Proposed 2009 Amendments to
the 2005 State Building Code
Presented by
Christopher R. Laux, A.I.A.
Architect/Building Official/Consultant
Contact Information
Christopher R. Laux, A.I.A.
Post Office Box 636
Woodbury, CT 06798-0636
Phone/fax: (203) 263-5787
Email: codeguy@charter.net
Disclaimer
 This presentation covers only the
highlights of “important” changes to
the 2005 State Building Code.
 A thorough understanding of the code
can only be obtained by reading,
reading, reading, and then calling a
consultant
 This presentation is based on the
version available on the OSBI website
Why the 2009 Amendments?
 To add specific statutory requirements
 To fix some “oops’s”
 To bring in some good information from
more recent codes
 Most importantly - because you were
beginning to understand the 2005
version
Timeline
 Approved end of April
 Adoption date 8/1/09 – applies to all
building permits applied for on or
after 8/1/09
IBC & IRC Administration
 101.2: clarify that buildings being
moved can use IEBC
 101.2: clarify that the permit
applicant makes choice to use IEBC at
time of permit application
 105.1: Permit required to move a lot
line that affects an existing structure
IBC Administration
 105.2: portable grandstands or
bleachers under 100 occupants
exempt from permit must be outside
building (for fields)
 105.2.5: Federal agencies exempt
from building and demolition permits
 Post offices, courthouses, prisons, etc.
 On owned or leased land
Other Administration
 IEBC: MOE in existing buildings must
meet Part IV of CSFSC
 IRC R101.4.7: Added reference to
State Demolition Code
 IBC/IRC Section 117: Added section
regarding vacant buildings – new tool
for dealing with abandoned or
temporarily “mothballed” buildings
 IBC/IRC: additional required electrical
inspections
IBC – Chapter 3
 Group B 304.1:
 Includes non-accessory spaces used for
assembly purposes by fewer than 50
persons
 Includes “Training and skill development
not within a school or academic program”
 In-home business occupancies in a onefamily home w/ maximum 1 non-resident
employee are R-3 or can use IRC
IBC – Chapter 3
 Consumer fireworks 307.5.1: follow
NFPA 1124-2006 for fireworks sales
over exempt amounts
 CT restricts amount stored through
amendment
 Group R 310.1: R-3 (and IRC) allows
up to 6 lodgers or boarders – needed
to help define Group R-1 Bed and
Breakfast Establishment
IBC – Chapter 4
 Smoke control scoping simplified:
 404.4: not required in two-story atriums.
 402.9: required in covered malls of 2 or
more stories.
IBC - Chapter 5
 New 506.4.1: provides methodology
for determining maximum size of
buildings that are mixed occupancies
– separated
 Sum of ratios for areas on all floors
totaled shall not exceed 2 for two-story
or 3 for three-story and higher
IBC – Chapter 9
 903.2.7: sprinklers required in new R
and if R occupancy introduced by
change of occupancy or addition
 Not required by repair, alteration or
addition to existing R provided not
required by previous code or other
sections (ie: height & area)
 Sprinklers req. only in addition if 1-hour
separation between new & existing
 Additional exceptions for existing
buildings actually more restrictive
IBC – Chapter 9
 903.2.1.2: new sprinkler exemption
for A-2 restaurants built as A-3 that
increase fire area to 12,000 s.f.
maximum
 910.1: automatic smoke & heat vents
not required with ESFR sprinklers
IBC – Chapter 9
 903.2.7.1: 13D system permitted in R-4
small residential care/assisted living if:
No mixed occupancy in building
6 or fewer occupants excluding staff
2-stories, 40’ max. height limit
30 minute water supply
All habitable and usable areas, including
closets, must be sprinklered
 Meet valve supervision requirements
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IBC – Chapter 9
 903.3.1.2: clarify 13R system can be
used only in buildings up to and
including 4 stories above grade and
60’ in height
 903.3.1.2.2: 13R cannot be used in
mixed occupancy buildings except
those that comply with Section 508.2
with only Group R above the
horizontal separation
IBC – Chapter 10
 New 1003.8: security devices that
emit any medium (ie: smoke) that
obscures MOE prohibited
 New 1003.9: Mirrors shall not be
placed on or adjacent to exit doors
 New 1004.1.2: Day care occupancies:
1 occupant per 35 s.f. net
 1003.2: ceiling height in MOE
increased to 7’-6”
IBC – Chapter 10
 1005.1.1: balanced egress capacity
deleted and substituted with formula
to determine the fraction of egress
capacity required after loss of one
exit: (R-1)/R = C; where R=number of
required exits and C= minimum
fraction of required MOE capacity after
loss of one
 Applies to buildings and rooms/spaces
Example:
 Building has 2000 occupants and 5
required exits
 (5-1)/5 = 4/5 or 80%
 Remaining exits must handle 80% of
occupants:
 .80 x 2000 = 1600
IBC – Chapter 10
 1006.3.1: MOE emergency
illumination shall operate upon:
 Failure of utility or outside power supply
 Opening of breaker or fuse
 Accidental opening of switch controlling
normal lighting
 1009.11.2: intermediate handrails
only required for stairs exceeding 75
inches - still only req. within 30” of
required width
IBC – Chapter 10
 Ramp surfaces (1010.7.1) and edge
protection (1010.9) refers to
ICC/ANSI A117.1-03
 Allows perforations in ramps
 1011.1.1: floor proximity EXIT signs
now required at exit access doors in
addition to exits in certain
occupancies
IBC - Chapter 10
 1012.2: B&B level guards must be
min. 36” high with max. 6” space.
Stair guards between 34” & 38” high
 1013.2: 50% Group M MOE may
travel through stockroom with
restrictions
 New 1023.2.1: exit discharge doors
must be remote (1/3 diagonal) when
2 or more required
IBC – Chapter 10
 1025.3 rescue windows: added
exception to 44” maximum sill height
for compliant permanent platform or
steps
 1024.2: assembly main exit language
simplified to match statute
IBC – Floor Proximity Egress Path
Marking – New Section 1026
 Required in exit access corridors in:
 Group A w/ more than 300 occupants
 Group B Medical Occupancies
 Group E (see exceptions for doors opening
to exterior)
 Groups I-1 and I-2
 Group R-1 hotels and motels
 Group R-2 dormitories
 Not required for work in existing
buildings including additions
Section 1026
 Must be within 18” of floor
 Photoluminescent must be from 1” to
2” in width
 Must be listed and labeled and
installed in accordance with
manufacturer’s requirements
 1026.4 gives standards for materials
Section 1026
 Shall not incorporate arrows, chevrons
or patterns intended to lead occupant in
any direction
 Exception for dead-end corridors
 Must illuminate within 10 seconds of
power failure and stay lit for 90 minutes
 Photoluminescent must be illuminated
by building’s normal lighting for 60
minutes prior to building occupancy
IBC – Chapter 11
 1107.6.2.1.1: Type A unit
requirements in R-2 start at 20
dwelling or sleeping units
 IRC Townhouse accessibility
requirements deleted from IBC and
put in IRC
 No new requirements – just relocated
and (hopefully) made easier to
understand
IBC – Chapter 11
 1109.13, Exception 7: new exception
for height of pool barrier hardware on
accessible route (54” maximum, 48”
minimum)
IBC – Chapter 17
 1704.2.2: specifies exact in-plant
certification/quality assurance
programs acceptable in lieu of onpremises special inspections
IBC – Chapter 18
 1805.2.1: Frostproof foundation
exception raised to 600 s.f. – wind
issues still apply
 New 1806.2: guards required at
retaining walls with more than 4’ change
in elevation and with walking surface
within 2’ of high side. Clarifies that
grass, planting beds & landscaped areas
are not a walking surface
IBC Miscellaneous
 2702.2.20: standby power required
for electric fire pumps in buildings
with standby power for purpose of
continuing occupancy or operations
 3006.4:Remote elevator machine
rooms permitted to be protected by
automatic fire-extinguishing system
or separated by 1-hour construction
with ¾ hour opening protectives
IBC – Chapter 31
 3105.3: adds exceptions to high-wind
design for awnings (meet 90 MPH)
 3109.1.1: clarification of which pools
are exempt from DPH regulations
 3109.5: new entrapment avoidance
requirements for public pools
(information comes from IRC)
IBC – Chapter 34
 3403.4: Free pass on existing stairways is
limited to maximum riser height and
minimum tread depth
 3403.5:MOE in all existing buildings must
meet Part IV of CSFSC (also in IEBC)
 3409.3:Change of occupancy accessibility
additional requirements (also in IEBC):
 Min. 1 accessible toilet/bathing room per gender
 Min. 1 accessible MOE
 Type A and/or B units as per 1107
IBC – Appendix K
 Seismic spectral accelerations
reduced for all towns in accordance
with new ASCE-7
 Should reduce seismic requirements for
structural elements
 Deletes MEP seismic bracing for many
buildings
ICC/ANSI A117.1-03
 1004.13: Requirement for accessible
windows in Type B units deleted
 504: Information on accessible stairs
deleted (no scoping requirements)
 1004.3: Accessible route to exterior
spaces less than 60” deep in Type B
units not required
IEBC
 101.13: minimum MOE requirements
in all buildings is Part IV, CSFSC
 804.1.1: Change of occupancy –
sprinklers required when required by
IBC, Chapter 9 for new occupancy
 804.1.2: Change of occupancy –
alarms required when required by
IBC, Chapter 9 for new occupancy
IEBC
 812.5: new requirements for change
of occupancy (match IBC):
 1 accessible toilet/bathing facility per
gender
 1 accessible means of egress
 Type A and B units per IBC 1107
IPC – Chapter 10
 1003.3: Grease traps connected to
private, on-site septic systems
comply with IPC. Grease traps
connected to publicly owned
treatment works via sanitary sewer
must comply with DEP General Permit
for the Discharge of Wastewater
Associated with Food Preparation
Establishments (FOG regulations)
IMC – Chapter 5
 510.1.1: defines laboratory for
purposes of Section 510 (hazardous
exhaust) as use of chemicals on nonproduction basis, rather than
manufacturing
 510.7 new exception: no sprinklers
required in laboratory hoods or
exhaust systems
IECC
 Delete 2003 edition and adopt the
2006 edition.
 CT Amendments similar to 2003
Edition
 Shorter, simpler, easier to use:
 One climate zone for entire state
 Includes prescriptive alternatives to
RES-Check and COM-check
 Results in more efficient buildings
IRC – Chapter 3
 New 309.2.1: Detached garages less
than 10 feet from house need same
fire separation as attached garages
 Rescue windows 310.1: added
exception to 44” minimum sill height
for compliant permanent platform or
steps
 New 317.1: Common spaces in 2family dwellings must have 1-hour
separation from dwelling units
IRC – Chapter 3
 301.2.1.2: in wind-borne debris
regions (120 mph) can use wood
structural panels to protect windows
in 1st and 2nd story of 3 story houses
 Must be cut to size and supplied with
fasteners, just as in one- and two-story
homes
IRC – Chapter 3
 New 312.1: guards required at
retaining walls with more than 4’
change in elevation and with walking
surface within 2’ of high side. Clarifies
that grass, planting beds &
landscaped areas are not a walking
surface
IRC – Accessibility R322
 All townhouse accessibility
requirements now in IRC instead of
reference to IBC:
 No new requirements
 Easier to understand
IRC - Miscellaneous
 R403.1: Frostproof foundation exception
for accessory buildings raised to 600 s.f.
(DON’T FORGET WIND)
 New R806.4: language from 2006 IRC
re: conditioned attic assemblies
 Allows unvented attics when 3 conditions
are met
 Conditioned air supply not needed
 Most applicable to spray-foam insulation
IRC - Miscellaneous
 N1101.2.1 & N1101.2.2: Glazing
percentage limitations for prescriptive
energy apply to walls of thermal
envelope, not all exterior walls
 M1703.6: Mechanical combustion air
systems must comply with
manufacturer’s installation
requirements for both the appliance
and the air supply system
IRC - Miscellaneous
 G2415.1: Gas piping in townhouses
shall not pass through any unit not
served by that piping (including
basements and crawl spaces)
 E3509.7.1: CSST gas piping must be
bonded per manufacturer’s
requirements
 E3802.11: Bedroom smoke detectors
must be on Arc-fault circuit
IRC – Appendix G (Pools)
 AG102.1.1: clarifies can’t use IRC for
Townhouse Complex pool – only applies
to detached one- and two-family or as
accessory to individual townhouse
 AG106.2: all pool/spa suction outlets
(except surface skimmers) must comply
w/ ASMR/ANSI A112.19.8M-2007
(newer edition) or be approved channel
drain
IRC Appendix G
 AG106.4: clarifies main drain
separation is measured from near
point of opening to near point of
opening
2005 NEC
 210.12: Bedroom smoke detectors
must be on Arc-fault circuit
 680.26: Swimming pool equipotential
bonding grid:
 Not required for pools built of nonconductive materials
 Can use mesh in concrete deck as grid
THE END
 Thanks for pretending to listen and
stay awake!