Code check : an illustrated guide to building a safe house

Page 1 1.. -~ 2. - ..., 3. tl ~. soc [), was in 02 parts, D. & D,. increased from 3ft to 511. s & openings near PL 4. exists 'or sites ere positive slope for 1011 is not possible. 5. ::rdosec DeaOW-9raDe spaces need not be habitable/usable to req dampproofing. 6. CncIoseo oeoow-grade spaces need not be habitable/usable to req waterproofing. Page 3 7. This section req's a 1.5 safety factor in design of unrestrained retaining walls. 8. For basement walls to be considered laterally supported: The floor slab must now restrain basement walls, AN D The floor system must be connected to the sill with hardware per a new table, AND The sills must be bolted to the walls per a new table, AND The floors must be blocked full depth within two joist spaces of the wall, AN D Aspect ratios of bldgs with unbalanced loads must be within values of a new table. 9. Dampproofing membranes can be approved if made for CMU w/o parging. 10. Reinforcement must be secured in place, not merely thrown into wet concrete. 11. Reduction to 10% of req'd venting if vapor retarder present has been deleted. 12. Conditioned crawl spaces can now be approved for perimeter insulated crawl space. Page 4 13, Manufacturer's instructions OK for cutting, notching & boring. Page 5 14. Joints in top plates no longer req over studs. Page 6 15. HIB-91 replaced by BCSll-03. 16. Manufacturer's instructions are sufficient for alteration of engineered lumber. 17. Rafter ties defined as being in the lower '13 of the roof elevation. 18. The size & number of req 'd rafter ties has been increased. 19. Collar ties defined as being in the upper '13 of the roof elevation. 20. The min size of collar ties is the same as the former rafter tie size. Page 14 49. The req'd distance past the framing edge is new in the 2006 U PC. 50. The requirement depends on the floor level of the fixt, not the fixt floor. 51. Cleanouts must be the same size as the pipe served in the IRC. Page 15 52. The height above the roof is specified instead of a blank to be filled in by the AHJ. 53. The specified case of a "vertical leg waste fixture drain" has been deleted. 54. The 2003 U PC did not allow any horiz wet venting. 55. This section clarifies where horiz wet vents are allowed. Page 17 56. In 2003, only black pipe was exempt. 57. The I RC recognizes separate ANSI standards for indoor & outdoor connectors. Page 18 58. This change clarifies that hot must be on the left when facing the outlet. 59. The rule for max horiz tailpiece distance is new. 60. The max temperature at a bidet is new in 2006. 61. Openings did not previously have to be larger than 12in x 12in. 62. The max temperature at a tub or hydromassage is new in 2006. 63. The min width of 22in is new to the IRC. 64. This change clarified that the control must be on the individual valve. MECHANICAL Page 19 65. The U PC now recognizes bed/bath closet installations w/ specified conditions. 66. Seismic bracing of water heaters is new to this chapter of the IRC. 67. The 2003 U PC did not include requirements for attic water heaters. Page 20 68. The UMC now recognizes bed/bath closet installations w/ specified conditions. 69. The 03 UMC did not contain any specific requirements for attic installations. 70. 50ft distance not allowed in 2003 even if passage 6ft high. 71. Condensing furnaces req a drain pan if leaking condensate would cause damage. 72. Requirement that ducts may not prevent crawl space access is new in 2006 UMC. Page 7 21. Ext walls have performance requirement to prevent water accumulation. 22. The term water-resistive replaces weather-resistant. 23. Flashing now req'd to extend to ext surface or to water-resistive membrane. 24. Additional ASTM standards referenced in the requirements for stucco. Page 21 74. Screen requirement is new to the 2006 UMC. 75. Alternate material to galv sheet metal now req 's equivalent strength & rigidity. Page 22 25. A new performance requirement was added for stucco water-resistive barriers. 26. A water-resistive membrane is req'd behind vinyl siding. 27. A new table is provided for masonry veneer thickness, shear, and tie -down forces. 28. Conditioned attics are now recognized in lieu of ventilated attics. Page 8 29. This requirement refers to local history rather than climate tables. Page 9 30. The max threshold height applies to all ext doors, not just req'd exits. 31. Unfinished basements >200sq.1I now req secondary egress even if not habitable. 32. Basements for mechanical eqpt and <200sq.ft are exempt from this new rule. 33. Previous restrictions on green board in tubs/showers only applied to vapor retarders. 34. Cement board is prescribed as tile backer in tub and shower areas. Page 10 35. All exhaust fans (exc whole house fans) are req'd to extend to the ext. 36. New requirement conforms with CPSC recommendations for window guards. 37. All sidelites within prescribed proximity zone req'd safety glass in the 2003 IRC. Page 11 38. Previous editions req 'd a point of control at top & bottom of all interior stairs. 39. Including garage stairs as interior stairs is a clarification of the rule. Page 12 40. Holes for wires must also be caulked (fireblocked) (also on p.28). 41. The requirement for height of chimney fireblocking was deleted-flat sheet metal OK. 42. Firestop penetration systems used when pipes must penetrate firewalls. 43. Detached garages closer than 3ft req protection in the area <3ft from house. 44. Central station fire alarm systems have different standards than house smoke alarms. 45. Jhe exemption for work only on the ext is new. 46. Section clarified to omit areas with <5ft in computing area of req'd space. PLUMBING Page 13 47. The duration of the test not specified in the 2003 edition. 48. The min size of a shower drain & trap changed from 2in. to 1'12 in. 76. Strike plates now req'd for protection of vents. Page 23 77. Water-detection devices allowed in lieu of a pan or a pan drain. 78. The 2003 UMC prohibited all unvented space heaters. 79. Booster fans only allowed when specific to the installed dryer. 80. The 2003 IRC did not req the termination to be 3ft from other openings. ELECTRICAL Page 24 81. The requirement for securing backfed breakers is new to the IRC. 82. Non-sunlight-resistant conductors allowed if protected with a listed covering. Page 25 83. The IRC now includes this requirement that has long been part of the UL standards. 84. Labeling must be specific-"generallighting" is no longer an accepted label. 85. All breakers have this max height, not just breakers used as switches. 86. Reinforcing steel used in new construction must be part of the grounding system. Page 26 87. Listed microwave range hoods with cord/plug connections req their own circuit. 88. Diagrams explain when countertops behind a range req a recep. 89. Diagrams explain when countertops behind corner sinks req a recep. Page 27 90. Receptacles within 6ft of laundry sinks req G FCI protection. 91. "Combination type" AFCls detect more possible arcs than the "branch feeder" type. 92. The IRC prohibits dimmers controlling receptacles. Th is was a 2002 NEC rule. 93. Shower lights req listing for damp or wet locations, depending on shower spray. Page 28 94. This rule has been expanded to include furring strips. 95. If more than 2 cables pass through a caulked hole, they must be derated. 96. Conduit & tubing are now specified as possible protection methods. 97. This protection method req's a nonmetallic bushing on the protective raceways. Page 29 98. I RC allows recep @ >5ft & <10ft if space between house & pool is restricted. 99. IRC req's GFCI for all 15A & 20A receps for pool pump motors. 73. The min in the 2003 IRC was R-5. TOP 100 CODE CHANGES -------,.~ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- 100. Bonding is only req'd for metal parts when in contact with circulating water. CODE CHANGES 3