PERMITS & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT

1. PERMITS & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT 2003 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE IRC

2. IMPORTANT DATES • New codes will affect all plans submitted after September 1, 2005 • Any existing project or plans submitted prior to September 1 will be reviewed and inspected under old codes • Inspections for permits issued after September 1 will be conducted under the new codes effective November 1, 2005

3. IRC 2003 SECTION 100 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION PLAN REVIEW CERTIFICATION OF MAIN STRUCTUARAL ELEMENTS AND COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL COMPLETE PLANS MUST HAVE 4 ELEVATIONS FRONT, REAR, & BOTH SIDES CROSS SECTION TO ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE DETAIL FLOOR PLANS FOR ALL LEVELS ONLY MINOR REVISIONS ALLOWED R506.2.1 GARAGE SLABS EXCEEDING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE ENGINEERED >2’CLEAN SAND OR GRAVEL & 6” BASE

4. IRC 2003 SECTION 100 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R105.7 BY LOCAL AMENDMENT THE PERMIT HOLDER OR HIS AGENT SHALL POST THE PERMIT INSPECTION RECORD ON THE JOB SITE IN AN ACCESSABLE AND CONSPICUOUS PLACE TO ALLOW THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO MAKE THE REUIRED ENTRIES

6. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R301.5 DECK LOADS REDUCED FROM 60 PSF TO 40 PSF R303.3 BATHROOM MECHANICAL EXHAUST MINIMUM 50 CFM INTERMITENT MINIMUM 20 CFM CONTINUOUS FANS MUST BE VENTED TO EXTERIOR OF BUILDING THROUGH ROOF OR GABLE END AND TERMINATE WITH AN APPROVED CAP

7. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R305MINIMUM CEILING HEIGHT FOR HABITABLE AREAS REDUCED FROM 7’6” TO 7’0” R308.4 SAFETY GLAZING WINDOWS IN & AROUND STAIRWAYS & LANDINGS WITHIN 60” OF FLOOR R309 GARAGE FIRE SEPARATION ½” DRYWALL STANDARD 5/8” TYPE X ON CEILING WITH ROOM ABOVE PLUS ½” ON ALL SUPPORTING WALLS 4” STEP DOWN IS NO LONGER REQUIRED FLOOR MUST SLOPE TOWARD DOORS OR DRAIN 20 MINUTE RATED DOOR MIN. SELF CLOSING NO LONGER REQUIRED

8. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R310 EMERGENCY EGRESS (BEDROOMS) WINDOWS 24” CLEAR OPENING HEIGHT 20” CLEAR OPENING WIDTH 5.7 SQ.FT. NET CLEAR OPENING IRC ADDRESSES SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON DESIGN OF WINDOW WELLS FOR EMERGENCY EGRESS

9. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R310 EMERGENCY EGRESS (BASEMENTS) EMERGENCY EGRESS REQUIRED FROM ALL BASEMENT AREAS (FUTURE HABITABLE SPACE) BEDROOMS OR SLEEPING AREAS DOORS, STAIRWAYS, BILCO DOORS, EMERGENCY WINDOWS ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE

10. THIS IS NOT AN APPROVED MEANS OF EGRESS !!!

11. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R311 MEANS OF EGRESS ACCESSABLE STORAGE AREAS UNDER STAIRWAYS MUST BE DRYWALLED. NO CHANGE IN STAIR REQUIREMENTS 8 1/4” MAX RISER 9” MAX TREAD R312 GUARD RAILS/ HAND RAILS MAXIMUM OPENING CHANGED FROM 6” TO 4”

12. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R313.1 SMOKE DETECTORS MUST BE INSTALLED ON ALL FLOORS IN ALL BEDROOMS VICINITY OF ALL SLEEPING AREAS R321.1 BUILDING ADDRESSES NOW REQUIRED 4” HIGH FOR SINGLE FAMILY 6” HIGH FOR MULTI-FAMILY MUST BE CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM STREET

13. IRC 2003 SECTION 300 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R317 DWELLING UNIT FIRE SEPARATION DUPLEX – 1 HOUR SEPARATION TOWNHOUSES (SEMI DETACHED) 2 HR SEPARATION WALL WITH PARAPET OR INSTALLATION OF FIRE-RETARDENT SHEATHING 4’ ON EITHER SIDE OF SEPARATION WALL NO OPENINGS PERMITTED WITHIN 4’ OF SEPARATION WALL NO SPRINKLER EXCEPTION

14. IRC 2003 SECTION 400 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R403.1.4.1 FROST DEPTH FOUNDATION NOT REQUIRED FOR FREE STANDING ACCESSORY STRUCTURES <= 400 SQ.FT. PERMITS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR ACCESSORY BUILDINGS UNDER 200 SQ.FT.

15. IRC 2003 SECTION 400 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R404.1 FOUNDATIONS HOUSE LOCATION SURVEY REQUIRED BEFORE FOUNDATION INSPECTION NEW TABLES BASED ON SOIL TYPE AND BACKFILL HEIGHT SPECIFIC REINFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS

16. IRC 2003 SECTION 400 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION

17. IRC 2003 SECTION 400 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R408.5.1 PIERS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY EARTH ON ALL SIDES IN CRAWL SPACES CANNOT BE FORMED ON TOP OF GROUND

18. IRC 2003 SECTION 400 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R406 WATER/DAMP PROOFING WATERPROOFING ONLY REQUIRED WHEN PROOF OF HIGH WATER TABLE OR SEVERE SOIL CONDITION IS SUBMITTED ENGINEERS REPORT REQUIRED BY OPTION OF BUILDER REQUEST OF INSPECTOR

19. IRC 2003 SECTION 500 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R502.8 SPANS, CUTTING, & NOTCHING BASICALLY THE SAME ONLY MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO TABLES JOIST BLOCKING OVER GIRDERS REQUIRED WHERE JOISTS DO NOT OVER LAP AT LEAST 3” EXAMPLE 12”OC TO 16”OC

21. IRC 2003 SECTION 600 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R602.3 STUD SPACING

22. IRC 2003 SECTION 600 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R602.3.1 STUD SPACING FOR WALLS > 10’ IRC SPECIFIES STUD SIZE & SPACING FOR WALLS GREATER THAN 10’ FOR VARIOUS LOADING SITUATIONS

23. IRC 2003 SECTION 700 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R7 WALL COVERINGS EXTERIOR BRICK VENIER SUPPORT IRC OFFERS ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS THAT IF INSTALLED PER CODE ENGINEERS DESIGN IS NOT REQUIRED

25. IRC 2003 SECTION 800 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R7 RAFTERS AND JOISTS CHANGES IN SPAN TABLES RESULTS ABOUT THE SAME ALLOWS FOR INTERPOLATION

26. IRC 2003 SECTION 800/900 CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION R802.10.5 TRUSS & WALL CONNECTIONS TRUSS CONNECTIONS REQUIRED DESIGNED TO RESIST MIN. 175 POUNDS OF LIFT R900.0 ROOF ASSEMBLIES ICE PROTECTION REQUIRED FOR SLOPES < 4:12 30 LBS FELT OR EQUIVELANT

27. IRC 2003 ENERGY CODE CODE SECTION DESCRIPTION MARYLAND STATE ENERGY CODE As part of the International Energy Conservation Code the state of Maryland has adopted the Maryland Energy Code with no local amendments allowed. At this time Washington County does not perform energy code inspections, with the exception of verifying proper installation, flame and smoke developed index on exposed insulation, but recognizes the importance of energy conservation. R316.1 FLAME SPREAD INDEX <= 25 SMOKE-DEVELOPED INDEX <= 450 R318.1 VAPOR RETARDER SHALL BE INSTALLED ON THE WARM-IN-WINTER SIDE OF INSULATION