Update on the New York State Building Code

The New York State Code Council is in the process of reviewing the New York State Building Code and is considering an update to the code.

New York is currently working off of the 2006 version of the code, despite the fact that it was updated by the International Code Council in 2009 and 2012. Using the 2006 code has presented economic and building challenges for developers of chip fab and other high tech industries, as the 2006 code does not refer to such industries and all of the high tech development that has taken place during the last decade.

On August 20, 2014, the council met and heard testimony from NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca on behalf of NYSAFC, AFDSNY, FASNY, and the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association asking the council to adopt the 2015 version of the International Residential Code (IRC).

Adoption of the 2015 IRC would include a requirement for the installation of residential sprinkler systems in all new one- and two-family homes, as well as in any home that undergoes substantial (more than 50 percent) reconstruction.

After hearing this testimony along with comments from fire marshals and code enforcement officers, the council agreed to move beyond consideration of the 2012 code and start the process of moving to adopt the 2015 code. The process of review and consideration will take approximately one year.

The council action was a positive step for the fire service and advocates of residential sprinklers, but it does not ensure that sprinkler systems will be a code requirement. The opponents of the residential sprinkler requirement will have an opportunity to advocate for an amendment to the 2015 IRC to eliminate the requirement.

The next meeting of the council is November 18, 2014.