An Ordinance amending Title 18 (Building and Construction), Chapter 18.10 (Residential Code), of the El Paso City Code, to add an exception to the fire construction requirement for exterior walls, excepting zero lot line properties provided certain requirements are met, the penalty being as provided by Section 18.02.111 (Violations and Penalties) of the El Paso City Code . Applicant: City of El Paso, City Development Department. All Districts

1. Recommendation/Public Input
• Building & Development Permitting Division
recommendation: Approval
• CPC Vote: Approval Recommendation (N/A)
• Public Input: No communication received from the
public in support or opposition to the proposed
amendment.

2. City Development Department
July 15, 2014

3. City Development Department
Proposed Amendment to
Title 18 (Building and Construction),
Chapter 18.10 (Residential Code) of the El Paso
City Code.

4. City Development Department
Current provisions of 2009 IRC, Section 302.1
Fire Resistant Construction
R302.1 Exterior walls. Construction, projections, openings and
penetrations of exterior walls of dwellings and accessory buildings shall
comply with Table R302.1.
Exceptions:
1. Walls, projections, openings or penetrations in walls perpendicular
to the line used to determine the fire separation distance.
2. Walls of dwellings and accessory structures located on the same lot.
3. Detached tool sheds and storage sheds, playhouses and similar
structures exempted from permits are not required to provide wall
protection based on location on the lot. Projections beyond the
exterior wall shall not extend over the lot line.

5. City Development Department
4. Detached garages accessory to a dwelling located within 2 feet (610
mm) of a lot line are permitted to have roof eave projections not
exceeding 4 inches (102 mm).
5. Foundation vents installed in compliance with this code are
permitted.
Current provisions of 2009 IRC, Section 302.1
Fire Resistant Construction (Continued)

6. Table 302.1 Fire Resistant Construction
• Prohibits glazing and openings when structure is less than 3 feet
from property line.
• 25% maximum of wall area allowed to have openings between 3 to
5 feet.
• Unlimited openings allowed when wall is ≥ 5feet
City Development Department

7. City Development Department
Example of current provision

8. City Development Department
Will allow non-operable glazing on Zero lot line where all the following
apply:
• A minimum of 10 feet is provided between structures.
• Glazing is at a height of 14 feet above grade level
• Glazing is not more that 10% of wall area
• Eaves do not extend more than 12 inches from wall and are fire rated.
And allows unlimited operable openings when:
• All structures are provided with a sprinkler system.
Proposed Revisions

9. Property Line
10’ Between
structures
• Glazing is at a height of 14
feet above grade level
• Glazing is not more that
10% of wall area
• Openings prohibited
City Development Department

10. 14’ Minimum
Height
• Glazing is at a height of 14
feet above grade level
• Glazing is not more that
10% of wall area
• Openings prohibited
City Development Department

11. City Development Department
Questions