County Considering New Building Code

Wed., Jan. 15, 1997

Compiled From Wire Services

Yakima County is considering tougher building standards for structures with flat roofs after the large number of roofs that were damaged or collapsed under the weight of heavy snow last month.

County Engineer Dan Hesse and Code Enforcement Supervisor Dave Saunders have proposed to increase by 40 percent the amount of weight the roofs must be able to support.

The minimum design standard based on the weight of snow on the ground is about 21 pounds per square foot. Saunders told county commissioners on Monday that the weight of snow on the ground jumped to 32 pounds per square foot following the 12 inches of new snow that fell Dec. 28.

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