Significant changes to the 2018 International 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. 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 clarification to Section 406.6.2 (Ventilation of enclosed Parking garages) of the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) states that: Chapters 4 and 5 of the International Mechanical Code (IMC) are now specifically referenced to ensure that all IMC ventilation and exhaust requirements for enclosed parking garages are applied.

This change is significant because Chapter 4 of the IMC mandates minimum ventilation rates for enclosed parking garages. The ventilation system can be designed to operate either continuously or intermittently, providing the necessary fresh air into the structure. Exhaust, as regulated in IMC Chapter 5, must also be provided to remove air to the outdoor atmosphere. Both chapters of the IMC are now referenced to ensure that all IMC requirements for enclosed parking garages are applied. In addition, an exception has been introduced exempting enclosed parking garages accessory to one- and two-family dwellings from any ventilation and exhaust requirements. This exception will expand the scope of the exemption beyond Group U private garages. With the limited scope of one- and two-family dwellings, there is little chance multiple vehicles will be operating at the same time, regardless of the size of the garage.

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2018 International Fire Code

A modification to Section 901.8.2 (Removal of Occupant-use Hose Lines) of the 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) authorizes the code official to allow the removal of occupant-use hose lines.

This change provides additional guidance to the fire code official for those circumstances where occupant-use hose lines may be removed. The occupant use hose is typically 1 1/2-inch hose with a nozzle which is part of a Class II standpipe system. Class II hose connections are not required when the building is sprinklered; most new construction is now required to be sprinklered. The IFC and IBC only require the Class II standpipe system for stages with greater than 1,000 square feet.

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2018 International Residential Code

A modification to Section N1104.1 (Lighting) of the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) states that: the required percentage of permanent lighting fixtures having high-efficacy lamps has increased from 75 percent to 90 percent.

This change is significant because the definition for high-efficacy lamps and the requirement for a certain percentage of high-efficacy lamps in permanent lighting fixtures first appeared in the 2009 IRC. Lamps have traditionally been referred to as light bulbs. By definition, high-efficacy is determined by the lumens (light emitted) per watts (W) of power to produce the light. The acceptable ratio of lumens to watts depends on the wattage of the lamps. For example, a 60-watt or greater lamp must produce at least 60 lumens/W to be considered high efficacy. Examples of high-efficacy lamps are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), T-8 linear fluorescent lamps and LED lamps.

Since the 2009 code, the lighting market has been rapidly moving toward high-efficacy lighting and phasing out incandescent lamps, which are not high efficacy. The 2009 IRC required at least 50 percent of the lamps in permanently installed lighting fixtures to be high-efficacy lamps. In the 2012 edition, that number was raised to 75 percent. In the 2018 code, the percentage of permanent lighting fixtures containing only high-efficacy lamps has increased to 90 percent to align with market trends and improve energy savings. Switching to an LED lamp, for example, can reduce electricity consumption by more than 80 percent when compared to an incandescent bulb. The new requirement still allows 10 percent of fixtures to have lamps that are not high efficacy to accommodate decorative incandescent lighting.

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2018 International Mechanical Code

An addition to Section 504.4.1 (Clothes Dryer Exhaust Termination) of the 2018 International Mechanical Code now addresses the required size of dryer exhaust duct terminals.

This change is significant because the allowed length of a clothes dryer exhaust duct is based on the assumption that the exhaust terminal poses little flow resistance. Nothing in the code requires a reduction in the allowable length of the duct based on the resistance of the exhaust terminal; therefore, it was determined to be necessary to specify a minimum size terminal opening to account for the flow resistance offered by the terminal.

Dryer manufacturer’s instructions will specify the minimum opening depth for outlet hoods and this new code text further specifies a minimum terminal opening area. The minimum opening area of 12.5 square inches is equivalent to the area of a 4-inch round duct.

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