Proposed Changes to the 2000 ICC Codes

Proposed Changes to the 2000 ICC Codes
April 9 - 20, 2000
Birmingham, Alabama

Report by Jim Buckley, representing the Clay Flue Lining Institute (CFLI)
____________

Background: The Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) meeting held in Arizona March 9 - 10, 2000 in preparation for these code change meetings was reported to the CFLI in March, 2000 and are on line at http//www.rumford.com/code/MACS.html CFLI did not instruct me to take a position other than those that MACS took. I did get Bob Rucker's approval to oppose, in the name of the CFLI, RB 113-00 dealing with insulated assemblies and clearances issues on which MACS did not take any position.

International Building Code (IBC) Committee
The fireplace and chimney issues were considered first, on Saturday morning, by the IBC Structural Committee. In the order they were heard, here are the results:
S 80-00 - IBC fireplace clearances - MACS Position (S) Approved as Modified
The proposal put the fireplace clearances-to-combustibles language we had worked on last year for the IRC into the IBC. Non-controversial, except for a couple of typos, it passed easily "as modified".
RB 107-00 - cleanup - MACS Position (S) Approved as Modified
This proposal was also thought to be non-controversial and editorial in nature. Jim Brewer (NCSG), however, objected to the words "non-combustible" to describe cleanouts, saying that would allow, aluminum or copper cleanouts which may melt. Before the meeting we agreed to substitute "ferrous metal or masonry" for cleanout doors. With that amendment, and another amendment from the Committee to correct the hearth extension thickness to 2" in the table, the proposal passed easily.
RB 108-00 - steel fireplace units - MACS Position (+) Approved as Modified
Before the meeting Jim Brewer (NCSG) objected to the language that might allow any sheet metal shop to use two 1/8" pieces of sheet metal to build a steel firebox. It was agreed by all that the important language to the companies who now make listed steel fireplace units was the first paragraph which allows listed units. With that the proposal was substantially rewritten and the modified proposal was "approved as modified" by the Committee.
RB 109-00 dampers - MACS Position (S) - Approved as Modified
There was one concern that the language would permit dampers that were inaccessible for maintenance but no amendment was proposed. The words "non combustible" were changed to "ferrous metal" to describe the damper material and the proposal was approved.
RB 110-00 insulated steel smoke chamber liners - MACS Position (S) - Disapproved
This proposal was introduced by Walter Moberg, speaking for the proponent, who began by announcing that he would withdraw RB 111 in accordance with the agreement he made in order to gain MACS support for RB 110. After his presentation, Chip Clark, representing MACS, spoke in favor of the proposal. Jim Brewer, (NCSG) spoke in opposition based on his concern that the insulation was not specified, might slip or get wet and leave hot spots and because it would be difficult to inspect. Larry Brown of the National Home Builders Association (NHBA) also spoke in opposition. and the proposal failed. I, too was opposed to the proposal for the same reasons Brewer stated but I did not speak in deference to the MACS agreement to support the proposal.
RB 111-00 insulation for clay & steel smoke chambers - MACS Position (O) Withdrawn
MACS had agreed to support RB 110 if Moberg would withdraw this proposal.
RB 112-00 hearth extensions - MACS Position (S) Disapproved
We had all agreed to support this as weak but better than the existing language but the NHBA spoke in opposition and the proposal failed.
S 81-00 - flue sizing consistent with NFPA 31 - MACS Position (S) - Approved
This proposal, sizing flues for oil and gas appliances consistently within the mechanical and residential codes passed without opposition.
S 82-00 - IRC chimney clearances in IBC - MACS Position (S) - Approved
The proposal put the chimney clearances-to-combustibles language we had worked on last year for the IRC into the IBC. It barely passed after some discussion about whether or not fire blocking had been eliminated. It had not - the proposal just eliminated a redundancy.
RB 113-00 (insulated assemblies & clearances issues - MACS Position (NP*) Disapproved
Moberg's proposal to modify the clearances issues was too complicated, contained too many controversial issues and was disapproved. Brewer (NCSG), Buckley representing the Clay Flue Lining Institute (CFLI), Clark, representing the Brick Industry Association (BIA), and the Brown (NHBA) all spoke in opposition.
RB 114-00 exterior air made optional - MACS Position (-) Disapproved
Brewer's proposal to make exterior air optional and make other safety related changes failed for lack of support. The NHBA spoke against it.
RB 115-00 exterior air - MACS Position (+) Disapproved
Moberg's proposal on exterior air also failed for lack of support.
RB 105-00 editorial, chimney height - MACS Position (+) Approved
Approved without opposition.
RB 106-00 optional spark arresters - MACS Position (+) Approved
Approved without opposition.

International Residential Code (IRC) Committee
On Sunday the fireplace and chimney issues were considered by the International Residential Code (IRC) Committee. Although the discussion and sometimes the voting margins were different, the IRC Committee confirmed all the decisions made by the IBC Committee. In the order they were heard, here are the results:
RB 105-00 editorial, chimney height - MACS Position (+) Approved
Approved without opposition.
RB 106-00 optional spark arresters - MACS Position (+) Approved
Approved, barely, after discussion about the appropriateness of non mandated codes.
RB 107-00 - cleanup - MACS Position (S) Approved as Modified
This non-controversial, mostly editorial, proposal was modified, as it was for the IBC, to substitute "ferrous metal or masonry" for cleanout doors and passed unanimously.
RB 108-00 - steel fireplace units - MACS Position (+) Approved as Modified
Modified as it was for the IBC, the proposal was approved unanimously.
RB 109-00 dampers - MACS Position (S) - Approved as Modified
Modified as it was for the IBC, this proposal too was approved by the Committee unanimously.
RB 110-00 insulated steel smoke chamber liners - MACS Position (S) - Disapproved
Introduced by Walter Moberg, with some new modifications which included a reference to ASTM C612, the proposal was supported by Clark, representing MACS but still went down to unanimous defeat with Jim Brewer (NCSG) and myself representing CFLI in opposition. The ASTM reference didn't help since, as Brewer pointed out, it had not been reviewed by staff and wasn't listed in the "Reference Standards" (Chapter 43) of the IRC.
RB 111-00 insulation for clay & steel smoke chambers - MACS Position (O) Withdrawn
MACS had agreed to support RB 110 if Moberg would withdraw this proposal.
RB 112-00 hearth extensions - MACS Position (S) Disapproved
The poorly written hearth extensions proposal didn't make it for the same reasons it didn't get approved by the IBC Committee.
RB 113-00 (insulated assemblies & clearances issues - MACS Position (NP*) Disapproved
Moberg's proposal to modify the clearances issues was too complicated, contained too many controversial issues and was disapproved, as it was by the IBC Committee. Brewer (NCSG), Buckley representing the Clay Flue Lining Institute (CFLI) and Larry Brown (NHBA) all spoke in opposition and it failed unanimously.
RB 114-00 exterior air made optional - MACS Position (-) Disapproved
Brewer's proposal to make exterior air optional and make other safety related changes failed in the face of lots of opposition.
RB 115-00 exterior air - MACS Position (+) Disapproved
Moberg's proposal on exterior air also failed for lack of support.
RB 116-00 - masonry heaters - MACS Position (+) Approved as Modified
The masonry heater proposal, with the subjective language about manufacturers and "certified" heater builders removed, passed unanimously with lots of support from the floor and only faint opposition for the lack of a seismic anchoring detail.

Recommendations:
The building codes are never complete. They are always subject to change and the 2002 change cycle begins with the submission of proposals next November. Nevertheless, this is a good time to take stock. The fireplace and chimney sections of the IBC and the IRC which started with the wholesale revision of the One and Two Family Dwelling Code in Nashville in 1995 and changed substantially each year up to and including the inclusion of major revisions of the clearance to combustibles sections in the IBC this year, are now fairly well established.
In particular the special interests of the Clay Flue Lining Institute have been protected:

1) The complicated, inaccurate and confusing flue sizing chart introduced by the BIA has been rationalized and made optional and builders are free to size a flue according to the old rules as a percent of the fireplace opening area.
2) ASTM C315 has been referenced in every section of the IBC and IRC code that mentions clay flue liners.
3) Clay flue liner sections or extrusions are permitted by the code to be used as smoke chamber liners with the attractive benefit of permitting the wall thickness to be reduced if a clay smoke chamber liner is used.
4) With the inclusion of seismic design issues previously only common in the west, the IRC and IBC code language has been made consistent with ASTM C1283 and ASTM C1283 is referenced in the ICC codes.
5) As a result of CFLI participation in the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) we have formed good relationships with masonry industry representatives. We have also formed good relationships with those speaking for the Hearth Products Association, the National Chimney Sweep Guild, National Homebuilders Association, Portland Cement Association, UL and many others.

None of the fireplace and chimney issues which are central to the interests of the CFLI seem to be in any immediate jeopardy. We only have one code change proposal we'd like to make next year regarding clay flue liners: to allow manufacturers to specify the effective cross-sectional areas of the flues they manufacture or allow field measurement rather than have to use the flue size tables in the code which are erroneously based on ASTM manufacturing tolerances.
I think we can relax a little. We can also, now more than ever before, trust others, such as Chip Clark, Jeff Greenwald, Jim Brewer and Mike Van Buren, to watch out for our interests and represent us. Personally, I plan to stay involved in the code change process since there are looming issues (especially energy and clearance to combustibles issues) that will impact masonry fireplaces and chimneys in general but I recommend that the CFLI review its level of commitment to the code change process. Please read the new ICC codes available on the International Code website at http://www.intlcode.org/ and decide if the CFLI wants to maintain its MACS membership and support my (or someone else's) active participation on behalf of the CFLI at MACS and the various code development meetings.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Buckley 4/17/00

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