Committee backs draft temporary emergency-shelters appendix while trimming California references
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Summary
The Building Code Council BFRW committee voted April 10 to recommend a new appendix on temporary emergency shelters adapted from California Appendix Q, removing state-specific citations and clarifying local-declaration and energy-code language; the appendix will proceed to public hearings.
At its April 10 meeting, the Building Code Council BFRW committee recommended the full council consider a draft appendix setting standards for temporary emergency shelters, emergency-village structures, tents and rapid-deployment sleeping cabins. The draft, modeled on California’s Appendix Q but edited to remove California-specific law citations, addresses occupancy duration, egress and egress access, potable water and sanitation, accessibility and some relaxed structural or finish requirements for short-term emergency use.
Dustin, presenting the appendix, said the tag reorganized the California language and removed state-specific cross-references before drafting Washington-appropriate text. The appendix covers both tent/membrane encampments and reuse of existing buildings for emergency housing and flags where the model code’s base requirements remain applicable.
Committee members focused on two practical areas: (1) when the appendix may be used and how to phrase that authority (local vs. state declarations of emergency) and (2) whether Washington’s energy code should apply to emergency placements. John suggested clearer wording such as "shall be occupied only during a local declaration of a state of emergency"; members agreed to refine the language and cite RCW 38.52 where appropriate. On energy-code application, members recommended simplifying the exception so the text plainly states emergency housing facilities are not required to comply with the Washington State Energy Code when the appendix is invoked, rather than leaving the decision solely to the enforcing agency.
The committee also debated technical and editorial items: snow-load notation and structural design terminology (ASD vs. LRFD), tent-floor and baseboard/curb requirements (members urged removing prescriptive material calls and a 6-inch curb that could create a tripping hazard), and a draft sentence that would have declared a tent unsuitable for sleeping if it required heating to 50°F (members favored deleting that temperature limit). Several members suggested adding an alternate diagram or a user note to clarify when a kitchen clearance is or is not an egress path; similar clarifications were recommended for tent-floor details.
Dan moved and Tom seconded a motion to recommend the amended appendix to the full council; the committee approved it by voice vote. The tag will incorporate the editorial changes and public-hearing feedback when it prepares the council packet.
