Appeal 33731

Appeal Summary

Status: Decision Rendered - Granted as proposed.

Appeal ID: 33731

Submission Date: 3/17/25 5:16 PM

Hearing Date: 3/26/25

Case #: B-003

Appeal Type: Building

Project Type: commercial

Building/Business Name: Port of Portland Terminal 6 Administration building

Appeal Involves: Correction of a violation

Proposed use: office

Project Address: 7201 N Marine Dr

Appellant Name: Ralph Turnbaugh

LUR or Permit Application #: Permit 25-013757-CO, 25-013797-CO, 25-013799-CO

Stories: 2 Occupancy: B Construction Type: V

Fire Sprinklers: Yes - Interior

Plans Examiner/Inspector: Lisa Minakami

Plan Submitted Option: pdf   [File 1]   [File 2]

Payment Option: electronic

Appeal Information Sheet

Appeal item 1

Code Section

ASCE 7-16, Section 13.4

Requires

Nonstructural components and their supports shall be attached (or anchored) to the structure in accordance with the requirements of this section, and the attachment shall satisfy the requirements for parent material as set forth elsewhere in this standard.
Except where permitted in Section 13.6.12, component attachments shall be bolted, welded, or otherwise positively fastened without consideration of frictional resistance produced by the effects of gravity. A continuous load path of sufficient strength and stiffness between the component and the supporting structure shall be provided. Local elements of the structure, including connections, shall be designed and constructed for the component forces where they control the design of the elements or their connections. The component forces shall be those determined in Section 13.3.1. The design documents shall include sufficient information relating to the attachments to verify compliance with the requirements of this section.

Code Modification or Alternate Requested

The proposed alternate is a ballasted guard rail system proposed in lieu of a physically attached system.

Proposed Design

The proposed design utilizes a ballasted post base system with galvanized steel rails with a maximum span of 10'. All rail runs terminate with a minimum 5' return rail for stability. The railing is 42" tall with mid-rail to meet the requirements of OSSC Section 1015.6 and 1015.7. Equivalent protection is provided by the ballasted rail system through calculations and manufacturer field testing for personal safety per OSSC 1607.9.1 and OSHA Standard 1926.502 (see attached reports).

Reason for alternative

The Admin building is a two story structure with a combination of flat and sloped roofs. The ballasted rail is being installed on the flat roof areas to provide limited access by maintenance staff to service two existing antennae and the roof drains. The ballasted rail system is preferred to avoid creating leaks due to multiple penetrations and disruption to the antennae if re-roofed. Per testing and analysis, the ballasted system provides equivalent protection for loads in excess of Code required minimum 200 lb. rail force without permanent deflection or deformation.
ASCE 7-16 Section 13.4 requires that non-structural components be mechanically fastened without consideration for frictional resistance in order to keep such elements in place, specifically during seismic events. The system has been tested and will resist movement under a 200 pound rail force. The calculated seismic demand is 84 lbs, significantly less than the rail force with the bulk of the force being due to the 90 lb. base. Additionally, the flat roof areas are bordered by a low, approximately 12" tall parapet which prevent the rail from sliding off the roof. We request approval of this appeal to utilize the ballasted guardrail system

Appeal Decision

Allow ballasted guardrail connection instead of positively fastened guardrail: Granted as proposed.

The Administrative Appeal Board finds that the information submitted by the appellant demonstrates that the approved modifications or alternate methods are consistent with the intent of the code; do not lessen the health, safety, accessibility, life, fire safety or structural requirements; and that special conditions unique to this project make strict application of those code sections impractical.