Olympia Master Builders - Emergency Ruling on IRC

As of July 1, 2007, the 2006 International Residential Codes (IRC) will become effective. This is probably not new news to anyone, but on April 13, 2007 the State Building Code Council ruled to strike Section R302 (exterior wall location) and Table R302.1 (exterior walls) from the 2006 code and replace it with SECTION R302 (location on lot) of the 2003 IRC.

The 2006 IRC code language was too confusing which lead to a broad range of code interpretations. If the 2006 code language were left as originally written, improper enforcement of these regulations would have profound impacts on the way houses are built.

The local code official's application of the 2006 requirements for when exterior walls require a one-hour rating, when roof overhangs cannot exceed 12" in length and only when accompanied with one-hour rating from the underside and when roof ventilation would not be allowed on the underside of eaves would not have been consistent.

This was not acceptable to the Council and until better code language is formulated Section R302 (location on lot) of the 2003 International Residential Code will remain in effect. This is an official ruling. The actual amended page to the 2006 IRC will be issued for circulation by the State Building Code Council as soon as possible for insertion into everyone’s code book.