Proposed Building Codes and Amendments Under the Utah Uniform Building Standards Act

The following document has the full details and summary of proposed building codes and amendments. A public hearing regarding the proposed building codes will be held September 7, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at Sandy City Hall, 10000 South Centennial Parkway, Room 341, Sandy, Utah. This public notice and scheduled public hearing are for the Uniform Building Code Commission to receive public comment on the proposed building codes prior to it making its recommendation to the legislative Business and Labor Interim Committee.

This document has two parts. The first part is a proposed change to the State Construction Codes which has been recommended by the Uniform Building Code Commission advisory committees. This proposed change is written with strikethrough (language to be removed) and underline (language to be added) to the existing statute for easier identification of the item that is being recommended for change. The second part is a summary of the reasons for the proposed change to the State Construction Codes.

Recommended Changes to Construction Codes Under Title 15A State Construction and Fire Code Act Proposed by the Uniform Building Code Commission

Part 1

15A-3-206 Amendments to Chapters 36, and44, and Appendix F of IRC.

(1) In IRC, Section E3901.9, the following exception is added:

"Exception: Receptacles or other outlets adjacent to the exterior walls of the garage, outlets adjacent to an exterior wall of the garage, or outlets in a storage room with entry from the garage may be connected to the garage branch circuit."

(2) In IRC, Section E3902.16, the following words in the first sentence are deleted: "family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens," and "sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, and similar rooms or areas."

(3) In Section E3902.17:

(a) following the word "Exception" the number "1." is added; and

(b) at the end of the section, the following sentences are added:

"2. This section does not apply for a simple move or an extension of a branch circuit or an outlet which does not significantly increase the existing electrical load. This exception does not include changes involving remodeling or additions to a residence."

(4) IRC, Chapter 44, is amended by adding the following reference standard:

"Standard reference Title Referenced in

number code section

USC-FCCCHR 10th Foundation for Cross-Connection Table

Edition Manual of Control and Hydraulic Research P2902.3"

Cross Connection University of Southern California

Control Kaprielian Hall 300

Los Angeles CA 90089-2531

(5) When passive radon controls or portions thereof are installed, the installation shall comply with Appendix F of the IRC.

Part 2

Summary of Reasons for Recommended Changes to Construction Codes

Under Title 15A State Construction and Fire Code Act

Excess radon gas is a naturally caused problem that occurs in a substantial number of homes throughout the state of Utah. Excess radon gas causes cancer. It is impossible, before a home is built, to determine whether a home will have an excess radon gas problem. As a result, radon controls systems are not required to be installed in every home when it is built. However, the homeowner or contractor will often choose to voluntarily install passive radon controls when the home is being built. This is because it is far less expensive to install these controls before a home is built rather than to retrofit a home after it is built. Adding these passive controls is totally voluntary. If after a home is built, the home is determined to have an excess radon gas problem that is beyond the capacity of the passive radon controls, then a fan can be added for very little extra cost to the passive controls to make the system an active radon control system.

This recommended code change requires that when passive radon controls are voluntarily installed, the installation complies with Appendix F of the International Residential Code. If the passive radon controls are not properly installed, then the homeowner may not reap the saving that was intended by his investment in additional safety measures at the time the home was built and his investment would be wasted.