January 11, 2002—The International Codes for buildings continue to be adopted by jurisdictions across the country. The International Code Council’s (ICC) Web site includes up-to-date tracking of the extent of adoption of each of the International Codes. The 2001 Code Development Cycle concluded in October 2001. Significant code change proposals and their outcomes include the following:
- Minimum Plumbing Fixtures (P24-01): A proposal to increase the minimum number of water closets and lavatories in small business occupancies was rejected for the third consecutive year, as the International Plumbing Code (IPC) requirements were deemed sufficient. Using the occupant loads calculated for means of egress, and assuming a 50-50 male/female ratio, the IPC requires: 1 water closet per 50 male occupants, 1 water closet per 50 female occupants, 1 lavatory per 80 male occupants, and 1 lavatory per 80 female occupants. This allows a 10,000 square foot business occupancy with a men’s room containing 1 water closet and 1 lavatory, and a women’s room containing 1 water closet and 1 lavatory.
- Mandatory Sprinkler Thresholds (F37-01, Item 1): An erroneously modified proposal to substantially expand the mandatory installation of sprinklers in business occupancies was disapproved.
- Elevator Lobbies (FS14-01, FS15-01, FS-16-01): All proposals seeking to modify or eliminate the current International Building Code (IBC) requirements for elevator lobbies were disapproved. The IBC continues to require elevator lobbies (or additional smoke-resisting elevator doors) only in buildings more than four stories tall, where elevators open into fire-rated corridors. Sprinklered office buildings are not required to have fire-rated corridors; therefore, the current provisions have little or no impact on office buildings.
- Remoteness of exits (E30-01, E31-01, E32-01): Several proposals sought to modify the code provisions addressing the mandatory separation between multiple exits. Historically, BOCA has allowed a more significant reduction in exit separation distance in sprinklered buildings than did the other model codes. A code change was approved that accepted the previously used BOCA provision, allowing exits in sprinklered buildings to be separated by a minimum distance of 1/4 the diagonal of the area served, from the previous IBC provision of 1/3 the diagonal.
- Romex Wiring (EL4-01): The ICC Electrical Code amends the NFPA National Electric Code (NFPA 70) to allow the use of nonmetallic-sheathed cable (“romex”) in all buildings.
Based on a report from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
