Code change proposals for the 2007 International Codes supplement were heard May 21-26 in Rochester, N.Y. Nearly 100 proposals had implications for the glass and glazing industry, though more than half were either disapproved or withdrawn. The following listing highlights some of the approved code changes that will affect the glazing industry. The 2007 supplement will be published by early September 2007.

International Building Code, Structural Committee
Proposal: S105 - Passed
Section: 2406.1.1
Proponent: Glazing Industry Code Committee
Part 1 (International Building Code [IBC]) of the proposal allows ANSI Z 97.1 to be used as an alternative to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) 16 CFR Part 1201 for impact testing. Part 2 of the proposal affects the International Residential Code (IRC) and allows the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) test to be used as an alternative for CPSC 16 CFR 1201.

Proposal: S106 - Passed
Section: 2406.2.1
Proponent: Glazing Industry Code Committee
Adds the ANSI Z97.1 test standard as an alternative to CPSC 16 CFR 1201 for applications such as multi-lite assemblies and gymnasiums/basketball courts. 

Proposal: S108 - Passed
Section: 2407.1.2
Proponent: Glazing Industry Code Committee
Adds an exception that says a top rail is not required in applications where the glass balusters are laminated glass with two or more glass plies of equal thickness and the same glass type. 

International Building Code, Fire Safety Committee
Proposal: FS10 - Passed
Section: Various
Proponent: UL
Allows the fire-resistance rating of building elements to be determined in accordance with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) 263 as an alternative to the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) E 119 test procedures.

Proposal: FS36 - Passed
Section: 706.2.1
Proponent: Fire Rated Glazing Industry Consortium 
Moves fire-resistance rating provisions from the fire barrier section to the section of the code where fire-resistance ratings and tests are covered.

Proposal: FS101 - Passed
Section: 715.2
Proponent: Fire Rated Glazing Industry Consortium 
Code change adds language that makes glazing listed as a “W” allowed in doors and openings, so long as it is in accordance with the manufacturers listing. 

Proposal: FS102 - Passed
Section: 715.3
Proponent: UL
Allows UL 9 to be used as an alternative to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 257 for fire window assemblies.

Proposal: FS113 - Passed
Section: 715.4.6.1
Proponent: SAFTI First
Changes references from wired glass to fire-protective glass for fire door applications.

Proposal: FS118 – Passed 
Section: 715.4.6.4
Proponent: Fire Rated Glazing Industry Consortium 
Code change places fire-rated safety glazing into two sections: doors and windows.

Proposal: FS124 - Passed
Section: 715.5
Proponent: Fire Rated Glazing Industry Consortium 
This proposal adds the performance requirements of a 20-minute fire protection rating and the hose stream test for glazing in 30-minute fire partitions. 

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
Proposal: EC7, part 1 - Passed
Section: 101.4.4 
Proponent: Northwest Energy Code Group
Requires that any non-conditioned space altered to become conditioned space be brought into full code compliance with this code. According to the proposal, when non-conditioned spaces are converted to conditioned space, community energy resources are impacted just as they are in new construction. Thus, they should be required to meet the minimum standards set by the IECC for new construction.

Proposal: EC25 - Passed
Section: 202 
Proponent: American Architectural Manufacturers Association 
Revises “storefront” definition to remove windborne debris language since not all stores meet the criteria.

Proposal: EC39 - Passed
Section: 402.1.1
Proponent: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Changes the solar heat gain coefficient requirements for hot climates (zones 1 and 2) from .40 to .37 to be equal to those of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2004 Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings. Proponents say this sets a more appropriate reference design for windows in the hottest climate zones.

Proposal: EC60 - Passed
Section: 402.6
Proponent: Department of Energy
This proposal removes the upper limit on solar heat gain coefficiencies for glazing in marine climates.

Proposal: EC95 - Passed
Section: 502.3
Proponent: Cardinal Glass Industries
Code change eliminates the plastic and glass categories of skylights in the simplified prescriptive path (table 502.3, building envelope requirements: fenestration) and establishes a single set of prescriptive values, in order to ensure consistent stringency regardless of the type of skylights chosen. This proposal establishes a single set of values by eliminating the less stringent plastic values and modifying the glass U-factors to reflect the same values as set for residential skylights. 

USG
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