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CODES CORNER

Code Question: Expert Staff Opinions

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

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

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

The following links take you outside the Code Council’s website. We are not responsible for the content and privacy practices of outside websites.

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.