BCAB #1348 - Installation of Stone Veneer, Sentence 9.20.6.4.(2)

April 18, 1994

BCAB #1348

Re: Installation of Stone Veneer, Sentence 9.20.6.4.(2)

Project Description

The project in question is a wood frame apartment building with stone veneer up to 8 feet high on the exterior of the bottom floor. The random size stone is attached directly to the building paper and stucco wire covered wall with cement mortar.

Reason for Appeal

Sentence 9.20.6.4.(2) requires masonry veneer to be installed over wood frame walls with a 25 mm air space behind the veneer.

Appellant's Position

The appellant contends that the 25 mm (1 inch) air space is neither practical nor necessary and the practice of building with no air space is both common and successful in the south coast region.

Building Official's Position

The building official did not respond to the appeal but according to the appellant's submission the building official has rejected the partially completed veneer installation because there is no air space.

Appeal Board Decision #1348

It is the determination of the Board that Article 9.20.6.4. is not applicable to the method of stone veneer installation used by the appellant nor does the method appear to be addressed by other parts of the Code dealing with exterior cladding. Section 2.5, Equivalents, allows the building official to accept "...construction procedures not specifically described herein..." and the Appeal Board does not rule on equivalency decisions made by the building official. The appellant should seek the approval of the building official for the stone cladding installation procedure being used.

George R. Humphrey, Chair