Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231

PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
Proposed Amendments (added text to the code is: underlined, deleted text to the code is: struck through)
ITEM NUMBER
IBC-2016-01
ARTICLE
1013
SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION:
In the Section 1013 for Guards, paragraph 1013.3 –
Height, remove the Exemption #4 that states: “4. The
guard height in assembly seating areas shall comply
with Section 1028.14.”
PROPONENT
Richard A. Rice, PE
(Mutual Engineering,
Incorporated)
ACTION
In addition, remove the bold and underlined portion
of the paragraph:
IBC-2016-02
3006.4
1028.14.2 Sightline-constrained guard heights.
Unless subject to the requirements of Section
1028.14.3, a fascia or railing system in accordance
with the guard requirements of Section 1013 and
having a minimum height of 26 inches (660 mm)
shall be provided where the floor or footboard
elevation is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the
floor or grade below and the fascia or railing would
otherwise interfere with the sightlines of immediately
adjacent seating. At bleachers, a guard must be
provided where required by ICC 300.
DESCRIPTION:
Elevator Advisory
3006.4 Machine rooms and machinery spaces.
Board (Chris Jenkins,
Elevator machine rooms and machinery spaces shall State Fire Marshal)
be enclosed with fire barriers constructed in
accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies
constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 1 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
The fire-resistance rating shall be not less than the
required rating of the hoistway enclosure served by
the machinery two hours. Openings in the fire
barriers shall be protected with assemblies having a
fire protection rating not less than that required for
the hoistway enclosure doors.
Exceptions.
1. Where machine rooms and machinery spaces
do not meet the required fire resistance rating,
they shall require sprinklers and shunt trip
breaker in accordance with NFPA 72.
1. Where machine rooms and machinery spaces
do not abut and have no openings to the
hoistway enclosure they serve the fire barriers
constructed in accordance with Section 707 or
horizontal
assemblies
constructed
in
accordance with Section 711, or both, shall be
permitted to be reduced to a 1 hour fireresistance rating.
2. In buildings four stories or less above grade
plane where machine room and machinery
spaces do not abut and have no openings to
the hoistway enclosure they serve, the
machine room and machinery spaces are not
required to be fire-resistance rated.
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 2 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
IRC-2016-03
R301.1
IRC-2016-04
R324
IRC-2016-05
R807.1
IRC-2016-06
New Appendix
IPC-2016-07
608.16.5
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
DESCRIPTION:
R301.1.1 Where the state requires contractors and
subcontractors to be licensed, the contractors shall be
licensed.
DESCRIPTION:
R324 Radon Control Methods
Where provided, Radon Control Systems for new
construction shall comply with IRC Appendix F.
DESCRIPTION:
R807.1.1 Attic service access. Attics containing
appliances, mechanical equipment, ventilation,
electrical wiring, plumbing components, or alarm
systems, needing periodic inspection or service shall
be accessible by pull down stairs or other permanent
steps and allow the removal of the largest appliance.
Pull down stairs shall comply with Georgia
Amendment to IECC, Section 402.2.3 Fenestration
access hatches and doors.
Bruce Widener
(Conditioned Air
Association of
Georgia)
Matt Koch (Southern
Radon Reduction)
DESCRIPTION:
Appendix S – Strawbale Construction as it appears in
the 2015 International Residential Code, as either an
optional appendix to be adopted by local jurisdictions
or as a mandatory appendix for statewide use. See
attachment to the submittal e-mail dated 12.15.15 for
the proposed appendix language.
DESCRIPTION:
Connections to lawn irrigation systems. The potable
water supply to lawn irrigation systems shall be
Martin Hammer,
Architect (California)
Barry Abernathy (E.
Smith Heating & Air
Conditioning)
Bryan Alderman
(City of Savannah)
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 3 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
IPC-2016-08
202
IPC-2016-09
424
IPC-2016-10
504.7
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
protected against backflow by an atmospheric-type
vacuum breaker, a pressure-type vacuum breaker, a
double-check backflow prevention assembly or a
reduced pressure principle backflow preventer. A
valve shall not be installed downstream from an
atmospheric vacuum breaker. Where interconnected
chemical dispensers are used in conjunction with
lawn irrigation system, the potable water supply shall
be protected against backflow by a reduced pressure
principle backflow preventer.
DESCRIPTION:
Section 202-Definition:
Shower Head. A shower head that allows a flow of no
more than the average of 2.5 gallons of
water per minute at 60 pounds per square inch of
pressure.
Shower Head. A shower head that allows a flow of no
more than the average of 2.0 gallons of
water per minute at 60 pounds per square inch of
pressure and is listed to the EPA Partnership
WaterSense Program water efficient shower head
standard.
DESCRIPTION:
424.10 Pre-rinse spray valves. All pre-rinse spray
valves sold and installed in Georgia shall be labeled
WaterSense and shall have a maximum flow rate of
1.28 gpm.
DESCRIPTION:
Pans shall be installed under storage type water
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
Ernest Earn (Cobb
County)
Ernest Earn (Cobb
County)
VizCO US, Inc.
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 4 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
ISPSC-2016-11
Change Status to
mandatory
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
heaters on water storage tanks installed in attics or
above ceilings. The pan shall be galvanized steel or
aluminum thickness of 24 gauge or other pans
approved for such use. These other pans approved for
such use can be constructed from plastic with a
minimum thickness of .036” and meeting ASTM E84
or UL723 testing standards.
Pans are not required under tankless heaters.
DESCRIPTION:
Currently the International Swimming Pool &
Spa Code, 2012 Edition, is “permissive”. The
professional residential pool construction industry
seeks for this to become “mandatory”.
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
Senator Bruce
Thompson (14),
Shawn Still (Olympic
Pool)
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 5 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
IECC-2016-12
Definitions section,
page 5, “Certified Duct
and Envelope
Tightness Verifier”
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
Larry Zarker (CEO,
DESCRIPTION:
BPI)
Current Code Language:
CERTIFIED DUCT AND ENVELOPE TIGHTNESS
(DET) VERIFIER. A certified DET verifier shall be a
certified Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) rater,
or be a certified Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR contractor, or be a Building Performance
Institute (BPI) Analyst, or successfully complete a
certified DET verifier course that is approved by the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Proposed Updated Language:
CERTIFIED DUCT AND ENVELOPE TIGHTNESS
(DET) VERIFIER. A certified DET verifier shall be a
certified Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) rater,
or be a certified Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR contractor, or be certified as a Building
Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst or an
Infiltration & Duct Leakage (IDL) professional or
successfully complete a certified DET verifier course
that is approved by the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs.
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 6 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 7 of 8
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS
2016 Amendments SCAC Subcommittee
Task Force
DCA Staff: Eric Esposito
Phone: (404) 679-3104
Date Revised: 15 Dec 2015
*Note: These amendments are “proposed only” and have not been adopted by the Department of Community Affairs.
ACTION: A (Approve as Submitted); R (Approve as Revised); D (Disapprove); W (Withdrawn)
Page 8 of 8