The Massachusetts State Board of Building Regulations and Standards expects to issue the 9th Edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code during the second quarter of 2016, after completion of the public comment and hearing process. The new codes will incorporate the 2015 editions of the International Building Code, the International Existing Building Code, the International Energy Conservation Code, and by reference, the International Fire, International Mechanical and International Residential Codes, all with Massachusetts amendments. The 8th Edition, originally adopted in 2010, is based on the 2009 versions of the I-Codes but was subsequently amended to incorporate the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.
The state's update to the 2015 I-Codes, particularly the International Mechanical Code, is drawing praise from code users and members of the industry.
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has consistently led the nation with building safety codes and forward-looking sustainable energy policies," said Don Chaisson, President of the Air Conditioning Association of New England. "Now, I am happy to see the state is implementing the 2015 International Codes, especially for our industry the 2015 International Mechanical Code."
Chaisson said some mechanical code changes to look for are:
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