Significant changes to the 2018 I-Codes

The 2018 Significant Changes guides are available for the International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes. This valuable series can help any code user save time by zeroing in on the most critical changes in the 2018 International Codes (I-Codes). The Code Council’s technical experts provide summaries, analysis and graphics for these changes making them clear and easy to understand.

2018 International Building Code

A modification to Section 1025.1 (Luminous Egress Path Marking in Group I Occupancies) states that luminous egress path marking is no longer required in high-rise buildings classified as Group I-2, I-3, or I-4 occupancies.

The use of luminous egress path markings in specified high-rise buildings is intended to provide for the visibility of stair treads and handrails in interior exit stairways under emergency conditions where both the building’s primary power supply and the emergency power system fail. The use of photo-luminescent or self-illuminating materials to delineate the exit path has historically been required in interior exit stairways and exit passageways of high-rise buildings housing Group A, B, E, I, M, and R-1 occupancies. Such markings are no longer required in those high-rise buildings classified as Groups I-2, I-3, or I-4.

The 2015 IBC mandates luminous egress path markings in all of the Group I classifications. This requirement has been revised for Group I to only require luminous egress path markings in Group I-1 occupancies. Groups I-2 and I-3 have been removed because hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and detention facilities have trained staff that operate with a defend-in-place strategy. The emergency generators are continually monitored and maintained, so the chance of the emergency egress lighting required in the means of egress failing is extremely minimal. For the luminous egress path marking to be utilized, both the normal power for means of egress lighting and the emergency generator have to fail.

Group I-4 occupancies were also removed from the list of required classifications. For the requirement for luminous path marking to apply, the high-rise building would need to be a day care facility used for custodial care. It was determined that there was a very limited chance that such a use would occur in a high-rise condition.

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2018 International Fire Code

An addition to Section 2303.2.1 (Height of Emergency Disconnect Switch) provides specific height limitations for emergency disconnect switches for fuel dispensing operations.

This code change specifies a height requirement for emergency disconnect switches at motor vehicle fuel dispensing facilities. The 2015 IFC requires the emergency disconnect switch to be clearly identified, readily accessible, and no closer than 20 feet and no further than 100 feet from outdoor dispensing operations.

This additional criterion specifies the acceptable height of the emergency disconnect switch. The height limitations are identical to the height limitations for a manual fire alarm box in Section 907.4.2.2.

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2018 International Residential Code

A clarification to Section N1101.6 (Definition of Air Barrier) states that the definition for air barrier has been revised for clarification and the duplicate definition for continuous air barrier has been removed.

An air barrier is an important component of the building thermal envelope to reduce air infiltration into the dwelling unit as well as exfiltration of air from the conditioned portions of the building. Table N1102.4.1.1 details the mandatory requirements for installation of the required air barrier and insulation. To be effective, the air barrier must be continuous and breaks or joints in the air barrier must be sealed. Combinations of many different materials satisfy the air barrier requirements, including plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), gypsum board and extruded polystyrene (impermeable insulation) sheathing, to name a few. Air-permeable insulation is not approved as an air barrier.

Sealing of joints and breaks is accomplished with tape, caulking or sealants designed for the specific application. Revisions to the definition of air barrier are editorial to clarify the meaning and to better align with the code provision requiring continuity. The definition for continuous air barrier has been removed because it is redundant; air barriers must always be continuous. The air leakage rate of the building thermal envelope is measured through the mandatory blower door test.

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2018 International Plumbing Code Code

A modification to Sections 608.17.1.1 and 608.17.1.2 (Independent Backflow Protection for Drink Dispensers) states that only carbonated beverage dispensers require a backflow preventer that is designed for exposure to carbon dioxide gas. Also, because of the potential for cross-contamination between non-carbonated drink dispensers and or coffee machines, each dispenser or machine supplied with potable water must have a backflow preventer (or air gap) at the connection to the potable water supply.

An ASSE 1022 backflow preventer, specially designed for carbon dioxide exposure, is only required for a carbonated drink dispenser, not for non-carbonated drink dispensers or coffee machines. Coffee machines and non-carbonated beverage dispensers can now be connected to the potable water supply using ASSE 1024 backflow preventers. The ASSE 1022 device has a vent opening that leaks water when the downstream check valve of the device fails. The leaking water requires a safe point of discharge (a drain) which sometimes necessitates a complex air gap drainage arrangement. The ASSE 1024 device (which does not have a vent opening) does not need a drain, thus simplifying many installations. Also, in order to protect against cross-contamination among individual coffee machines and non-carbonated beverage dispensers, each machine and each dispenser requires its own ASSE 1024 device.

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