Had Elizabeth Barrett Browning been a builder instead of a poet, she might have said, “How do I build thee? Let me count the codes.”
Let’s examine some of the most important International Codes (I-Codes) to see how they relate and how they might impact fire-rated glazing.
First is the International Building Code (IBC). Its applicability begins with submitting and approving the plans and drawings for a new building. It ends when a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. As the building moves off the drawing board into the construction phase, the IBC establishes all the minimum requirements that must be met for the building and its systems. Indeed, to the extent prescribed, requirements from all the other I-Codes are a part of the IBC’s requirements by reference–and they include the international fire, energy conservation, fuel gas, mechanical, plumbing, property maintenance and existing building codes.
These I-Codes are updated once every three years. The most recent editions were published this year, and the next editions will be published in 2027. That means you need to know which edition of the I-Code has been adopted in the jurisdiction where the building is being built. However, once the plans and drawings for the building are approved, updates and new requirements in later editions of the IBC shouldn’t be applied retroactively.
What about the glass? First and foremost, if you’re putting glass anywhere in a new building, whether in windows, doors, glass guards, skylights or anywhere else, check the requirements of Chapter 24 of the IBC. If it’s a fire-rated glass installation, such as a fire door, fire window or a fire-resistance-rated glass wall, you must also check Chapter 7 of the IBC, which governs the building’s fire and smoke protection features. After that, depending on where and what type of fire-rated wall it’s in, you will need to check Chapter 10 of the IBC, which governs the construction of a building’s means of egress. Installations of fire-rated glass doors and windows must be done in accordance with NFPA 80, “Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.”
If any significant changes are made to the building after the occupancy permit is issued, the work will be governed by the International Existing Building Code (IEBC). The IEBC will tell you if any glass installations must be upgraded to the requirements of the most recent edition of the IBC adopted in that jurisdiction.
The final I-Code is the Fire Code (IFC). The IFC applies to the occupancies and operations of a building that pose a fire hazard to occupants. Through fire inspections, the IFC is meant to ensure that the fire safety requirements specified in the IBC are properly maintained and updated, if necessary, throughout the life of the building. Unlike the IBC, the IFC can apply retroactively. For example, if a building was constructed before adopting a fire code, the IFC can be applied retroactively to ensure that the building’s occupants are kept reasonably safe from fire. Any retroactive repairs, modifications, alterations or additions required by the IFC must be made in compliance with the IEBC.
The IFC, in conjunction with NFPA 80, will tell you how to maintain the fire-rated glazing installations throughout the building properly and how to repair them if they’re damaged or in need of repair.
Knowing which codes to consult is only part of the challenge regarding fire and life safety. Anyone who’s worked with fire-rated glass knows there can be some complicated code provisions to follow when specifying fire-rated systems.
In next month’s blog, I’ll look at some stickier issues in Chapters 7 and 10 of the IBC, including the different test standards that can apply to fire door assemblies and how the elusive exit access fits into a means of egress system.