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By Glenn Mathewson

NADRA Code Update, Sept 21, 2022, Chairman, Mark Guthrie

The NADRA Code Committee, represented by consultant Glenn Mathewson and co-chair John Kozal, returned to the ICC Code Hearings this past week in Louisville KY.  This is the final leg of the code development cycle, where proposals that were either approved or disapproved by the smaller Code Development Committee in April can be brought back for reconsideration.  Public comments that are submitted by proponents or opponents prior to this meeting online, form the basis of these discussions.

As you’ll recall, NADRA was successful in having 15 of our 17 proposed code changes approved at the last hearings.  There were also proposals by others that we felt needed our attention – either speaking for or against.  At last week’s hearings we were focused primarily on 8 code changes that we felt would be impactful to our members.  Here is an outline of these items and supporting details: See graphic below

Some were contested by well-respected allies who had strong differing opinions while others just needed a persuasive nudge over the goal line.  Either way, our voice was heard regardless of the voting that took place in the room.  What is important to note is that their remains is an Online Government (OG) Vote over the next few weeks.  Only then will we know where the final chips land.

A special thanks to our code committee that is growing in both number and involvement at NADRA.  We have no doubt that our involvement in every level of code, whether it be development, education or enforcement, is an opportunity for a better and safer end product for our customers.

We will post the final votes on the website when they are updated.

If you wish to comment or contribute to our mission, feel free to contact us at 215.679.4884 or info@NADRA.org.

Mark Guthrie, Co-Chair

NADRA Code Committee

Click on the image to read the code update from Chairman Mark Guthrie

NADRA Code Update, April 7, 2022, Chairman, Mark Guthrie

The NADRA Code Committee, represented by our consultant Glenn Mathewson and co-chair Mark Guthrie, were able to garner ICC Code Committee support on 15 of our 17 proposed code changes at the 2022 Committee Action Hearings held in Rochester, NY last week.

Some of these code proposals were editorial, intended to give clearer more transparent direction to the builder and inspector. However, many were more substantial and impactful on the lives of our members, aimed at easing construction, expanding material options, and creating a safer built environment.  Here is a brief outline of the proposals we presented this code cycle: READ MORE

March 2022 Code Update by Glenn Mathewson:

Published April 5th, 2022

By Glenn Mathewson

This month was spent preparing for the Committee Action Hearings and attending them at the end of the month.  I had various meetings and communications with other industry professionals to discuss concerns found in each other proposals and to address disagreements.  I arrived at the hearings the evening of March 28th and remained in attendance through Saturday afternoon, April 2nd.  Most deck related proposals were heard on Wednesday and Thursday, with the proposals in chapter 507 finishing up just before the conclusion for the night.

Of the 17 proposals submitted by NADRA, all but two were approved by the committee.  Some were approved as submitted and some were modified during the proceedings before approval.  Many of the proposals were simply clerical in nature, either correcting misused terms or restructuring sentences simply to make the code more consistently and correctly interpreted.  Though not glamorous or necessarily exciting, NADRA has positioned itself as the industry leader for deck code representation, and that comes with an obligation to not just address new subjects, but to refine existing ones, both simply and significantly.

One such significant refining is something exciting to share.  RB184 expanded the heading of the beam span tables to reveal the various combinations of joist span and cantilever length.  In the current version, when you look at the table heading for a 10-foot joist span, for example, the beam is being sized to support that span and a 2.5-foot joist cantilever.  A footnote in the table explains this and provides a method for correcting the inaccuracy of the span, but it is not user-friendly.  With the modifications we proposed, the heading expands to reveal various combinations that work under the same table column.  A 10-foot span with 2.5-foot cantilever loads the beam nearly the same as a 12-foot span with 1-foot cantilever and 14-foot span with no cantilever, and now both are shown.  This proposal was approved.

READ MORE

February 2022 Code Update by Glenn Mathewson:

Published March 2022

With our IRC proposals submitted in January, most of February was spent awaiting the publishing of the complete package of ICC Group B proposals, expected in the last week of the month.  Prior to this, on Feb 14th, I attended an ICC Code Correlation Committee meeting.  Two of our proposals, RB21 and RB119 were selected as potential correlation issues that the committee could handle in place of the hearing process.  Both proposals were approved by the committee unanimously.

The publishing of the Group B proposals was a day later than scheduled.  I promptly reviewed all 317 IRC proposals in 737 pages looking for those relevant to the deck and railing industry.  Twenty-one proposals were discovered that will require our attention this year.  Proposals regarding stairway landings, guard deflection limits, decks built over egress windows, guard infill loads, lateral bracing, handrail clearances, and ramp provisions range from relatively insignificant to significantly relevant.  Regardless, a proposal is just the prompt to a conversation.  Throughout this year in floor modifications and public comments these conversations (proposals) can evolve and change.

The proposals for the 2024 IRC can be viewed at this link: READ MORE

October 2021 Code Update:

October 7th, 2021 Update: By Glenn Mathewson

Group A Public Comment Hearings:

The International Code Council Group A Public Comment Hearings concluded last week as the second to last step in the development of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC), amongst others.  NADRA developed a handful of proposals for the pool code and presented them to the code development committee in March.  All but one of them was recommended for approval by the committee.  We submitted a public comment asking the governmental voting members to overturn the committee.  Details about all this activity can be read in previous blog articles.

In order to turn over the committee recommendation of disapproval a 2/3 majority of the vote is required at the Public Comment Hearings,.  We testified to our proposal and asked the membership to judge it on its merits and whether it improves on the previous edition.  The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance believed it needed more modifications than what we proposed and spoke in opposition to our partial modification.  We only suggested changes to the type of decks our members primarily build – elevated decks, but we are eager to continue to work with the PHTA membership to further develop this code.  Our testimony concluded and the ICC membership approved our proposal with approximately 85%.

The final step is the online governmental vote taking place in October, where the ICC governmental members from across the county will include their opinion.  While our proposal could still be disapproved, it would take an overwhelming opposition compared to the support from the members in attendance and is not anticipated. READ MORE

Update from NADRA Code Committee Member, John Kozal: 

Glenn Mathewson (NADRA Code Representative) attended the April 2021 ICC Committee Action hearings (Virtual) to help develop the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.   Here are the highlights:

Four (4) proposals were submitted under Section 306 titled “Decks:

1. Slip Resistance Uses ASTM D 7032 as a Base for Serving Pool and Spa Decks:   Needed a reasonable slip resistance metric so Glenn referenced ASTM D 7032 as a possible solution however that standard has no metric either per the opposition on the “floor”.  So, Glenn asked the committee to disapprove his proposal.   Glenn will come up with a different game plan before the Public Comment process this Summer.
2. Stairs Serving Pool and Spa Decks Use IRC Details as a Standard:   Glenn suggested that the pool code should reference the IRC for design and construction of stairs outside of the pool.  Majority agreed to suggestion however that can change during Public Comment.
3. Allow Slope and Gaps Serving Pool and Spa Decks but Eliminate Water Test:   The current code requires pool decks to be sloped, gapped, and pass a test that no more than an 1/8^th inch of standing water remains on the deck after 20 minutes.  Glenn wanted to eliminate just the test however the committee disapproved but asked Glenn to come back at the public hearing to reduce the slope of ½” of rise for every 12” of run.  Glenn will ask some pool professionals for their input before Public Comment.
4. Gaps be Mandated While Allowing Slope as an Exception Serving Pool and Spa Decks:   Glenn mandated that pool deck boards be gapped while a slope can be used as an exception.  Majority agreed however that can change during Public Comment.

Glenn believes they made a good impression in front of the ICC Committee.  Need to tighten up definitions between pools with concrete “decks”  and pools with elevated decks.  READ MORE

2021 International Residential Code

By Glenn Mathewson

Thanks to the support of NADRA members we have shared our knowledge with others in the campfire discussions regarding deck code proposals for the 2021 International Residential Code.  There were 9 proposals submitted with our assistance and approval. The Deck Code Coalition is an informal group of generous professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Led by the steadfast efforts of Mr. Charles Banjai, a now retired code official and long-time contributor to code development, NADRA was able to work with these professionals toward well-developed deck codes.   While some disagreement remains and some is yet to be decided, it appears the majority of these proposals have broad support. Here is a brief rundown of what was submitted. READ MORE

November 2019 Update:

By Glenn Mathewson, NADRA Technical Advisor …doesn’t stay in Vegas, at least not when it’s about deck code!  Here’s a recap of what to expect in your 2021 International Residential Code from the ICC Public Comment Hearing that occurred in Las Vegas last week.  This information is as fresh as it gets, because NADRA members … Continue reading

October 2019 Update:

October 2019 Update By: Glenn Mathewson Some believe they should.  Stair treads must resist the same uniform load as decking, but with an added requirement to resist a 300 lb. concentrated load at mid span.  Consider the impact your feet place on treads as you come running down them. This extra requirement is not without … Continue reading

September 2019 Update:

September 25th, 2019 By Glenn Mathewson Last year at the NADRA annual meeting, I asked the membership to step up and take the reigns of code development for their industry.  Uncomfortable as it was, I was asking for financial support to NADRA so that I could do this work. Thankfully, many builders and manufacturers heard … Continue reading

August 2019 Update:

August 29th, 2019 By: Glenn Mathewson The latest 2018 edition of the International Residential Code provides a complete package of prescriptive structural design tables for decks… sort of…  When we think of structural design, most people imagine the skeleton of ledgers, joists, beams, and posts. At this completion, one might be ready for a “rough … Continue reading

August 14th, 2019 By: Glenn Mathewson Proposal RB190 – Table R507.5 Through the efforts of NADRA.org and other organizations and professionals, the 2015 IRC revealed the first deck beam-sizing table (Table R507.5) to ever be included in a US model code.  It provides maximum spans of simple deck beams based on different loading, species, profiles, … Continue reading

NTA joins the International Code Council’s family of solutions. The acquisition will add laboratory and testing capabilities to the Code Council service offerings and will foster innovation by streamlining the time-to-market for product manufacturers Nappanee, IN – The International Code Council announced today that it has acquired NTA, a leading provider of testing services, product certification, inspection, engineering, off-site construction plan review, and code evaluation. … Continue reading

July 2019 Update:

July 3rd, 2019 By: Glenn Mathewson To finish a marathon, you’ve got to push through the last mile.  Such is the same with developing a new edition of the International Residential Code.  Thousands of people are currently running a marathon toward the 2021 IRC, and though they are halfway through, there’s no telling who (or … Continue reading

May 2019 Update:

May 8th, 2019 Notes from NADRA’s Code Committee Chair, Mark Guthrie: Building codes are always going to play a critical part in the safety, growth and public perception of our industry.  NADRA recognizes this and has been dedicating an increasing amount of time and resources to better understanding and shaping the codes that we all must build …Continue reading

ICC Committee Action Hearings, Group B Codes – Albuquerque, 2019:

Deep into the IRC Committee Action Hearings. So far the deck industry has been well represented by The North American Deck and Railing Association and our friends in the Deck Code Coalition. READ MORE

March 2019 Update:

Professionals are now planning and strategizing their proponent and opponent testimonies for delivery at the Committee Action Hearing in Albuquerque the first week of May.  NADRA will be proudly supporting nine proposals that came together through the effort and contribution of many professionals and organizations from a variety of backgrounds, and are thus the kind of ideas that NADRA was proud to cosponsor.  For a building code to honestly and respectfully represent a civilization, the whole civilization should be invited to their creation.

NADRA invites all those with interest in deck codes to share and contribute together with us and those we work with. We strongly believe that is path to the most appropriate, minimum standard.

Click Here to review your 2021 IRC deck-related code proposals and a simple summary.

The proposals for the creation of the 2021 IRC have been released for review and can be viewed HERE.

If you are in the decking industry, we need your help.  The ideas are being discussed and the rules are being made.  You shouldn’t stand on the sidelines any longer. We need you in the game. There are two ways you can help in a big way:

1. Offer your monetary support: To contribute to the fundraising initiative, follow this link here to see what our goal and how the funds are being used to keep this effort moving forward.

2. Offer your time: To volunteer time, please email Info@NADRA.org and we will work with you and the code committee to see how we can best utilize your skills – most likely, helping to review the proposals in March.

February 2019 Update

2021 International Residential Code

By Glenn Mathewson

Thanks to the support of NADRA members we have shared our knowledge with others in the campfire discussions regarding deck code proposals for the 2021 International Residential Code.  There were 9 proposals submitted with our assistance and approval. The Deck Code Coalition is an informal group of generous professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Led by the steadfast efforts of Mr. Charles Banjai, a now retired code official and long-time contributor to code development, NADRA was able to work with these professionals toward well-developed deck codes.   While some disagreement remains and some is yet to be decided, it appears the majority of these proposals have broad support. Here is a brief rundown of what was submitted. READ MORE

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April 2013 Update

Code Proposals Presented By Glenn Mathewson

Code Proposals

Here is the link to read the all proposed changes from the ICC Building Committee
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March 2013 Update

NADRA Codes and Standards Cabinet

You decide, NADRA. What are your opinions about this?

IRC 2015 Deck Proposals

NADRA Code Update

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