Brief Description: Updating the state building code.

Sponsors: Representatives Romero, Hinkle, Moeller, Delvin, Grant, Jarrett and Flannigan; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

Hearing Date: 2/19/03

Staff: Amy Wood (786-7127).

Background:

The state building code consists of a series of national model codes and standards that regulate the construction and reconstruction of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and structures. The current state building code consists of the Uniform Building Code and the Uniform Building Code Standards; the Uniform Mechanical Code; the Uniform Fire Code and the Uniform Fire Code Standards; and the Uniform Plumbing Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code Standards.

The Uniform Building Code and the Uniform Mechanical Code were published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO); the Uniform Fire Code was published by the International Fire Code Institute; and the Uniform Plumbing Code and Plumbing Code Standards was published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).

The State Building Code Council (SBCC) is responsible for the adoption and maintenance of the uniform model codes that comprise the state building code. The SBCC is required to regularly review updated versions of the uniform model codes and amend the uniform model codes as appropriate. All decisions to adopt or amend the uniform model codes must be made prior to December 1 of any year and do not take effect before the end of the regular legislative session the next year.

The International Code Council (ICC) was established in 1994, as a nonprofit organization that develops a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The founding organizations of the ICC are the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), and the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). These organizations represent the three major model code writing organizations and have developed the model codes used throughout a majority of the country.

Summary of Bill:

The Washington State Building Code is revised to replace specific codes and standards published by the International Conference of Building Officials with codes and standards published by the International Code Council, Incorporated.

      •    The Uniform Building Code is replaced by the International Building Code and International Residential Code;

      •    The Uniform Mechanical Code is replaced by the International Mechanical Code; and

      •    The Uniform Fire Code and Uniform Fire Code Standards are replaced by the International Fire Code.

Language is added that provides that the International Residential Code shall not take precedent over provisions regulating the electrical code, the plumbing code, nor the energy code.

The State Building Code Council is directed to review all nationally recognized standards and to incorporate minimum safety requirement into the code.

Language requiring each county to administer and enforce fire code standards in unincorporated areas of the county is revised to include the International Fire Code. This revision also applies to administration and enforcement by any fire protection district or political subdivision that assumes responsibility for fire protection activities.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 11, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.