A. General. Buildings, structures and their building service equipment to which additions, alterations or repairs are made shall comply with all the requirements of the Specialty Codes for new facilities, except as specifically provided in this section.

B. Additions, Alterations or Repairs. Additions, alterations or repairs may be made to a building or its building service equipment without requiring the existing building or its building service equipment to comply with all the requirements of the Specialty Codes, provided the addition, alteration or repair conforms to that required for a new building or building service equipment.

Additions or alterations shall not be made to an existing building or building service equipment which will cause the existing building or building service equipment to be in violation of the provisions of the Specialty Codes nor all such additions or alterations cause the existing building or building service equipment to become unsafe. An unsafe condition shall be deemed to have been created if an addition or alteration will cause the existing building or building service equipment to become structurally unsafe or overloaded; will not provide adequate egress in compliance with the provisions of the building code or will obstruct existing exits; will create a fire hazard; will reduce required fire resistance; will cause building service equipment to become overloaded or exceed their rated capacities; will created a health hazard or will otherwise create conditions dangerous to human life. A building so altered, which involves a change in use or occupancy, shall not exceed the height, number of stories and area permitted by the building code for new buildings. A building plus new additions shall not exceed the height, number of stories and area specified by the building code for new buildings.

Additions or alterations shall not be made to an existing building or structure when the existing building or structure is not in full compliance with the provisions of the building code except when the addition or alteration will result in the existing building or structure being no more hazardous based on life safety, fire safety and sanitation, than before such additions or alterations are undertaken.

Exception: Alterations of existing structural elements, or additions of new structural elements, which are not required by subsection C of this section and which are initiated for the purpose of increasing the lateral-force-resisting structure need not be designed for forces conforming to these regulations; provided, that an engineering analysis is submitted to show that:

1. The capacity of existing structural elements required to resist forces is not reduced;

2. The lateral loading to required existing structural elements is not increased beyond their capacity;

3. New structural elements are detailed and connected to the existing structural elements as required by these regulations;

4. New or relocated nonstructural elements are detailed and connected to existing or new structural elements as required by these regulations; and

5. An unsafe condition as defined above is not created.

Alterations or repairs to an existing building or structure which are nonstructural and do not adversely affect a structural member or a part of the building or structure having required fire resistance may be made with the same materials of which the building or structure is constructed, subject to approval by the building official. Installation or replacement of glass shall be as required for new installations.

Minor additions, alterations and repairs to existing building service equipment installations may be made in accordance with the Specialty Codes in effect at the time the original installation was made, subject to approval of the building official, and provided such additions, alterations and repairs will not cause the existing building service equipment to become unsafe, insanitary or overloaded.

C. Existing Installations. Building service equipment lawfully in existence at the time of the adoption of the Specialty Codes may have their use, maintenance or repair continued if the use maintenance or repair is in accordance with the original design and a hazard to life, health or property has not been created by such building service equipment.

D. Existing Occupancy. Buildings in existence at the time of the adoption of the building code may have their existing use or occupancy continued if the use or occupancy was legal at the time of the adoption of the building code, and provided continued use is not dangerous to life, health and safety.

A change in the use or occupancy of any existing building or structure shall comply with the provisions of Section 15.16.040 and Section 3402 of the building code.

E. Maintenance. Buildings, structures and building service equipment, existing and new, and parts thereof shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. Devices or safeguards which are required by the Specialty Codes shall be maintained in conformance with the Specialty Codes under which installed. The owner or the owner’s designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of buildings, structure and their building service equipment. To determine compliance with this subsection, the building official may cause a structure to be reinspected.

F. Moved Buildings. Buildings, structures and building service equipment moved into or within this jurisdiction shall comply with the provisions of the Specialty Codes for new buildings or structures and their building service equipment.

G. Temporary Structures. Temporary structures such as reviewing stands and other miscellaneous structures, sheds, canopies or fences used for the protection of the public around an injunction with construction work may be erected by special permit from the building official for a limited period of time. Buildings or structures erected under a special permit need not comply with the type of construction or fire-resistive time periods required by the building code. Temporary buildings or structures shall be completely removed upon the expiration of the time limited stated in the permit.

H. Historic Buildings. Repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or continued use of a building, structure, or its building service equipment may be made without conforming to the requirements of the Specialty Codes when authorized by the building official, provided:

1. The building or structure has been designated by official action of the legally constituted authority of this jurisdiction as having special historical or architectural significance;

2. Unsafe conditions as described in this code are corrected;

3. The restored building or structure and its building service equipment will be no more hazardous based on life safety, fire safety and sanitation than the existing building. (Prior code § 9.102)