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Insights Category: Code Updates

With the 2018 and 2021 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) being more widely adopted, it is important to understand the specific changes, eliminations, or revisions that may occur to code sections within each respective edition. This blog post focuses on significant changes of those two code editions associated with fire protection systems that will impact the design of open parking garages.

First, there is now an area threshold (48,000 gsf) above which sprinkler protection is required for open parking garages (2021 IBC, Section 903.2.10). In the two previous editions of the IBC, sprinkler coverage has been permitted to be omitted from open parking garages, regardless of area n a related note, the 2018 IBC provisions that once allowed the omission of an automatic sprinkler system within open parking garages in high rise buildings or open parking garages greater than 55 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access have been eliminated from the 2021 IBC (IBC Section 403.3, 903.2.11.3). These are important code updates, as the omission of a sprinkler system within an open parking garage was once a key benefit of pursuing an open parking garage design rather than an enclosed parking garage.

The other significant change relates to standpipes in parking garages. Various exception language used to exist in Section 905.3.1 regarding required types of standpipe (Class I or III), whether it could be manual or automatic, and whether it could be wet- or dry-pipe. The 2021 IBC now simply permits Class I standpipes to be installed in parking garages, regardless of height, and effectively leaves the wet/dry and manual/automatic provisions to NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems, which is adopted via the IBC and otherwise addresses such matters.

Of course, designers always need to consider local amendments or laws which may modify such requirements, such as M.G.L’s in MA, which also include provisions on these subjects.

On February 17, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (BFPR) published and promulgated a new edition of 527 CMR 12.00, the Massachusetts Electric Code. 527 CMR 12.00 is an amended version of the 2023 Edition of the National Electric Code (NEC), produced and published by the NFPA as NFPA 70. The new version of 527 CMR 12.00 is effective March 1, 2023 and applies to all electrical permits applied for following this date.

Notably, the new edition of the 2023 NEC includes changes relating to Energy Storage Systems (Article 706) and the interconnection between various types of on-site power supplies (e.g. electric utility power, storage batteries, PV systems, etc.), GFCI and emergency disconnect requirements in residential electrical systems, hazardous locations in industrial cannabis facilities, and much more.

Massachusetts-specific amendments in the new version of 527 CMR 12.00 address wiring protection, installation methods, and materials (Chapters 2 & 3), GFCI protection for certain appliance types (which was addressed by an emergency amendment passed on January 26, 2023, under the previous version of 527 CMR 12.00), and Article 700, Section 10(D) regarding protection of emergency system feeder circuits in areas protected by an approved fire protection system, to name a few.

For any project that necessitates an electrical permit, note that the applicable Massachusetts Electrical Code vests with the application date of the electrical install permit, rather than the date a building code permit may have been applied for.

 

As outlined in the MA Fire Code Update Insights Post, the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations approved a new edition of 527 1.00 CMR, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, which went into effect as of December 9, 2022.

As part of this adoption, code users are now referenced to the 2022 Edition of NFPA 241 when it comes to construction fire safety. This new edition includes a restructuring of the previously applicable 2013 Edition of NFPA 241 and brings in many new code requirements that may change the manner in which construction managers will price, schedule, and manage risk on their projects.  Stay tuned for future Insights posts outlining specific impactful changes as to how buildings are built in Massachusetts.

Have questions on how these changes may impact your project already under construction or seeking a building permit soon? Request additional information at info@crcfire.com.

As of December 9th, 2022, a new fire code has taken effect in Massachusetts. 527 CMR. 1.00 Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code is based on the 2021 Edition of NFPA 1 with several Massachusetts specific amendments. Any permits pulled after this date are subject to compliance with the new code. The authority having jurisdiction has the authority to allow a compliance alternative in the event that strict prescriptive code compliance is not feasible, and the intent of the code is met by the proposed design.

The MA Amendments and a memo prepared by the State Fire Marshal summarizing the major changes can be downloaded from the State website at the following link.

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-fire-code

It is also expected that the new electrical code (527 CMR 12.00) will be adopted in January of 2023, based on the 2023 Edition of NFPA 70 with Massachusetts specific amendments. A draft of the proposed amendments can be downloaded from the State website at the following link.

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-electrical-code

Code Red Consultants will continue to monitor these code adoptions and provide updates as more information is released. For additional information or request for assistance on your project, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

 

Our previous post in November 2021, “Mass Timber – Exposed Wood in Type IV-B Construction”, provided insight into the allowances for exposed mass timber elements, specifically with Type IV-B construction, based on the 2021 IBC.

The proposal G147-21 has been approved as submitted for changes to Section 602.4.2.2.2 to be included in the 2024 IBC, expanding the allowable percentage of exposed mass timber elements in dwelling units or fire areas of Type IV-B buildings. The approved provisions are as follows:

  • Ceilings are permitted to expose an area less than or equal to 100% of the floor area.
  • Walls and attached columns are permitted to expose an area less than or equal to 40% of the floor area.
  • A mix of both exposed walls and ceilings are permitted, using a mixed unprotected area equation, provided in Section 602.4.2.2.3.

This code change follows the recommendations from the ICC Tall Wood Building Ad-Hoc Committee, based on tests from the Research Institute of Sweden with fully exposed mass timber ceilings demonstrating satisfactory results with respect to performance objectives set for these building materials.

It should be noted that the 2024 IBC has not been finalized, and the base code will not be adopted for years; however, the approval of this code change provides opportunities for potential variances to allow for more exposed mass timber elements in Type IV-B buildings. For additional information or request for assistance on your project, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

 

 

At the most recent Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters meeting, the Board voted to finalize the proposed amendments for 248 CMR 10.00. The promulgation of such code will likely be as soon as 2023.

Draft amendments were discussed in the Board’s April 2022 open listening meeting. Some of the draft changes include:

  • In places other than residential, restrooms will have a travel distance of 400 feet and in multi-story buildings, access to the restroom is limited to one vertical story.
  • New minimum plumbing fixture factors for places including greenhouses, bed & breakfasts, and public beaches.

These updates are not yet finalized, however may impact designs so designers should be mindful of its approaching promulgation.

Code Red will continue to monitor the adoption process of the next edition of 248 CMR 10.00 and update this post as more information becomes available. For additional information or request for assistance on your project, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

The Massachusetts Electrical Code Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the 2023 National Electric Code (NEC) for amendments and eventual adoption as the 527 CMR 12.00:  Massachusetts Electrical Code. The 2023 NEC could be applicable as soon as January 2023.

Projects should be mindful that the applicable Massachusetts Electrical Code vests with the application of the electrical install permit rather than the building code permit.

Code Red Consultants will continue to monitor this review process and update as adoption dates are finalized.  For additional information or request for assistance on your project, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

The current building and fire codes that are applicable in Connecticut are based on the 2015 Editions of the International Code Council (ICC) documents. In 2020, the State was in the process of moving towards the next version of the codes based on the 2018 ICC documents; however, this was put on hold due to COVID-19. Two years later, they have shifted their original intent and are in the process of moving to the following codes, effective October 1, 2022:

  • 2022 Connecticut State Building Code (CSBC)
  • 2022 Connecticut State Fire Safety Code (CSFSC)
  • 2022 Connecticut State Fire Prevention Code (CSFPC)

These codes will adopt and amend the following national standards:

  • 2021 International Building Code (IBC) by the ICC
  • 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) by the ICC
  • 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by the ICC
  • 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) by the ICC
  • 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) by the ICC
  • 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) by the ICC
  • 2021 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC) by the ICC
  • 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) by NFPA
  • 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities by the ICC
  • 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) by the ICC
  • 2021 NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code by the NFPA
  • 2021 NFPA 1 – Fire Code by the NFPA

Historically, a concurrency period has not been provided in CT when switching code editions without approval of a state modification. There have been discussions about offering one for this cycle, however, no formal word has been provided at this time.

 

For jurisdictions that adopt the 2018 Edition of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, there are new means of escape requirements for New Apartment Buildings per Chapter 30 unless specifically amended.  Grab bars are now required for all bathing fixtures including bathtubs, bathtub-shower combinations, and showers in New Apartment Buildings.   There is an exception that would allow the grab bars to be omitted if the bathing fixture is a roll-in shower with slip resistant floor.

This requirement is a means of escape requirement to ensure safe walking conditions out of a bathing fixture that has a threshold of more than ½” and flooring that is not slip resistant.  This grab bar requirement found in Chapter 30 of NFPA 101 is in addition to grab bars that may be required for accessibility compliance within the bathroom.

If you have questions on means of escape grab bars and the applicability to your project, please reach out to our office at info@crcfire.com to find out how we can assist.

There are several reasons developers and architects are contemplating using Mass Timber for their next project – most notably sustainability, speed and ease of construction and reduced weight of materials. An additional benefit remaining at the forefront of Mass Timber is the exciting aesthetic that comes with exposed wood beams, columns, ceilings, and walls. Given this element, understanding the allowances and limitations of the new Type IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C construction types in the 2021 IBC is important, with each type carrying a prescriptive requirement related to the amount of exposed wood.

Type IV-C construction provides the most opportunity to expose the Mass Timber elements in the future code, is allowed to have all walls, ceilings, and structure be 100% exposed, provided that the required fire-resistance ratings for the building are achieved. At the other end of the spectrum, Type IV-A construction is required to have all wood concealed behind gypsum wallboard, as a trade-off for superior building heights (which can reach up to 18 stories for most occupancies).

In the middle, Type IV-B construction is allowed a partial exposure of floors and ceilings. The Type IV-B exposure allowance is approximately 30% across walls and ceilings, with specific regulations as follows:

  • Exposed ceilings, including attached beams, are limited to a maximum area equal to 20 percent of the floor area in any dwelling unit or fire area.
  • Exposed walls, including attached columns, are limited to a maximum area equal to 40 percent of the floor area in any dwelling unit or fire area.
  • Where both ceilings and walls have exposed portions, the exposure is required to comply with the equation shown below. This equation requires the ratio of total exposed ceiling area (Utc) to allowable exposed ceiling area (Uac) plus the ratio of total exposed wall area (Utw) to allowable exposed wall area (Uaw) to be less than one. (If this approach seems familiar, it is the same concept that is used for separated mixed-use occupancy area calculations in Chapter 5.)

The exposed ceiling area is required to include beams, and the exposed wall area is required to include columns. However, beams and columns that are not an integral part of floor/ceiling or wall assemblies, respectively, do not count toward these calculations, and are permitted to be exposed.

It should be noted that the 2021 IBC will not be applicable in Massachusetts until the 10th edition of 780 CMR is adopted, which, as of this writing (December 2021), is still likely over a year away. However, with this coming trend, it is important to understand the new 2021 IBC requirements related to Mass Timber construction, especially as they may be able to be used in the meantime to justify building code variances to the 9th edition of 780 CMR.

If you are considering Mass Timber for your next project, please reach out to info@crcfire.com.

Click the links below to view the other Insights in the Mass Timber series:

Mass Timber – Concealed Spaces

Mass Timber – CLT & Glulam Char Depth Calculations

Photo credit: Jones Architecture and DCAMM