DCRA Construction Code Updates

Posted @ 10/2/2018 8:55 AM by anonymous | Files in Uncategorized

On Friday, September 28th the DC Department of Consumer Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and the Construction Codes Coordinating Council released the proposed updates to the 2017 Construction Codes. The codes in their entirety will be open for review until the close of business on Monday, October 29, 2018.  A copy of the code may be found via the District’s website 2017 DC Construction Code

In addition to the aforementioned document, the group has also adopted a list of the supplemental codes based on well-known industry best practices. This list of supplemental codes includes the following:

  •      2017 Residential Code - The District of Columbia Residential Code (2017), referred to as the “Residential Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Residential Code (International Residential Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Residential Code Supplement of 2017 (12-B DCMR). The International Residential Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IRC2015.
  •      2017 Electrical Code - The District of Columbia Electrical Code (2017), referred to as the “Electrical Code,” consists of the 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code (National Electrical Code), published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), as amended by the Electrical Code Supplement of 2017 (12-C DCMR). The National Electrical Code is copyrighted by the NFPA and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained from the NFPA.
  •      2017 Fuel Gas Code - The District of Columbia Fuel Gas Code (2017), referred to as the “Fuel Gas Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Fuel Gas Code (International Fuel Gas Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Fuel Gas Code Supplement of 2017 (12-D DCMR). The International Fuel Gas Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/toc/547/.
  •      2017 Mechanical Code - The District of Columbia Mechanical Code (2017), referred to as the “Mechanical Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Mechanical Code (International Mechanical Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Mechanical Code Supplement of 2017 (12-E DCMR). The International Mechanical Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/toc/549.
  •     2017 Plumbing Code - The District of Columbia Plumbing Code (2017), referred to as the “Plumbing Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Plumbing Code (International Plumbing Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Plumbing Code Supplement of 2017 (12-F DCMR). The International Plumbing Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IPC2015.
  •       2017 Property Maintenance Code - The District of Columbia Property Maintenance Code (2017), referred to as the “Property Maintenance Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code (International Property Maintenance Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Property Maintenance Code Supplement of 2017 (12-G DCMR). The International Property Maintenance Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/toc/551/
  •       2017 Fire Code - The District of Columbia Fire Code (2017), referred to as the “Fire Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code (International Fire Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Fire Code Supplement of 2017 (12-H DCMR). The International Fire Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be reviewed at https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IFC2015.
  •       2017 Energy Conservation Code (Commercial Provisions)- The District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code (2017), referred to as the “Energy Conservation Code,” consists of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 90.1) and substantial portions of Chapter 7 of ANSI/ASHREA/IES 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1), published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the  Residential Provisions of the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (International Energy Conservation Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Commercial Provisions (12-I[CE] DCMR) and the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Residential Provisions (12-I[RE] DCMR). The International Energy Conservation Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IECC2015.  ASHRAE 90.1 is copyrighted by ASHRAE and therefore is not republished here.  However, the text of ASHRAE 90.1 may be reviewed at: https://www.ashrae.org/standards-research--technology. Portions of Chapter 7 of ASHRAE 189.1 are reprinted in the District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code Supplement by permission of ASHRAE and ICC.
  •       2017 Energy Conservation Code - The District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code (2017), referred to as the “Energy Conservation Code,” consists of  ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 90.1) and substantial portions of Chapter 7 of ANSI/ASHREA/IES 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1), published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the  Residential Provisions of the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (International Energy Conservation Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Commercial Provisions (12-I[CE] DCMR) and the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Residential Provisions (12-I[RE] DCMR). The International Energy Conservation Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IECC2015.  ASHRAE 90.1 is copyrighted by ASHRAE and therefore is not republished here.  However, the text of ASHRAE 90.1 may be reviewed at: https://www.ashrae.org/standards-research--technology. Portions of Chapter 7 of ASHRAE 189.1 are reprinted in the District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code Supplement by permission of ASHRAE and ICC.
  •       2017 Existing Building Code - The District of Columbia Existing Building Code (2017), referred to as the “Existing Building Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Existing Building Code (International Existing Building Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Existing Building Code Supplement of 2017 (12-J DCMR).  The International Existing Building Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/public/collections/.
  •       2017 Green Construction Code - The District of Columbia Green Construction Code (2017), referred to as the “Green Construction Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Green Construction Code (International Green Construction Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the District of Columbia Green Construction Code Supplement of 2017 (12-K DCMR). The International Green Construction Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/toc/548/.
  •       2017 Swimming Pool and Spa Code - The District of Columbia Swimming Pool and Spa Code (2017), referred to as the “Swimming Pool and Spa Code,” consists of the 2015 edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (International Swimming Pool and Spa Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Swimming Pool and Spa Code Supplement of 2017 (12-L DCMR). The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/toc/555

While the supplemental codes listed above are not open to comments or interpretation, they are the foundation for the updated 2017 code. If you would like to provide comments or feedback to the code, please contact Eric J. Jones, MSF by the close of business on Wednesday, October 24th via email to [email protected]