Springfield City Council to hear first readings of bills updating building codes

(From the City of Springfield)

Springfield’s building codes will be updated for the first time in at least three years, if approved by City Council this fall.

City Council will hear the first readings of a set of ordinances to adopt the 2018 International Residential and Commercial Building Codes and 2017 Electrical Code in October.

The code updates will apply to fire safety, insulation and building materials in new construction and major renovations.

The City is currently using the 2012 International Building Code. The International Code Council provides updated codes every three years, according to Building Development Services Director Harlan Hill.

“Springfield has chosen to update building codes every six years, but we consider amendments every three years,” he says.

BDS staff took public input on the 2018 code adoption Aug. 1-Sept. 11. Significant changes from the 2012 codes to the 2018 codes are:
Additional third-party special inspections for wood-framed structures;
Updated energy code and;
Scaled drawings for residential buildings.

If approved, the new requirements would go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.