Multi-Disciplinary Research Team Seeks Input on IRC Improvements
From the International Code Council…
Housing costs and affordability have become critical issues across the United States and many parts of the world. To ensure model codes are aligned with best practices for safety, usability, and construction cost efficiencies, earlier this year, the International Code Council (ICC) announced a wholistic review of the International Residential Code® (IRC) to identify potential changes that can reduce construction costs and simplify the code without degrading existing life safety requirements. It established a Code Council Board IRC Review Committee (BIRC) and will shortly appoint an Advisory Committee of building safety experts.
Housing costs and affordability have become critical issues across the United States and many parts of the world. To ensure model codes are aligned with best practices for safety, usability, and construction cost efficiencies, earlier this year, the International Code Council (ICC) announced a wholistic review of the International Residential Code® (IRC) to identify potential changes that can reduce construction costs and simplify the code without degrading existing life safety requirements. It established a Code Council Board IRC Review Committee (BIRC) and will shortly appoint an Advisory Committee of building safety experts.
To facilitate this review, the Code Council is working with an independent multi-disciplinary research team, which includes personnel from Clemson University, Western Michigan University, and San Jose State University. The research team is beginning its review with a call for public input to help identify areas within the IRC that can be improved through future incremental changes. The goal is to identify potential opportunities to reduce construction costs and improve usability without compromising life safety requirements.
This initiative is part of ICC’s broader effort to promote housing affordability through the I-Codes. The IRC is designed to be a prescriptive, self-contained code that supports conventional residential construction practices. The research team’s review aims to ensure the code remains practical for jurisdictions and practitioners, while maintaining its integrity as a safety-focused document.
Public Comments
A public comment portal is available on the BIRC webpage (comment by clicking on the “Submit a Comment / Suggestion” button on the committee page). The AIBD Codes & Standards Committee encourages you to submit your feedback by November 28th. Your insights will be instrumental in guiding the research team and committee’s work and shaping future improvements to the IRC. This is your chance to be heard on any issue that has arisen due to ambiguous or unnecessary code requirements. Please let us know what you submit so we can support it through our committee activities. Thanks for being an AIBD member!
Jack A. Butler, Chair
Standards, Codes, and Legislative Affairs
American Institute of Building Design
Winter Garden, FL 34787
800-366-2423 ext 6