2023-91 Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 26 Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors

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Chapter 67.2 — Residential Building Code International Residential Code This comprehensive code comprises all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and electrical requirements for one-and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories. New in the 2021 IRC: • Braced wall lines must be placed on a physical wall or placed between multiple walls. • The rated separation for two-family dwellings is 1 hour whether or not a lot line exists between units. • Emergency escape and rescue openings require a clear 36-inch-wide path to a public way. • An engineered design is required for storm shelters. • A habitable attic is limited to one-half the area of the story below and the dwelling requires sprinklers. • Updated Wind Speed maps match IBC and ASCE 7 maps. • Deck design now considers snow load,tributary area for footing and post height, and guard details. • Specific requirements for deck guardrails were added. • Component and cladding wind pressures in Table R301.2(2)are updated for new design wind speeds and hip or gable roof profiles. • Minimum footing size tables are revised to more accurately reflect current practice. • Cripple wall requirements apply only to exterior cripple walls. • New appendices for cob construction and 3D printed construction are added. • A 30 percent reduction of airflow is permitted for balanced ventilation systems. • Commercial gas cooking appliances are prohibited. • The head pressure for a water test of DWV systems increased to 10 feet. • Air vacuum testing is now permitted for plastic piping DWV systems. • Section P2904 for dwelling sprinklers is expanded to more closely align with NFPA 13D. • An emergency service disconnect is required in a readily accessible outdoor location. • A surge-protective device(SPD)is now required at the service panel. • The number of receptacle outlets required for peninsular and island countertops in kitchens is determined by the area of the countertop surface. • GFCI protection is now required for damp and wet locations not included in the other 10 areas requiring GFCI protection. New in the 2018 IRC: • An updated seismic map reflects the most conservative Seismic Design Category(SDC)based on any soil type and a new map reflects less conservative SDCs when Site Class A, 6 or D is applicable. • The townhouse separation provisions now include options for using two separate fire-resistant- rated walls or a common wall. • An emergency escape and rescue opening is no longer required in basement sleeping rooms where the dwelling has an automatic fire sprinkler system and the basement has a second means of egress or an emergency escape opening. • The exemption for interconnection of smoke alarms in existing areas has been deleted. • New girder/header tables have been revised to incorporate the use of#2 Southern Pine in lieu of #1 Southern Pine. • New tables address alternative wood stud heights and the required number of full height studs in high wind areas.