International Plumbing Code changes due soon

By Ron George,CPD,
President, Ron George Design & Consulting Svcs.

The deadline for code change proposals to the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and the International Plumbing Code (IPC) is January 3, 2012, so, by the time you read this column, you will have just over a month until the code changes are due. Better order your 2012 codes now if you plan on proposing a code change for the 2015 editions.

The International Code Council (ICC) board has modified the code development process by reviewing changes it has made to code change procedures over the past few years. This review led to further refinements to the process. The changes include splitting the 13 existing International Codes into two groups and establishing one cycle of code development for each group between each edition of those codes.

Code development on the first set of codes, Group A, will be heard in 2012. Group A codes include:

The International Building Code (IBC),
IBC-Fire Safety (Chapters 7, 8, 9, 14, 26 and App. D)
IBC-General (Chapters 2 – 6, 12, 13, 27 – 34, App. A, B, C, F, H, K)
IBC-Means of Egress (Chapters 10, 11 and App. E)
IBC-Structural (Chapters: 15 – 25 and App. G, I, J, L, M)
International Fuel Gas Code
International Mechanical Code
International Plumbing Code
International Private Sewage Disposal Code

Code development for Group B codes will be heard in 2013. Group B codes include:

Administrative Provisions (Chapter 1 all codes except IRC, IECC , Performance Code, designated definitions and referenced standards administrative update)
International Energy Conservation Code
International Existing Building Code
International Fire Code
International Green Construction Code Committees:
IgCC—Energy/Water Committee (Chapter: 6 and 7)
IgCC—General Committee (Chapters 2 – 5, 8 – 11 and Appendices)
International Performance Code
International Property Maintenance Code
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code
International Zoning Code
International Residential Code
IRC-B (Chapters: 1 – 10 and App. E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, O)
IRC-M/P (Chapters: 12 – 33 and App. I, P)
IRC-E (Chapter 11 – see Note)
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code

The purpose of having one cycle of code development for each new edition of the International Codes is to reduce the amount of time spent at code hearings. The new schedule also allows the final action hearings for each group of codes to be held in conjunction with one of the ICC’s annual business meetings.

This change has resulted in shorter code hearing schedules, raising concerns about the time available for consideration of each code change proposal brought forth. The code change committees will consider each proposal only one time between editions of the codes. Proponents are allowed only three minutes to explain the reason for proposed changes; even less time is allotted for rebuttals.

In order to allow more time for discussion of some of the more complicated issues, the ICC board of directors created a Code Technology Committee (CTC) in 2006. The board can assign specific topics to the CTC for further study. In some cases, these assignments are made as a result of a recommendation from the ICC code change committee.

ICC establishes code action committees (CAC)

Extending the concept of the CTC, the ICC has established four discipline-specific code action committees to “act as a forum to deal with complex technical issues ahead of the code development process, identify emerging issues and draft proposed code changes of importance to the membership.” Two of these committees with potential significance to our industry are the Plumbing Code Action Committee and the Residential Code Action Committee.

A third CAC of potential significance to our industry will be the ICC Sustainability, Energy & High-Performance Building Code Action Committee. This committee will be responsible for the International Energy Conservation Code and the International Green Construction Code, both of which are Group B codes. A meeting of the committee will be scheduled in the near future. Stay tuned to the ICC website for details.

ICC retains assembly voting

The ICC board of directors voted to retain a number of other changes that were made in recent years to the ICC code change process. These include retaining the use of assembly voting at the code development hearings and continuing to restrict the final vote on the content of the International Codes to representatives of active ICC members who are responsible for the enforcement of these codes by a local jurisdiction.

Although the board has established a goal of putting into place remote voting by 2015, it is not anticipated that it will be used during the 2012 code change cycle.

International Green Construction Code grows

A number of U.S. jurisdictions have adopted all or part of the IgCC as a green design option for commercial buildings within their jurisdiction. These include the states of Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon and Rhode Island, as well as the cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Ariz., and Richmond, Wash. In some of these jurisdictions, such as Florida, use of the IgCC is limited to publicly owned buildings. Use of the IgCC is optional, so compliance is not required. However, if a building owner or designer within these jurisdictions wishes to provide a green building, they may use the IgCC to establish the requirements.

Ron George is president of Plumb-Tech Design and Consulting Services LLC. He has served as chairman of the International Residential Plumbing & Mechanical Code Committee. Visit www.Plumb-TechLLC.com, email Ron@Plumb-TechLLC.com or phone 734/755-1908.