PERMITS & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT

2003 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE

IRC

IMPORTANT DATES

• New codes will affect all plans submitted after September 1, 2005

• Any existing project or plans submitted prior to September 1 will be reviewed and inspected under old codes

• Inspections for permits issued after September 1 will be conducted under the new codes effective November 1, 2005

IRC 2003 SECTION 100

PLAN REVIEWCERTIFICATION OF MAIN STRUCTUARAL ELEMENTS AND COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL

COMPLETE PLANS MUST HAVE4 ELEVATIONS FRONT, REAR, & BOTH SIDESCROSS SECTION TO ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE DETAILFLOOR PLANS FOR ALL LEVELS ONLY MINOR REVISIONS ALLOWED

R506.2.1 GARAGE SLABS EXCEEDING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE ENGINEERED>2’CLEAN SAND OR GRAVEL & 6” BASE

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 100

R105.7 BY LOCAL AMENDMENT

THE PERMIT HOLDER OR HIS AGENT SHALL POST THE PERMIT INSPECTION RECORD ON THE JOB SITE IN AN ACCESSABLE AND CONSPICUOUS PLACE TO ALLOW THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO MAKE THE REUIRED ENTRIES

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

R301.5 DECK LOADS

REDUCED FROM 60 PSF TO 40 PSF

R303.3 BATHROOM MECHANICAL EXHAUST

MINIMUM 50 CFM INTERMITENT

MINIMUM 20 CFM CONTINUOUS

FANS MUST BE VENTED TO EXTERIOR OF BUILDING THROUGH ROOF OR GABLE END AND

TERMINATE WITH AN APPROVED CAP

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

R305 MINIMUM CEILING HEIGHT FOR HABITABLE AREAS

REDUCED FROM 7’6” TO 7’0”R308.4 SAFETY GLAZING

WINDOWS IN & AROUND STAIRWAYS & LANDINGS WITHIN 60” OF FLOOR

R309 GARAGE FIRE SEPARATION½” DRYWALL STANDARD5/8” TYPE X ON CEILING WITH ROOM ABOVE PLUS ½” ON ALL SUPPORTING WALLS4” STEP DOWN IS NO LONGER REQUIRED FLOOR MUST SLOPE TOWARD DOORS OR DRAIN20 MINUTE RATED DOOR MIN. SELF CLOSING NO LONGER REQUIRED

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

R310 EMERGENCY EGRESS (BEDROOMS) WINDOWS

24” CLEAR OPENING HEIGHT20” CLEAR OPENING WIDTH5.7 SQ.FT. NET CLEAR OPENING

IRC ADDRESSES SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON DESIGN OF WINDOW WELLS FOR

EMERGENCY EGRESS

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

R310 EMERGENCY EGRESS (BASEMENTS)

EMERGENCY EGRESS REQUIRED FROM ALL BASEMENT AREAS (FUTURE HABITABLE SPACE)

BEDROOMS OR SLEEPING AREAS

DOORS, STAIRWAYS, BILCO DOORS, EMERGENCY WINDOWS ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE

THIS IS NOT AN APPROVED MEANS OF EGRESS !!!

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

R311 MEANS OF EGRESS

ACCESSABLE STORAGE AREAS UNDER STAIRWAYS MUST BE DRYWALLED.

NO CHANGE IN STAIR REQUIREMENTS 8 1/4” MAX RISER 9” MAX TREAD

R312 GUARD RAILS/ HAND RAILS

MAXIMUM OPENING CHANGED FROM 6” TO 4”

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

R313.1 SMOKE DETECTORS MUST BE INSTALLED

ON ALL FLOORSIN ALL BEDROOMSVICINITY OF ALL SLEEPING AREAS

R321.1 BUILDING ADDRESSES NOW REQUIRED4” HIGH FOR SINGLE FAMILY6” HIGH FOR MULTI-FAMILYMUST BE CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM

STREET

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 300

R317 DWELLING UNIT FIRE SEPARATIONDUPLEX – 1 HOUR SEPARATIONTOWNHOUSES (SEMI DETACHED)

2 HR SEPARATION WALL WITH PARAPET OR INSTALLATION OF FIRE-RETARDENT SHEATHING 4’

ON EITHER SIDE OF SEPARATION WALL

NO OPENINGS PERMITTED WITHIN 4’ OF SEPARATION WALLNO SPRINKLER EXCEPTION

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 400

R403.1.4.1 FROST DEPTH FOUNDATIONNOT REQUIRED FOR FREE STANDING ACCESSORY STRUCTURES <= 400 SQ.FT.

PERMITS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR ACCESSORY

BUILDINGS UNDER 200 SQ.FT.

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 400

R404.1 FOUNDATIONSHOUSE LOCATION SURVEY REQUIRED BEFORE FOUNDATION INSPECTIONNEW TABLES BASED ON SOIL

TYPE AND BACKFILL HEIGHTSPECIFIC REINFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 400

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 400

R408.5.1 PIERS

MUST BE SUPPORTED BY EARTH ON ALL SIDES IN CRAWL SPACES

CANNOT BE FORMED ON TOP OF GROUND

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 400

R406 WATER/DAMP PROOFINGWATERPROOFING ONLY REQUIRED WHEN PROOF OF HIGH WATER TABLE OR SEVERE SOIL CONDITION IS SUBMITTED

ENGINEERS REPORT REQUIRED BYOPTION OF BUILDERREQUEST OF INSPECTOR

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 500

R502.8 SPANS, CUTTING, & NOTCHINGBASICALLY THE SAME ONLY MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO TABLES

JOIST BLOCKING OVER GIRDERSREQUIRED WHERE JOISTS DO NOT OVER LAP AT LEAST 3”EXAMPLE 12”OC TO 16”OC

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 600

R602.3 STUD SPACING

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 600

R602.3.1 STUD SPACING FOR WALLS > 10’

IRC SPECIFIES STUD SIZE & SPACING FOR WALLS

GREATER THAN 10’ FOR VARIOUS LOADING SITUATIONS

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 700

R7 WALL COVERINGS

EXTERIOR BRICK VENIER SUPPORT IRC OFFERS ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS THAT IF INSTALLED PER CODE ENGINEERS DESIGN IS NOT REQUIRED

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 800

R7 RAFTERS AND JOISTSCHANGES IN SPAN TABLESRESULTS ABOUT THE SAME ALLOWS FOR INTERPOLATION

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 SECTION 800/900

R802.10.5 TRUSS & WALL CONNECTIONSTRUSS CONNECTIONS REQUIREDDESIGNED TO RESIST MIN. 175 POUNDS OF LIFT

R900.0 ROOF ASSEMBLIES ICE PROTECTION

REQUIRED FOR SLOPES < 4:12 30 LBS FELT OR EQUIVELANT

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

IRC 2003 ENERGY CODE

MARYLAND STATE ENERGY CODEAs part of the International Energy Conservation Code the state of Maryland has adopted the

Maryland Energy Code with no local amendments allowed. At this time Washington County does not perform energy code inspections, with the exception of verifying proper installation, flame and smoke developed index on exposed insulation, but recognizes the importance of energy conservation.

R316.1 FLAME SPREAD INDEX <= 25 SMOKE-DEVELOPED INDEX <= 450

R318.1 VAPOR RETARDER SHALL BE INSTALLED ON THE WARM-IN-WINTER SIDE OF

INSULATION

CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION