Key nonstructural changes to 2012 IBC
William E. Koffel, PE, FSFPE
05/13/2013
The new 2012 International Building Code (IBC) was
published June 9, 2011, and is being adopted as the
applicable building code by many states, counties,
cities, and municipalities across the United States.
As part of the triennial code development process,
the 2012 IBC includes many new or revised code
requirements not previously included in the 2009
IBC.
While it is important for the members of a design or
building assessment team to understand the impact
of building code changes on all the members of the
team, this article focuses on the significant
nonstructural changes to the 2012 IBC that typically
impact consulting and specifying engineers, other
than structural and material requirements.
Separate articles would be necessary to discuss the
changes to the structural/material requirements and
changes that primarily impact the practice of
architecture.
For a more complete discussion of these changes in
the 2012 edition of the IBC, one can refer to
Significant Changes to the International Building
Code, 2012 Edition, published by the International
Code Council (ICC).
Fire service access elevators: Paragraph 403.6.1 has
been revised to require a minimum of two fire
service access elevators in buildings with an
occupied floor level more than 120 ft above the
lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
The 2009 IBC required only one fire service access
elevator. In addition, the paragraph now includes a
requirement that each elevator have a capacity of at
least 3,500 pounds. Under normal conditions, the
revision results in at least two elevators being
available for fire suppression personnel in such
buildings. In addition, because an elevator may be
out of service, the change results in a reasonable
expectation that at least one fire service access
elevator will be available at all times.
It should be noted that there have also been
revisions to the detailed requirements for fire
service access elevators and occupant evacuation
elevators. For the most part, these revisions provide
for the elevators to be able to continue to function
and serve their intended purpose during an
emergency (Sections 3007 and 3008, respectively).
A complication unresolved in the 2012 IBC is related
to the requirement for direct access between the
fire service access elevators and the exit stair
enclosure.
Koffel Associates Inc.,
Columbia, Md.
This complication will likely be resolved in the 2015
IBC. Users of the code should consider reviewing the
changes in the 2015 edition for potentially more
reasonable design direction.
Use of the 2015 language should be reviewed with
the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ).
Fire ratings of exterior walls: A new note “h” has
been added to Table 602 to clarify that nonrated
exterior walls are permitted when nonbearing
exterior walls with unlimited openings are permitted
by Table 705.8.
This occurs when the building is protected with
automatic sprinkler protection and the fire
separation distance is at least 20 ft.
Using sprinklers to achieve a fire resistance rating:
In the past there has been an ICC-ES Evaluation
Report (ESR-2397) that describes a glass assembly
protected with a specific automatic sprinkler as
having a fire resistance rating of 2 hours.
The 2012 IBC contains Section 703.4, which restricts
the use of automatic sprinklers or any other fire
suppression system when testing an assembly to
achieve a fire resistance rating. When installing a
sprinkler in the furnace, the tested assembly is not
likely to be exposed to the standard temperature-
time curve as required by the fire test because
operation of the sprinkler will result in a cooling
effect within the furnace.
As such, the fire test would not be in strict
compliance with the required fire test standard.
That is not so say that an assembly that is protected
with a specific sprinkler or specific sprinkler design
may not be considered to be equivalent to a fire-
rated building element or assembly, but rather that
the sprinkler may not be part of the fire test used to
qualify the building element or assembly.
The IBC commentary on this code change clarifies
that it is not the intent of the code to prohibit the
use of such sprinklers. Rather, the change implies
that the use of a window sprinkler system to provide
such rating is to be considered under alternate
materials and methods of construction.
Therefore, such window sprinklers remain a viable
candidate for the right applications.
 Key nonstructural changes to 2012 IBC
05/13/2013
Refuse and laundry chutes: Section 713.13 contains
a provision to require the use of NFPA 82: Standard
on Incinerators and Waste and Linen Handling
Systems and Equipment, Chapter 5, for determining
the requirements for refuse and laundry chutes in
buildings of Group I-2.
It should be noted that the 2015 IBC will require the
use of NFPA 82 for refuse and laundry chutes in all
occupancies (FS60-12).
Elevator lobbies: Elevators that only serve lower
levels of a high-rise building (less than 75 ft above
the lowest level of fire department access) need not
have elevator lobbies since those elevator shafts
should not experience the same pressure difference
as the shafts serving the upper floors (Exception No.
4.3, Paragraph 713.14.1)
Floor penetrations: Historically the IBC has not
required a T rating for through penetration firestop
systems when the floor penetration was contained
and located within the cavity of a wall.
The 2012 IBC has extended this exemption for the T
rating to include floor penetrations for floor drains,
tub drains, and shower drains contained and located
within a concealed space of a horizontal assembly
(Exception No. 2, Paragraph 714.4.1.1.2).
As with a wall cavity, the provision assumes that a T
rating is not required due to the reduced likelihood
that combustibles will be exposed to any
temperature increase of the penetrating item.
Duct penetrations of fire partitions: A new
exception has been added to permit the omission of
fire dampers where a ducted HVAC system
penetrates a fire partition having a fire resistance
rating of 1 hour or less and located in a building
protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler
system. The exception clarifies what is intended by a
“ducted HVAC system,” and the provision is the
same as what was previously permitted for duct
penetrations of 1-hour fire barriers (Exception No. 4,
Paragraph 717.5.4).
Sprinklers in ambulatory care facilities: Recognizing
that ambulatory care facilities are often located in
office buildings in which the fire resistance rating of
the floor may not be adequate to define a separate
fire area, Paragraph 903.2.2 has been revised to
require automatic sprinkler protection throughout
the entire floor containing an ambulatory care
facility, all floors below the ambulatory care facility,
and all floors between the ambulatory care facility
William E. Koffel, PE, FSFPE
Koffel Associates Inc.,
Columbia, Md.
and the level of exit discharge. However, if there are
floors above the ambulatory care facility, they need
not be protected with an automatic sprinkler system
even if the fire resistance rating of the floor is less
than what is required to separate fire areas.
Manufacture, display, and storage of upholstered
furniture and mattresses: The threshold for
mandating sprinkler protection in Groups F-1 and S-1
has been revised to include a requirement for
sprinkler protection if upholstered furniture or
mattresses are manufactured or stored and the area
exceeds 2,500 sq ft.
In addition, the existing requirement for sprinkler
protection in Group M occupancies used for the
display and sale of upholstered furniture in excess of
5,000 sq ft has been expanded to include the display
and sale of mattresses (Paragraphs 903.2.4, 903.2.7,
and 903.2.9).
Emergency voice/alarm communication captions: In
stadiums, arenas, and grandstands, the emergency
voice/alarm communication system shall include the
ability to display captions where audible public
announcements are also required to include
captions by Paragraph 1108.2.7.3 (Paragraph
907.5.2.2.4).
Voice alarm systems in schools: The fire alarm
system in Group E occupancies shall now include an
emergency voice/alarm communication system.
In addition, the threshold for when a fire alarm
system is required in a Group E occupancy has been
reduced to an occupant load of more than 30
(previously it was 50 or more) (Paragraph 907.2.3).
As noted below, where automatic sprinkler
protection and emergency voice/alarm
communication systems are provided, lower egress
capacity factors may be used.
College and university residential buildings: Where
there is an interior corridor serving sleeping rooms,
college and university buildings containing a Group
R-2 occupancy are required to have an automatic
smoke detection system in the corridors, common
spaces, laundry rooms, mechanical equipment
rooms, and storage rooms.
In addition, the smoke alarms in Group R-2 college
and university buildings are required to be
interconnected with the building fire alarm
system (Paragraph 907.2.9.3).
 Key nonstructural changes to 2012 IBC
William E. Koffel, PE, FSFPE
Koffel Associates Inc.,
05/13/2013 Columbia, Md.

Carbon monoxide detection: A new section (908.7)

has been added to require carbon monoxide alarms William E. Koffel is president of Koffel Associates Inc.
or carbon monoxide detection systems in Group I He has been an active participant in the International
and Group R occupancies where the building Code Council process since the inception of the ICC,
contains fuel-burning appliances or an attached serving on numerous committees and currently
garage. serving on the ICC Code Technology Committee. He
was the 2010 recipient of the ICC Affiliate Award.
Egress capacity factors: Where automatic sprinkler
protection and emergency voice/alarm
communication systems are installed in other than
Group H and I-2 occupancies, a reduced egress
capacity shall be permitted to be used (Section
1005.3).

Floor-level exit signs: Where exit signs are required

in Group R-1 occupancies, additional low-level exit
signs shall be provided in all areas serving guest
rooms.
In addition to increasing the level of safety for the
building occupants, the substantiation also noted
that such signs will also increase firefighter safety
(Section 1011.2).

Attic ventilation: The 2012 Edition of the IBC

provides for reduction in the vent area for attics;
when determined to not be necessary by the
building official, attic ventilation shall not be
required (Section 1203.2).

Photovoltaic systems: New provisions have been

added for photovoltaic elements (modules/shingles
or systems) including requirements to meet the
existing requirements for roofing materials and
rooftop structures (Sections 1505.8, 1507.17,
1509.7, and 3111).

Special inspections: A new requirement for special

inspections of through penetration firestop systems
and fire-resistant joint systems has been added for
high-rise buildings and for buildings assigned a Risk
Category III or IV in accordance with Section 1604.5.
The special inspections are to be conducted in
accordance with ASTM E2174 or ASTM E2393
(Section 1705.16).
In addition to the above items, registered design
professionals should review the 2012 Edition of the
IBC in its entirety to identify all the proposed
changes that may impact their practice of
engineering.