Building Codes

[Joe_Carrick]

In California we use modified versions of the IBC & RBC. 

Our current versions is 2022 CBC & CRC.

 

Are there any jurisdictiions (States, Provinces, Countries) using anything other than the IBC & RBC?

[rlackore]

Wisconsin uses its own residential code called the Uniform Dwelling Code. It's quite abbreviated compared to the IRC. Whenever there is talk of adopting a model code, there is tremendous resistance from contractors. It's also very difficult to enact code changes due to a convoluted legislative process.

[kMoquin]

2021 I-Codes for Maine

[Joe_Carrick]

 

This is an example of the codes list I use in San Diego County.  Can you provide a list your jurisdiction requires?

I'm trying to create a comprehensive macro for as many locals as possible.

Edited Wednesday at 01:20 PM by Joe_Carrick

[Joe_Carrick]

3 minutes ago, kMoquin said:

2021 I-Codes for Maine

How often are the codes updated?  Is it regular every 3-4 years?

[Joe_Carrick]

28 minutes ago, rlackore said:

Wisconsin uses its own residential code called the Uniform Dwelling Code.

We used to have the "UBC - Uniform Building Code" in California.  Is your code derived from that?

[MoeGia]

Massachusetts follows the 2021 IBC & IRC with Massachusetts Amendments.  Previous to July 2024, we followed the 2015 codes.  They alternate updating the energy code and building codes so we're always dealing with some code changes.  Energy codes are further dictated by towns (can pick between 3 models).

[rlackore]

43 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

We used to have the "UBC - Uniform Building Code" in California.  Is your code derived from that?

No idea, but I doubt it. It was created during the Carter years but wasn't enforced state-wide until the 2000's. It's a Frankenstein: our UDC is written into the Wisconsin Administrative Code, so any changes are an act of legislation - much more difficult than simply adopting a model code by reference.

[Joe_Carrick]

34 minutes ago, rlackore said:

It was created during the Carter years but wasn't enforced state-wide until the 2000's. It's a Frankenstein: 

Undoubtedly it was derived from the UBC or BOCA.  I remember the time clearly and while I no longer have a copy of UBC or BOCA it appears your code is very much a version of one of those codes.

As you say, it's a Frankenstein.

 

The IBC wasn't in existence prior to 2000.

[Joe_Carrick]

1 hour ago, MoeGia said:

Massachusetts follows the 2021 IBC & IRC with Massachusetts Amendments.

Hi Maureen,

California updates every 3 years.  Do you know if Massachusetts is going to adopt a similar strategy?  The last time was evidently an increment of 6 years.  

Edited Wednesday at 03:22 PM by Joe_Carrick

[SHCanada2]

Canada has its own building code with no references to any other building code

 

And then some provinces have their own version of that building code. It comes out every 5? years. And there is the National electrical code, and national plumbing code, and fire code

[Joe_Carrick]

50 minutes ago, SHCanada2 said:

Canada has its own building code with no references to any other building code

 

And then some provinces have their own version of that building code. It comes out every 5? years. And there is the National electrical code, and national plumbing code, and fire code

What would you place on your title sheet as the code list?

Can you post a screen shot?

Edited Wednesday at 05:05 PM by Joe_Carrick

[SHCanada2]

I'm not at my CA computer, but I provide a blanket caveat, because the time of the plans is not necessarily the time of the permit.

 

Where I do specify a particular code (energy compliance), I list out the sections, but now that you mention it, I should qualify it as which edition/year. It gets a little tricky sometimes because the govt will issue clarification bulletins post the issuance or the local jurisdiction will issue variances. In the variance case, I will stipulate the variance order #, but not always, if it is so widespread that everyone knows. 

 

ALL CONSTRUCTION MUST COMPLY WITH NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (ALBERTA EDITION) & CANADIAN ELECTRICAL CODE(CEC)  IN EFFECT AT TIME OF 
PERMIT
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT EXHAUSTIVE, BUT ARE PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE

 

NBC ALBERTA (2023) 

Division B, 9.9.4.2. Fire Separations for Exits - 2) Where an exit is located in a house with a secondary suite including their common spaces, 
the exit shall be protected by a continuous smoke-tight barrier of not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board installed on a) both sides of walls 
separating the exit from the remainder of the building, and b) the underside of floor-ceiling framing separating the exit from the remainder of 
the building. (See Sentence 9.10.9.3.(2) for closures) 
Division B, 9.9.10.1. Bedroom windows shall provide a minimum unobstructed opening of 0.35 sq. m. (3.77 sq. ft.) with no dimension less
than 380mm (15"). Window shall be openable from the inside without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge and without the removal of 
sashes or hardware and maintain the required opening during an emergency without the need for additional support.  
Division B, 9.10.8.3. Fire-Resistance Ratings for Walls, Columns and Arches Light-frame walls, columns, arches and beams as well as 
loadbearing steel elements that support floors between dwelling units in a house with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall 
be protected by not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board. 
Division B, 9.10.9.3.(2) Openings to be Protected with Closures - Doors in smoke-tight barriers shall a) be solid-core, wood doors at least 45 
mm thick, and b) have a self-closing device. 
Division B, 9.10.9.14. Walls and floor-ceiling framing in a house with a secondary suite that separate dwelling units from each other or
dwelling units from ancillary spaces and common spaces to be protected by a continuous smoke-tight barrier of not less than 12.7 mm thick 
gypsum board installed on a) both sides of walls, and b) the underside of floor-ceiling framing. 
Division B, 9.10.10.4. Location of Fuel-Fired Appliances - 2) Except as required in the appliance installation standards referenced in 
Sentences 6.2.1.4.(1), 9.33.5.2.(1) and 9.33.5.3.(1), fuel-fired space-heating appliances, space-cooling appliances, service water heaters and 
laundry appliances need not be separated from the remainder of the building as required in Sentence (1), b) where the appliances i) serve a 
house with a secondary suite including their common spaces, and ii) are located in a service room where both sides of any wall assemblies 
and the underside of any floor-ceiling framing separating this room from both dwelling units or their common spaces are protected by a 
continuous smoke-tight barrier consisting of not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board. 
Division B, 9.10.19.1. Required Smoke Alarms - 1) Smoke alarms conforming to CAN/ULC-S531, 'Smoke-Alarms,' shall be installed in c) 
ancillary spaces and common spaces not in dwelling units in a house with a secondary suite. 
Division B, 9.11.1.1. (2) Where a house contains a secondary suite, each dwelling unit shall be separated from every other space in the house 
in which noise may be transmitted by a) construction conforming to this article b) construction providing an STC rating of not less than 43, or 
c) a separating assembly and adjoining constructions, which together provide an ASTC rating of not less than 40. 
Division B, 9.32.3.9.(7) Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Where CO alarms are installed in a house with a secondary suite including their common 
and service spaces, the CO alarms shall be wired so that the activation of any one CO alarm causes all CO alarms within the house with a 
secondary suite including their common spaces to sound. 
Division B, 9.33.1.1.(3) Air duct distribution systems serving one of the dwelling units in a house with a secondary suite shall not be directly 
interconnected with other parts of the house. 
Division C, 2.2.10.9. Responsibility for Compliance 1) Neither the issuance of a permit nor inspections made by the authority having 
jurisdiction shall in any way relieve the owner of a building from full responsibility for carrying out the construction or having the construction 
carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Safety Codes Act and its Regulations, this Code, or the permit, including compliance 
with any special conditions required by the authority having jurisdiction.

[para-CAD]

W. WA state

I know you didn't need Design Criteria, but here it is anyway...........it varies slightly by AHJ here (snow loads and seismic mostly)

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:52 PM by para-CAD

[Joe_Carrick]

14 minutes ago, para-CAD said:

I know you didn't need Design Criteria, but here it is anyway...........it varies slightly by AHJ here (snow loads and seismic mostly)

Thanks. 

Live Loads and Design Criteria I handle separately (as Structural).  

My "Codes" macro will list the codes for Washington as you show - without the indication of what sections are not adopted.

[SteveNovato]

In the San Francisco Bay Area it seems that every city and county wants additional items from their jurisdiction. I finally added a line "any and all codes adopted by this jurisdiction". Seems to work so far...

 

[MoeGia]

19 hours ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Hi Maureen,

California updates every 3 years.  Do you know if Massachusetts is going to adopt a similar strategy?  The last time was evidently an increment of 6 years.  

Previous to 2015, we were on the 2009 code, so every 6 years seems right.  I don't know if there's any plan to update on a tighter schedule.

[richoffan]

Here's a few from recent projects Joe

I have no idea how you could pull this off but good luck to ya. Denver, for example, started reviewing plans submitted after June 13th using the "new" codes which don't go into effect until Dec31st

and try scheduling inspections on the last one

 

 

 

Larimer County Colorado

2021 International Residential Code (IRC)

2021 International Building Code (IBC)

2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC)

2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC)

2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)

2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)

2023 National Electrical Code (NEC)

 

Building Code St Charles IL

The City utilizes the following codes in the review of building permits:

*Codes with City amendments

•          2021 International Residential Code* - City Amendments

•          2021 International Pool & Spa Code* - City Amendments

•          2021 International Mechanical Code* - City Amendments

•          2021 International Fuel Gas Code* - City Amendments

•          2020 National Electric Code (NEC)* - City Amendments

•          Illinois State Plumbing Code (2014)

•          2021 Illinois / International Energy Conservation Code

•          2021 International Existing Building Code* - City Amendments

•          2021 International Fire Code* - City Amendments

•          2018 Illinois Accessibility Code

City Codes

•          Building Codes (Title 15) - To view all adopted building codes and City amendments

 

And for stepping out of your “comfort zone”

FC 3-260-06F Air Force Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Evaluation of Snow and Ice Airfields in Antarctica

[Joe_Carrick]

There are basically two issues I need to make this work for all states.

• What name does the state use for codes? (State Name or "International" or ????)
• What code year? and how often updated

Any info on those items would be appreciated.

[javatom]

This can get complicated very quickly.  Many towns and counties have their own addendums.  In Coeur d'Alene, ID (Kootenai County) we use IRC code books.  The local addendums however, are a bit more restrictive.  One example is the requirement for an engineered calculation for any opening over 6'.  I imagine every local jurisdiction has a version of their own local addendums.

[richoffan]

That's the thing Joe, not all states use state wide codes. For example, Chicago has it's own Chicago codes completely independent of Illinois state codes. Denver and Denver County are different from other jurisdictions in Colorado. I run across this a lot. It's become my habit to check before starting any project, certainly before starting construction docs. Thankfully most jurisdictions' building department websites post them. Is it possible to create a link if you populate the jurisdiction? I've also started adding QR codes to plans with very good feedback. Another "confuse the innocent" scenario I've come across several times is an address located in one jurisdiction but under a different building department jurisdiction using a different or newer / older code or worse "local amendments"

[Joe_Carrick]

16 minutes ago, richoffan said:

That's the thing Joe, not all states use state wide codes.

Not a problem as long as I have a list of jurisdictions that are different from "International" or "State". 

Cities, Counties, Provences & Territories can be handled very easily.  I would add those as i find what they are.

 

Currently I know about Denver &  Denver County in Colorado and St Charles in Louisiane.

I've also accommodated the Canadian Provences & Territories.

 

Some States jus adopt a version of the International codes while others use a State name (often but not always a modified version of the International Code)

Edited 13 hours ago by Joe_Carrick

[robdyck]

Can you incorporate the idiosyncrasies of a single building inspector who decides to interpret codes differently than any other jurisdiction, or even any other inspector in their own office? And any written code note that we could include on a plan has to allow for inconsistent application and enforcement of the aforementioned idiosyncrasies.

[Joe_Carrick]

1 hour ago, robdyck said:

Can you incorporate the idiosyncrasies of a single building inspector who decides to interpret codes differently than any other jurisdiction, or even any other inspector in their own office? And any written code note that we could include on a plan has to allow for inconsistent application and enforcement of the aforementioned idiosyncrasies.

No, that can't be done.  It's the responsibility of the design professional to make the arguements supporting his/her interpretation of the code.  Building Inspectors and Plan Checkers are not infallible.  I've had many cases in the last 55 years where they interpreted code sections incorrectly.  This happens with almost every project.  In post Covid California it's even worse because most plan review is being farmed out to contract plan check firms.   If you let them get away with it then you just have to live with what they say.