Significant changes to the 2018 International Building Code

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. 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 713.8.1 (Membrane Penetrations of Shaft Enclosures) states that membrane penetrations not related to the purpose of a shaft enclosure are no longer prohibited from penetrating the outside of the enclosure.

Unless specifically permitted, penetrations have historically been prohibited at the fire-resistance-rated enclosure around a shaft. The strict limitations have been deemed necessary to ensure that the fire-resistive integrity of the shaft enclosure was not compromised by penetrations of the protective enclosure. Penetrations of the exterior membrane of the fire-resistance-rated assembly are now permitted provided they are in compliance with the membrane penetration provisions of Section 714.4.2.

Virtually all penetrations have been prohibited in the past, regardless of purpose with very limited exceptions. The prohibition applied to any penetration that was not necessary for the purpose of the shaft, such as electrical boxes. The new exception will no longer limit the type of or purpose for the penetration but will simply limit the location to the exterior membrane and require the proper protection.

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