Notice of Suspension of Regulatory Process and Additional Comment Period

Title of Regulation: 13VAC5-63. Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Statutory Authority: § 36-98 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: December 22, 2010.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to § 2.2-4007.06 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Housing and Community Development is suspending certain provisions of the final Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63) published in 27:2 VA.R. 217-342 September 27, 2010, and is soliciting additional comments on changes made to these specific provisions between publication of the proposed regulations and publication of the final regulations. The specific provisions are set forth below.

The additional 30-day comment period ends on December 22, 2010. Written comment regarding these specific provisions may be submitted to the agency contact listed below.

13VAC5-63-210 M 68 and M 69

68. Change Section E3802.4 to read:

E3802.4 In unfinished basements. Where type SE or NM cable is run at angles with joists in unfinished basements, cable assemblies containing two or more conductors of sizes 6 AWG and larger and assemblies containing three or more conductors of sizes 8 AWG and larger shall not require additional protection where attached directly to the bottom of the joists. Smaller cables shall be run either through bored holes in joists or on running boards. NM cable installed on the wall of an unfinished basement shall be permitted to be installed in a listed conduit or tubing or shall be protected in accordance with Table E3802.1. Conduit or tubing shall be provided with a suitable insulating bushing or adapter at the point the where cable enters the raceway. The NM or SE cable sheath shall extend through the conduit or tubing and into the outlet or device box not less than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm). The cable shall be secured within 12 inches (305 mm) of the point where the cable enters the conduit or tubing. Metal conduit, tubing, and metal outlet boxes shall be connected to an equipment grounding conductor.

69. Change Section E3902.11 to read:

E3902.11 Arc-fault protection of bedroom outlets. All branch circuits that supply 120-volt, single phase, 15-ampere and 20-ampere outlets installed in bedrooms shall be protected by a combination type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed to provide protection of the branch circuit.

Exceptions:

1. Where a combination AFCI is installed at the first outlet to provide protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit, the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and such outlet shall be wired with metal outlet and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT or steel armored cable, Type AC meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8.

2. AFCI protection is not required for a branch circuit supplying only a fire alarm system where the branch circuit is wired with metal outlet and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT or steel armored cable Type AC meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8.

13VAC5-63-240 E, L, and Q

E. Change Section 903.2.3 of the IBC to read:

903.2.3 Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies as follows:

1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 20,000 square feet (1858 m²) in area.

2. Throughout every portion of educational buildings below the lowest level of exit discharge serving that portion of the building.

Exception: An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any area below the lowest level of exit discharge serving that area where every classroom throughout the building has at least one exterior exit door at ground level.

L. Change Item 1 of Section 906.1 of the IBC to read:

906.1 General. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in occupancies and locations as required by the International Fire Code.

1. In Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-4, and S occupancies.

[ Exceptions Exception ]:[ 1. ] Group R-2 occupancies [ In Group A, B, and E occupancies equipped throughout with quick response sprinklers, portable fire extinguishers shall be required only in locations specified in Items 2 through 6. 2. ] In Group I-3 occupancies, portable fire extinguishers shall be permitted to be located at staff locations and the access to such extinguishers shall be permitted to be locked.

Q. Change Section 911.1.3 of the IBC to read:

911.1.3 Size. The fire command center shall be a minimum of 96 square feet (9 m²) in area with a minimum dimension of eight feet (2438 mm).

Exception: Where it is determined by the building official, after consultation with the fire chief, that specific building characteristics require a larger fire command center, the building official may increase the minimum required size of the fire command center up to 200 square feet (19 m²) in area with a minimum dimension of up to 10 feet (3048 mm).

13VAC5-63-245 B

B. Change Section 1005.1 of the IBC to read:

1005.1 Minimum required egress width. The means of egress width shall not be less than required by this section. The total width of means of egress in inches (mm) shall not be less than the total occupant load served by the means of egress multiplied by 0.3 inches (7.62 mm) per occupant for stairways and by 0.2 inches (5.08 mm) per occupant for other egress components. The width shall not be less than specified elsewhere in this code. Multiple means of egress shall be sized such that the loss of any one means of egress shall not reduce the available capacity to less than 50% of the required capacity. The maximum capacity required from any story of a building shall be maintained to the termination of the means of egress.

Exceptions:

1. Means of egress complying with Section 1028.

2. For occupancies other than Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and I-2, in buildings equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the total width of means of egress in inches (mm) shall not be less than the total occupant load served by the means of egress multiplied by 0.2 inches (5.08 mm) per occupant for stairways and by 0.15 inches (3.81 mm) per occupant for other egress components.

Agency Contact: Stephen W. Calhoun, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Housing and Community Development, Main Street Center, 600 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-7000, FAX (804) 371-7090, TTY (804) 371-7089, or email steve.calhoun@dhcd.virginia.gov.