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Welcome to 2024, PM Engineer readers! Here's to wishing you a year of blessings, happiness, opportunities and joy!

This year starts the code development cycle for the building and safety codes to be published in 2027 for the United States (U.S.). Every U.S. jurisdiction uses some version of building and safety codes that cover most building and construction products. The building and safety codes benefit from the participation of manufacturers, engineers, designers, installers, retailers, code officials, government officials, and YOU in the code development process. If you need guidance to get started, call me at Regulosity. I look forward to seeing you at the next code hearing!

Manufacturers, engineers, designers, installers and retailers doing business in the U.S. need to know the jurisdiction's building and safety codes for market access and U.S. commerce. The best way to gain building and safety code knowledge is to participate in the base model code development processes.

Background on the U.S. Building and Safety Codes

U.S. building and safety codes are developed through independent state development procedures, municipal development procedures, or code bodies. The code development bodies, the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the International Code Council (ICC), develop and publish books known as the "base model codes." Base model codes are books with minimum requirements centered around a single topic (e.g., plumbing or building). Code books become requirements when a jurisdiction writes a law or ordinance to adopt a specific publication date of the code book, either as-is or with the jurisdiction's amendments, known as codification. For more background on U.S. codes, read my past articles titled "International Code Council's New Process" and "What Good Are the Base Model Codes?" Be sure to review IAPMOs and ICCs procedures before the code hearings.

The 2027 timelines

Each code development process is comprised of many phases with key dates. To simplify the complexity of the code development cycles, here are the key dates for the 2027 code development cycles for the ICC Group A Codes, ICC Group B Codes, and the IAPMO UPC & UMC Codes.

Figure 1. 2027 ICC Group A Code Cycle;

  • International Building Code (IBC) Egress Provisions;
  • International Building Code (IBC) Fire Safety Provisions;
  • International Fire Code (IFC);
  • International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC);
  • International Mechanical Code (IMC);
  • International Plumbing Code (IPC);
  • International Private Sewage Disposal Code (IPSDC;)
  • International Residential Code (IRC) Mechanical Provisions;
  • International Residential Code (IRC) Plumbing Provisions;
  • International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC); and
  • International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC).

FIGURE 1

Misty Guard Column Figure 1. 2027 ICC Group A Code Cycle

Figure 2. 2027 ICC Group B Code Cycle

  • Administrative Chapter 1 of all the I-Codes, excluding the IgCC and IRC;
  • International Building Code (IBC) General Provisions;
  • International Building Code (IBC) Structural Provisions;
  • International Residential Code (IRC) Building Provisions;
  • International Existing Building Code (IEBC);
  • International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC);
  • International Zoning Code (IZC); and
  • International Green Conservation Code (IgCC) Administration Provisions and Appendix M.

FIGURE 2

Misty Guard Column Figure 2. 2027 ICC Group B Code Cycle

Figure 3. 2027 IAPMO UPC & UMC Code Cycle

  • Uniform Plumbing Code; and
  • Uniform Mechanical Code.

FIGURE 3

Misty Guard Column Figure 3. 2027 IAPMO UPC & UMC Code Cycle