NAHB Members Evaluate New Building Code Proposals

Members of two NAHB Construction Codes and Standards Committee Proposal Oversight Groups (POGs) recently met at NAHB headquarters, the National Housing Center, to review code proposals submitted for Group B of the International Code Council’s 2024-2026 code development cycle.

POGs are working groups overseen by the Construction Codes and Standards Committee and charged with determining NAHB’s advocacy position on code change proposals going through the ICC code development process. The POGs meet prior to the first ICC Committee Action Hearing of each group to review staff recommendations for positions on the code change proposals and assign importance rankings.

The Building POG (B-POG) and Structural POG (S-POG) met most recently in Washington, D.C.

B-POG and S-POG members reviewed a total of 1,072 proposals and identified 233 proposals for NAHB staff and members to support or oppose. These proposals will be debated at the upcoming ICC Group B Committee Action Hearings in Orlando, April 27-May 6.

Significant proposals identified for NAHB support or opposition include:

Support:

• A proposal that adds a definition and new referenced standard that would simplify the use of salvaged lumber in new buildings.
• A proposal that returns stairway geometry in residential buildings to the widely adopted 8 1/4” X 9” rise/run.

Oppose:

• A proposal to create a new IBC appendix regulating Embodied GHG Emissions Reporting and Reduction.
• A proposal that adds to the information required on the construction documents for braced wall design.
• A proposal adding a required water-resistive barrier inspection to the administrative chapter.
• A proposal deleting IRC appendix BO for existing buildings and creating a new chapter in the IRC from the same.

Members with a desire to make a difference in the development of model building codes are encouraged to attend the hearings and testify. The hearings begin April 27 and are held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando (5780 Major Blvd, Orlando, FL). More information about the code hearings and registration information is available on the ICC website.