LAownerbuilder
Registered User
I'm building a house in Los Angeles. We just had our rough framing inspection, which we did not pass. The inspector included the following (see below). For additional context, we have openable windows upstairs, where the sill are less than 42" off the floor.
I'm just a regular citizen (not a professional builder by any means), but in reading the code in combination with the new bulletin that was issued, it seems that the inspector mention all of the ways you can pass in his notes. LARC 312 (specifically 312.2) includes a provision to include a safety device that meets ASTM 2090 if your sill is below 42". This seems to be an alternative to including a guard, which we really don't want to do. If the bulletin is interpreted as always requiring a guard for anything less than 42", then there would be no reason to have section 312.2.
Does anyone have experience with this? Am I beholden to the inspector's judgment here? Does the bulletin (link below) completely override what is in the LARC (specifically the section on window opening control devices)? There is nothing in code (or even the bulletin) that says all upper floor sills must sit between 42" and 44", so would like to figure out what options I have. Thanks.
Here's the bulletin:
https://www.ladbs.org/docs/default-...penable-windows-ib-p-bc2014-105.pdf?sfvrsn=11
Here's the Notice I received:
VIOLATION TYPE: LARC
VIOLATION CODE SECTION: 312.1.2
CODE LANGUAGE: Required guards at open sided walking surfaces, including stairs, porches, balconies, shall be
not less than 42" high measured vertically above the adjacent walking surface.
VIOLATION NOTES: Window sill shall be between 42"-44" from the finished surface if measured vertically on exterior 30" and more.
I'm just a regular citizen (not a professional builder by any means), but in reading the code in combination with the new bulletin that was issued, it seems that the inspector mention all of the ways you can pass in his notes. LARC 312 (specifically 312.2) includes a provision to include a safety device that meets ASTM 2090 if your sill is below 42". This seems to be an alternative to including a guard, which we really don't want to do. If the bulletin is interpreted as always requiring a guard for anything less than 42", then there would be no reason to have section 312.2.
Does anyone have experience with this? Am I beholden to the inspector's judgment here? Does the bulletin (link below) completely override what is in the LARC (specifically the section on window opening control devices)? There is nothing in code (or even the bulletin) that says all upper floor sills must sit between 42" and 44", so would like to figure out what options I have. Thanks.
Here's the bulletin:
https://www.ladbs.org/docs/default-...penable-windows-ib-p-bc2014-105.pdf?sfvrsn=11
Here's the Notice I received:
VIOLATION TYPE: LARC
VIOLATION CODE SECTION: 312.1.2
CODE LANGUAGE: Required guards at open sided walking surfaces, including stairs, porches, balconies, shall be
not less than 42" high measured vertically above the adjacent walking surface.
VIOLATION NOTES: Window sill shall be between 42"-44" from the finished surface if measured vertically on exterior 30" and more.