Indiana Exploratory Committee for Code Updates

About the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission’s Exploratory Committee for Code Updates

At its Tuesday, December 1, 2020, meeting, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (the Commission) took official action to form an exploratory committee that will be tasked with reviewing the Commission’s current rules (the statewide building and fire safety codes Title 675 of the Indiana Administrative Code) and recommending the next statewide code, or codes, that will be updated through the state of Indiana’s formal administrative rulemaking process (IC 4-22-2). At its Tuesday, January 5, 2021, meeting, the Commission approved the membership and bylaws of its Exploratory Committee for Code Updates (the Committee). The Committee is composed of the following seven voting members:

• Christina M. Collester, RTM Consultants, Inc. (code consultant)
• Donald G. Corson, American Structurepoint, Inc. (licensed engineer)
• Doug Elmore, Gene B. Glick Company, Inc. (Indiana Apartment Association representative)
• Joshua Frost, Zionsville Fire Department (fire official)
• Gregory G. Furnish, Upright Builders, LLC (Indiana Builders Association representative)
• Scott Pannicke, RATIO Architects (licensed architect)
• Michael J. Popich, Chairman, City of Indianapolis (building official)

Upon reviewing the Commission’s current rules and selecting the next code, or codes, to be updated by the Commission, the Committee will submit a report of its findings and determinations to the Commission (see the Committee’s bylaws for additional, more specific information). Members of the public are invited to attend all meetings of the Committee, and participate in the Committee’s discussions, at the chair’s discretion. Questions regarding the Committee and its meetings may be directed to the Committee’s staff at buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov. For more information and to view the Committee’s meeting materials, please see information below.

Public Comments on the Commission’s Current Rules

The Committee is accepting and encouraging comments from all interested persons regarding the impact the Commission’s current adoption of older versions of model codes has on construction in Indiana, and the impact that updating these model codes to more current versions (e.g., the 2021 I-Codes) will have on construction, economic development and public safety in Indiana. Comments should be limited to the following rules of the Commission:

• 2014 Indiana Building Code (675 IAC 13-2.6)
• 2020 Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14-4.4)
• 2012 Indiana Plumbing Code (675 IAC 16-1.4)
• Indiana Electrical Code, 2009 Edition (675 IAC 17-1.8)
• 2014 Indiana Mechanical Code (675 IAC 18-1.6)
• 2010 Indiana Energy Conservation Code (675 IAC 19-4)
• Swimming Pool Code (675 IAC 20)
• 2014 Indiana Fire Code (675 IAC 22-2.5)
• 2014 Indiana Fuel Gas Code (675 IAC 25-3)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards (675 IAC 28-1)

Comments shall be submitted through the Commission’s Code Comments web form. Meaningful comments will explain whether a change to the code or its requirements is necessary; if changes are necessary, is it necessary to update the entire model code or just modify specific provisions of concern and why; if updating the entire model code is necessary, identify the significant differences between the Commission’s existing rule and newer versions of the model code in question; identify the specific issues the update of the code requirement is designed to address; explain the impact of updating the code requirements (direct and indirect); explain whether the net effect of adopting the code will result in additional regulation or reduced regulation; identify the expected fiscal impact of updating the code; and identify any health or safety concerns being addressed by the change to the code requirement.

Submit code comments

Additionally, at its Thursday, June 10, 2021, the Committee took explicit action to establish its priorities and the order of the code updates that it will recommend to the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission. The Committee’s priority recommendations are as follows:

Top Priority

• Update the Indiana Electrical Code to the most recent edition of the national model code (NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code).

Next Priorities

• Update the family of core codes to the most recent editions of the nation model codes in one comprehensive code update/rule promulgation:
  • International Building Code
    • Updating to the most recent edition of the International Building Code will also include adoption of the International Existing Building Code (in replacement of Chapter of 34 of the currently-adopted building code).
  • International Fire Code
  • International Fuel Gas Code
  • International Mechanical Code
  • International Plumbing Code
• Repeal the NFPA Standards amendments under 675 IAC 28 as the family of core codes are updated.
• Update the Indiana Energy Conservation Code to the most recent edition of either ANSI/ASHRAE 90.1 or the International Energy Conservation Code.

Low Priorities:

• Updating the Swimming Pool Code under 675 IAC 20
• Updating the Indiana Residential Code under 675 IAC 14

Interested persons are welcome to submit any comments or concerns regarding these code update priority recommendations to the Committee.

Please be advised comments will be considered for informational purposes only in order to assist the Committee in its prioritization of recommended code updates. Questions may be directed to the Committee’s staff at buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov.