Changes Proposed for ICC Group B Building Codes

The 2016 International Code Council’s (ICC) code development cycle began last week with the release of the proposed code changes to the Group B codes which includes:

• Building an Existing Building Codes (Structural chapters) 

• International Residential Code (IRC) -Building and Energy chapters

• International Fire Code (IFC) 

• Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

• Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)

The Committee Action Hearings (CAH) will commence in Louisville, KY, from April 17-27, 2016 where the ICC Committee will hear testimony on proposed changes. Accepted proposals will then be heard at the Public Action Hearings on Oct 19-25, 2016 in Kansas City, MO, where the public building and fire officials will vote. NRMCA and its allies will represent industry interest in code changes and support amendments to the national codes and standards where they are deficient. As expected, a strong wood testimony for reduction of safety limits to promote combustible construction and sprinkler interests will likely be heard. NRMCA will also address any energy proposals that rolls back the stringency of the requirements in the IECC; proposals to make the building envelope requirements more stringent and those affecting concrete such as LCA, service life and operational use phase.