Tennessee Fire Division Files Residential and State Building Code Rule

After the passage of legislation in June requiring the state to update its building energy standards, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Fire Prevention filed a rule doing so with the Secretary of State on March 29. Pending review by the Attorney General’s office, the rule will enact statewide standards for residential and state-owned building construction. Among the key changes:

• Effective July 1, 2010: For new construction and additions to state buildings, the energy efficiency provisions (Chapter 13) of the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) will be replaced by ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007.
• Effective October 1, 2010: The statewide standard for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses will be the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC). The energy efficiency provisions (Chapter 11) of the IRC will be replaced by the 2006 IECC.
• Effective October 1, 2011: Residential additions of 30 or more square feet will be included under the statewide residential standard.

Other provisions in the rule regarding local adoption and enforcement include:

• Before July 1, 2010: Local jurisdictions that have adopted a residential code that is current within 7 years of its current published edition (i.e. 2003 or later version of the IECC or IRC) must notify the Division of Fire Prevention of their intent to undertake their own enforcement program.
• The Division of Fire Prevention will enforce the statewide residential standards in jurisdictions that do not have enforcement programs. Local governments that do not adopt and enforce a residential code may opt out of the state enforcement program with a two-thirds majority vote of the local governing body before July 1, 2010 and again after subsequent elections for that body.

More Information: Residential Code Rule

****

Tennessee Code Status Page