ICC eNews

Code Update: Significant Code Changes

Excerpted from the Significant Changes to the 2006 International Codes series.

The Significant Changes to the 2006 International Codes series has been developed by the International Code Council and published by Thomson-Delmar Learning to accommodate the transition from the 2003 to the 2006 editions of the International Codes. To purchase books in the series, visit the Code Council website.

International Residential Code

SUBJECT: Fireblocking Required
CHANGE TYPE: Clarification

R502.13 Fireblocking Required. Fireblocking shall be provided ~~in wood frame floor construction and floor ceiling assemblies~~ in accordance with Section R602.8.

CHANGE SIGNIFICANCE:

The 2003 International Residential Code (IRC) text requires fireblocking for wood-frame floor and floor-ceiling assemblies on the basis of details of Section 602.8. In Section 602.8 there are no criteria for fireblocking for floor and floor-ceiling assemblies. The code never intended to require fireblocking in floor and floor-ceiling assemblies; however, the reference to Section 602.8 led many code users to interpret the code to mean that the criteria outlined in Section 602.8 for walls also applies to floor and floor-ceiling assemblies. The phrase that has been deleted implied that there were such fireblocking requirements for floor and floor-ceiling assemblies. The 2006 IRC language in this section is intended to clarify that even though there are fireblocking requirements in the code, the application is based on the scoping in Section 602.8 and applies to walls and conditions specifically designated in that section.