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 1013.2 (Floor Level Exit Sign Location) states that the permitted location for low-level exit signs selectively required in Group R-1 occupancies has been expanded to now allow the bottom of such sign to be mounted up to 18 inches above the floor.

To help guide occupants of Group R-1 guest rooms to the exits during emergency conditions, additional exit signs are required within the egress system serving the guest rooms. Limiting the application to the egress system serving the guest rooms of hotels and other Group R-1 occupancies recognizes the transient nature of building’s use, the often-delayed response to emergency conditions, and the typical low ceiling height in the corridors.

The bottom of the required low-level exit signs is now permitted to be located between 10 and 18 inches of the floor level. The additional 6 inches now available provides sufficient flexibility for designers and owners without adversely impacting the level of life safety of the occupants of the Group R-1 occupancies because the low-level exit signs will still be visible below the smoke layer from a fire (in the zone in which the occupants would presumably be crawling).

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