-09 § 3 (part), 2022)