Published March 2022

With our IRC proposals submitted in January, most of February was spent awaiting the publishing of the complete package of ICC Group B proposals, expected in the last week of the month.  Prior to this, on Feb 14th, I attended an ICC Code Correlation Committee meeting.  Two of our proposals, RB21 and RB119 were selected as potential correlation issues that the committee could handle in place of the hearing process.  Both proposals were approved by the committee unanimously.

The publishing of the Group B proposals was a day later than scheduled.  I promptly reviewed all 317 IRC proposals in 737 pages looking for those relevant to the deck and railing industry.  Twenty-one proposals were discovered that will require our attention this year.  Proposals regarding stairway landings, guard deflection limits, decks built over egress windows, guard infill loads, lateral bracing, handrail clearances, and ramp provisions range from relatively insignificant to significantly relevant.  Regardless, a proposal is just the prompt to a conversation.  Throughout this year in floor modifications and public comments these conversations (proposals) can evolve and change.

The proposals for the 2024 IRC can be viewed at this link:  https://www.iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/IRC-Building_compressed-GROUP-B-2022.pdf

The 17 proposals submitted by NADRA are as follows:

RB:  21, 84, 104, 119, 132, 176, 178, 179, 180, 181, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190

The 21 proposals by others identified as relevant to the deck and railing industry are as follows:

RB: 3, 24, 25, 43, 44, 79, 95, 100, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 182, 188, 216

The great thing about the ICC code development process is its transparent process that is open for everyone to participate.  I welcome you to use the link above and review the ideas suggested for the next model residential building code to be promoted to governments for adoption.  The itemized list of proposals provided above can help you get started, but who knows what you may find that interests you.

This month, I will continue the review of the Group B proposals in reference to the IBC and IEBC and prepare testimony for our proposals and in response to others.  I will be heading to the ICC hearings in Rochester NY for the last week of March in anticipation of 3 to 4 days of IRC hearings.