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Code Question: Expert Committee Interpretations

Does Section 102.1.3 of the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code intend that fenestration products with U-factors determined in accordance with NFRC 100 or SHGC ratings determined in accordance with NFRC 200 be subject to labeling by an approved third-party agency? more>>

Do the requirements of Section 1003.4 of the International Building Code, for the "Walking surfaces of the means of egress…" apply to the exit discharge? more>>

In accordance with the provisions of Section R201.3 of the International Residential Code (IRC), a stairway, as defined in the International Building Code, is a change in elevation consisting of one or more risers. Is a stairway consisting of a single riser considered a hazardous location for the purposes of glazing and therefore subject to the provisions of Section R308.4, Item 10 of the IRC? more>>

Do the provisions of the International Mechanical Code, Section 1104.2 Exception 1, which exempts machinery rooms for listed equipment and appliances containing not more than 6.6 pounds (3kg) of refrigerants, apply to refrigerated rooms addressed in Section 1104.2.2? more>>

In accordance with the provisions of Section 409.1.2 of the International Fuel Gas Code, is a shutoff valve permitted to be located in a mechanical room that contains electric heating and/or air-handling equipment when the mechanical room serves as a plenum? more>>

Given a non-sprinklered multi-story building of Type IIB construction. The building is used for the storage of hazardous materials that exceeds the maximum allowable quantity permitted for a single control area in accordance with Tables 2703.1.1(1) and 2703.1.1(2) of the International Fire Code. An interior fire barrier is constructed that spans from the foundation to the roof for the entire height of the building. There are no fire-resistance-rated horizontal assemblies provided between floors. Therefore, the entire building is defined as having two independent multi-story control areas. Are the provisions of Section 2703.8.3.2 of the International Fire Code, which limit the percentage of the maximum allowable quantity of hazardous materials for any floor, applicable to a multi-story building consisting of multiple control areas? more>>

Do the provisions of Section 504.7.3 of the International Energy Conservation Code apply to both indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas? more>>

Given a non-sprinklered, multi-story building of Type IIB construction. The building is used for the storage of hazardous materials that do not exceed the maximum allowable quantity per control area in accordance with [F] Table 307.1(1) and [F] Table 307.1(2) of the International Building Code. The building contains no fire walls, interior fire barriers, or fire-resistance-rated horizontal assemblies. The entire building is defined as a single control area. Are the provisions of Section [F] 414.2.2 of the International Building Code, which limits the percentage of the maximum allowable quantity of hazardous materials for any floor, applicable to a multi-story building consisting of a single control area? more>>

In accordance with the provisions of Section 310.1 of the International Building Code, is a use Group R-4 residential care/assisted living facility that is constructed in compliance with the provisions of the International Residential Code subject to the technical provisions of the International Building Code? more>>

Is the maximum area of 300 square feet for a grouping of kiosks, as indicated in Item 4 of Section 402.10 of the International Building Code, calculated using the aggregate gross area of the individual kiosks within the grouping plus the area of the open space between the individual kiosks within the grouping? more>>

Do the requirements of Section 1003.4 of the International Building Code, for the "Walking surfaces of the means of egress…" apply to the exit discharge? more>>

In accordance with the provisions of Section 410.3 of the International Fuel Gas Code, is a gas line pressure regulator (2psi) with a vent limiter permitted to be located in a mechanical room that contains electric heating and/or air-handling equipment when the mechanical room serves as a plenum? more>>

Where foam plastic insulation is exposed within an unvented crawl space and entry into the crawl space is only for servicing of utilities, is the use of an ignition barrier, in accordance with the provisions of Section R314.5.4 of the International Residential Code, permitted for all the air flow methods described in Section R408.3 for unvented crawl spaces? more>>

The requirements in Section 502.1.1 of the International Energy Conservation Code stipulates that a vapor retarder must be installed on the warm-in-winter side of the thermal insulation. Is the installation of the vapor retarder required continuously across the face of the wall studs? more>>

Code Update: Significant Code Changes

An addition to previous approvals (Section 106.5.7) has been made to the 2009 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). A new or revised construction permit is not required for projects where the scope of work exceeds the 180-day limit in Section 106.4.4 and work is pursued in good faith. A modification to prohibited locations (Section 404.1) has also been made in the 2009 IFGC. Requirements prohibiting the installation of fuel gas piping in any vertical shaft used as an air duct or laundry chute have been clarified. more>>

A modification and addition to approvals for materials, research reports and equipment (Sections 105.1, 105.2.1, 105.5 and 105.5.1) has been made to the 2009 International Plumbing Code (IPC). The sections were modified to provide consistency and correlation with all the International Codes administrative provisions related to the approval process of modifications to the code and actions considering research reports and approval of materials and equipment. A modification to commercial food waste grinder waste outlets (Section 413.3) has also been made in the 2009 IPC. The modification allows consideration in selecting new equipment changes in food waster grinders provided by manufacturers. more>>

The requirements for automatic sprinkler protection of combustible storage below building canopies (Section 315.3.1) in the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC) has been modified. Requirements for unsafe conditions caused by the lack of fire-resistive construction or assemblies in existing buildings (Section 701.2) has also been added to the 2009 IFC. more>>

A modification to emergency escape and rescue openings (Section R 310.1) has been made to the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC). Habitable attics have been added to the locations requiring an emergency escape and rescue opening. Also, an addition to carbon monoxide alarms (Section R315) has also been made in the 2009 IRC. The 2009 IRC requires carbon monoxide alarms in new dwellings and in existing dwellings when work requiring a permit takes place. The carbon monoxide alarms must be installed in the immediate vicinity of sleeping areas. more>>

A change to ambulatory health care facilities (Section 304.1) has been made to the 2009 International Building Code (IBC). Definitions have been added to differentiate those outpatient medical care facilities in which individuals are temporarily incapable of self-preservation from those facilities in which such self-preservation capabilities do exist. A modification to stair handrails in Group R-2 and R-3 (Section 1009.12) has also been made in the 2009 IBC. Within dwelling units and sleeping units of Group R-2 and R-3 occupancies, a handrail is now required only for stairs having four or more risers. more>>

Significant changes to the 2009 International Codes, a series of books that are an invaluable tool to help code officials, architects, engineers and other code users transition to the new codes, are available from the International Code Council. The books are the first support documents published for the 2009 I-Codes and are complemented by a series of seminars. more>>

A modification to laundries was added to the International Plumbing Code. more>>

A clarification to fireblocking requirements has been added to the 2006 International Residential Code. more>>

A modification to wood supporting masonry or concrete has been added to the International Building Code. more>>

A modification to warning signs in Section 2205.6 was added to the International Fire Code. more>>

A modification to braced wall lines and braced wall panels in Section 2308.9.3 was added to the International Building Code. more>>

A modification to the definition of an accessory structure applicable to one- and two-family dwellings as well as townhouses that fall under the jurisdiction of the code was added to the International Residential Code. more>>

An addition to the attachment of asphalt shingles has been added to the International Residential Code. more>>

A modification to compressive or shifting soil has been added to the International Residential Code. more>>

Code Spotlight: Featured Articles

Requirements for drinking fountains are given in Chapter 4 of the 2009 International Plumbing Code (IPC) and in Chapters 11 and 29 of the 2009 International Building Code (IBC). IPC Table 403.1 requires drinking fountains in all occupancies except Groups R-1 and R-4 and Group R-2 apartments. The total number required is based on the occupant load for the area meant to be served. Dispersion is up to the designer/owner, but they are typically located in public areas throughout the building and somewhere close to bathrooms. A new footnote, f, allows for the omission of a drinking fountain in spaces with fifteen or fewer occupants. more>>

In 1965, "regular" gas cost $0.31 a gallon in the U.S. and the average price of a new home was $20,500. That was also the year legislation creating the Medicare and Medicaid programs was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. In the course of developing these programs, it was agreed that health care facilities providing treatment to be reimbursed by the federal government should be required to comply with adequate fire safety standards. Unlike today, however, with the International Building Code serving as the clear national standard, there was no single, comprehensive model code in use across the county. more>>

At last year’s Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ICC members overwhelmingly approved adoption of American National Standards Institute/Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (ANSI/APSP) 7, Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Catch Basins, in the 2009 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC). While the 2006 codes addressed some forms of entrapment, they did not provide protection against hair entrapment, evisceration or mechanical entrapment (of, for example, jewelry or clothing). more>>

Issues Identified within ICC'S Ad Hoc Committee on Terrorism-Resistant Buildings that May Impact Fire Protection Engineering
The International Code Council (ICC) Board of Directors authorized the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Terrorism-Resistant Buildings in mid-2004. The Ad Hoc Committee process has been used frequently by the ICC to enable the devotion of sufficient time and resources to a particular topic or subject area. A call for committee members was posted in July, 2004, and the Ad Hoc Committee convened for the first time in February of 2005 by conference call. About six months into the Committee's efforts, the NIST World Trade Center Study was released to the public (in September, 2005). more>>

As green and sustainable building becomes an important part of our future, with a focus on increasing the efficiency of our resources while reducing the impacts on human health and the environment, we should also ask the question: how does accessibility mesh with these concepts? more>>

Hurricane Katrina taught us many important lessons. One of those is the vulnerability of our buildings to power outages. Sustainability experts brought together by the U.S. Green Building Council in the Fall of 2005 to address Gulf Coast reconstruction incorporated the concept of "passive survivability" into their New Orleans Principles advising that homes and apartment buildings be designed and built to maintain livable conditions in the event of extended loss of power or heating fuel. more>>

An approved code change to the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) clarifies an existing requirement for sizing HVAC equipment: "Heating and cooling equipment shall be sized in accordance with ACCA Manual S based on building loads calculated in accordance with ACCA Manual J or other approved heating and cooling calculation methodologies". more>>

Managing successful facilities and infrastructure projects is getting harder. Costly change orders are the rule, not the exception, and contingencies are under-budgeted. Projects are taking longer and longer to deliver, in part because of the amount of time it takes to get the necessary permits and inspections in a tight economic environment in which jurisdictions are increasingly being asked to do more with less. Read how building information modeling (BIM)—a comprehensive collaboration tool—is helping to change all that. more>>

Hospitals are unique facilities because their designs typically include high levels of accessibility to accommodate people who use wheelchairs or mobility aids. Understanding that building codes provide only minimum requirements, designers and owners often choose to exceed those requirements. more>>;

Even though water-conserving fixtures are becoming mandated for new building designs and replacement work, many highly developed areas have already reached water crisis levels—as evidenced by restrictions or bans on certain uses such as landscape watering. With increasing population growth and industrialization, the use of gray water and rainwater in building designs is the next logical step towards conserving potable water. more>>

At no time in the past have code officials and their staffs been under greater pressure to function effectively and efficiently. Learn how to keep your building department ahead of the curve. more>>

Code Change E22-04/05 sparked a lot of attention because it raised important issues and started a new way of thinking about emergency evacuation. more>>

Special Feature: Industry Articles of Importance

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Single-Story Tilt-Up Panel Design Considerations—Panel Anchorage When Overturning Net Uplift Is Zero
Although tilt-up is well established in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) communities, in many instances professionals are unaware the building method is a type of precast concrete. The American Concrete Institute’s Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-05) Section 2.2 defines precast as any structural concrete element that is cast in one position and moved to a different, final position. The commentary in Chapter 16 of ACI 318 also names tilt-up concrete as precast. Specifically, tilt-up construction is site-cast precast concrete. However, since the term precast in the AEC industry has a very well-defined connotation, use of the word often takes engineers by surprise. What most engineers and architects would refer to as precast is shop-cast precast concrete. more>>

Building Green with Tile
Trying to assign a single definition to the term “green” is a broad task. It is not a static subject, cannot be addressed narrowly, and its definition can vary depending on ecological building objectives, critical current events, and a person’s point of view. Holistically, however, ecological building can be made up of several different categories that might include natural resource conservation, reduced burdens on surrounding environments and habitats, improved human health, sustainability, and affordability. more>>

Drywall Cases Spawn Theories: Many Looking But Few Answers Available
As hundreds of Floridians are complaining of putrid odors, corroded metal and respiratory/nasal problems in their recently built homes, theories are multiplying as to what's happening and why. And it's not, they theorize, solely Chinese drywall's fault. Some say the culprit could be a sulfur-based fungicide that was applied to the drywall to prevent mold while it was shipped overseas. Others argue the gypsum used in the drywall contained higher-than-normal levels of sulfur, or were tainted with waste fly ash or decomposing bacteria. Yet others think the Chinese gypsum mines were contaminated by runoff from nearby farms. Dewell Crews is among those who think they may have discovered the reason. more>>

Impact of Fires on the Built Environment Over the Past 10 Years
During the last 10 years, the reduction in annual home fire deaths has slowed, and the impact of uncontrolled fire on the built environment has focused attention on solutions to the fire challenge. A select group of fires affected the built environment by shaping code writing and code enforcement. Fires in assembly spaces, high-rise office buildings, nursing homes and atrium buildings impacted the fire services, authorities having jurisdiction, code-writing organizations and the general public. more>>

A New Bronze Age: Copper Becomes a Legitimate and Compelling Choice
Everywhere you look in our hygiene-obsessed world there is an abundance of infection control measures. Despite these preventative measures, contaminated surface areas still cause the spread of infection at an alarming rate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved the registration of naturally antimicrobial copper alloys as a supplement to standard preventative measures in eliminating specific disease-causing bacteria. more>>

Think Green to Survive the Recession
After decades at a slow boil, the green building trend erupted into a mainstream global trend in recent years as companies sought to rein in energy costs and become environmentally responsible. Today more than 4.2 billion square feet of America’s commercial space supports the LEED label for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. more>>

Can Sustainability Survive the Recession?
The extent to which the recession has affected the construction industry is clear for all to see. But is there a correlation between the enormous reduction in money currently being spent by clients and the quality of the work that is being procured? To put it another way, is the sustainable option being overlooked as every penny spent comes under ever closer scrutiny? more>>

Large Projects Utilize Popular Plan Review Resource
Building officials from the vacation hotspot of South Padre Island and the fast-growing Dallas suburb of Ennis, Texas, share a common and unexpected bond when it comes to managing the building activities in their respective communities. Building officials and plan reviewers rely on the International Codes to evaluate proposed residential, commercial and industrial facilities. more>>

Expert Tips for Hard-Hit Construction Sector
Times were so good for so long in the construction industry that many contractors were caught off guard by the magnitude of the current recession. The industry may not rebound until 2011, when economists predict the housing market will start to recover. Here are some tips from the author of Construction Contractor's Survival Guide on how construction companies can survive during tough times. more>>

Code Official Alert: New Health Concern in the Walls
Chinese-made drywall imported during the height of the housing boom is suspected of being responsible for the corrosion and failure of metal components, as well as foul odors, in homes in the Gulf Coast region. State and federal health officials are trying to determine whether gases emitted by the drywall are hazardous to humans. more>>

Surviving the Downturn
Much of the trick to surviving (and even prospering) in downturns involves getting your ducks in a row before the slow times hit. Even if you’re already feeling the slowdown, you can still soften its effects. more>>

Building Valuation Data

The International Code Council is pleased to provide the Building Valuation Data (BVD) for its members. The Council publishes the BVD in an effort to provide the most efficient set of information for jurisdictions to use. The BVD is updated in February and August. The Council strongly recommends that all jurisdictions and other interested parties actively evaluate and assess the impact of the BVD table before utilizing it in their current code enforcement activities. Click here for the BVD.