The standards and specifications adopted under this chapter shall, as provided in this section, apply to buildings, structures, or portions thereof used primarily for group A-1 through group U-1 occupancies, except for group R-3 occupancies, as defined in the Uniform Building Code, 1994 edition, published by the International Conference of Building Officials. All such buildings, structures, or portions thereof, which are constructed, substantially remodeled, or substantially rehabilitated after July 1, 1976, shall conform to the standards and specifications adopted under this chapter: PROVIDED, That the following buildings, structures, or portions thereof shall be exempt from this chapter:

(1) Buildings, structures, or portions thereof for which construction contracts have been awarded prior to July 1, 1976;

(2) Any building, structure, or portion thereof in respect to which the administrative authority deems, after considering all circumstances applying thereto, that full compliance is impracticable: PROVIDED, That, such a determination shall be made no later than at the time of issuance of the building permit for the construction, remodeling, or rehabilitation: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the board of appeals provided for in chapter 1 of the Uniform Building Code shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide appeals from any decision by the administrative authority regarding a waiver or failure to grant a waiver from compliance with the standards adopted pursuant to RCW 70.92.100 through 70.92.160. The provisions of the Uniform Building Code regarding the appeals process shall govern the appeals herein;

(3) Any building or structure used solely for dwelling purposes and which contains not more than two dwelling units;

(4) Any building or structure not used primarily for group A-1 through group U-1 occupancies, except for group R-3 occupancies, as set forth in the Uniform Building Code, 1994 edition, published by the International Conference of Building Officials; or

(5) Apartment houses with ten or fewer units.