NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE: BUILDING CODE

1 NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING code : BUILDING code (2015 IBC withNorth CAROLINA Amendments)20185701L182018 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CodeFirst Printing: May 2018 ISBN: 978-1-60983-822-5 COPYRIGHT 2018byINTERNATIONAL code COUNCIL, RIGHTS RESERVED. This 2018 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING code contains substantial copyrighted material from the 2015 International BUILDING code , third printing, which is a copyrighted work owned by the International code Council, Inc. With-out advance written permission from the copyright owner, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted inany form or by any means, including, without limitation, electronic, optical or mechanical means (by way of example, and notlimitation, photocopying, or recording by or in an information storage retrieval system).

2 For information on use rights and per-missions, please contact: ICC Publications, 4051 Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478. Phone 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233). Trademarks: International code Council, the International code Council logo, ICC, the ICC logo, International Build-ing code , IBC and other names and trademarks appearing in this book are trademarks of the International code Council, Inc.,and/or its licensors (as applicable), and may not be used without photo courtesy of Jeffery IN THE NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODEiiiNORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING code COUNCILDECEMBER 12, Charles Conner, RA 22(Architect)Hager Smith Design300 South Dawson StreetRaleigh, NC 27601919-838-5104 CHAIRR obbie Davis 21(General Contractor)Turn-Key Contractors5998 Dortches BoulevardRocky Mount, NC 27804252-977-6680 VICE CHAIRD aniel Priest, RA 22(Architect)

3 Priest ArchitecturePO Box 5295 Charlotte, NC 28299704-379-1810 Gary Embler 23(Home Builder)Niblock Homes759 Concord Pkwy N, Ste. 20 Concord, NC 28057704-361-7720 Bridget Herring 23(Public Representative)Energy Program CoordinatorPO Box 7148 Asheville, NC 28802828-484-4852 Tony Sears 22(Municipal Representative)KinstonPO Drawer 339 Kinston, NC 28502252-939-3111 Ralph Euchner 19(Gas Industry)PSNC EnergyPO Box 1398 Gastonia, NC 28053704-810-3331 Steve Knight, PE 21(Structural Engineer)Steve L. Knight, PE1507 Mount Vernon , NC 28677704-878-2996 Leon Skinner 21( BUILDING Inspector)Raleigh1 Exchange Plaza, Ste.

4 500 Raleigh, NC 27601919-996-2455 Keith Hamilton 19(Mechanical Contractor)Element Service Group7414 Almaden WayCary, NC 27518919-926-1475 Frankie Meads 22(County Representative)Albemarle Home Builders200 Bayshore DriveElizabeth City, NC 27909252-330-2423 David Smith 22(Coastal Contractor)D. Smith Builder905 Saltwood LaneWilmington, NC 28411910-681-0394 Wayne Hamilton 21(Fire Services)Buncombe County270 Upper Herron Cove RoadWeaverville, NC 28787828-658-3911 Robert Morrow 19(Electrical Contractor)Electrical ContractorPO Box 1121 Pilot Mountain, NC 27041336-420-7231 Eric Tjalma, RA 23( STATE Agency) STATE Construction301 NORTH Wilmington , NC 27601919-807-4097 Keith Rogers, PE 21(Mechanical Engineer)Bass, Nixon and Kennedy6310 Chapel Hill Road, Ste.

5 250 Raleigh, NC 27612919-851-4422 Wade White, PE 19(Electrical Engineer)Brite Engineering2001 Old Westfield RoadPilot Mountain, NC 27041336-351-3781iv2018 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODENORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENT OF 919-647-0000By Statute, the Commissioner of Insurance has general supervision of the administration and enforcement of the NORTH CarolinaState BUILDING code and the Engineering Division serves as the Staff for the BUILDING code Council. Officials of the Departmentof Insurance are:COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCILDECEMBER 12, 2017 MIKE CAUSEYC ommissionerBRIAN TAYLORS enior Deputy CommissionerCLIFF ISAAC, PEDeputy CommissionerBARRY GUPTON, PEChief code ConsultantCARL MARTIN, RABuilding code ConsultantADMINISTRATIONENERGYMECHANICAL R obbie Davis ChairDaniel Priest, RA - Vice ChairRalph EuchnerWayne HamiltonSteve Knight, PEKeith Rogers, PELeon SkinnerDavid SmithWade White, PERalph Euchner ChairCharles Conner, RASteve Knight, PEFrankie MeadsBridget HerringTony SearsDavid SmithEric Tjalma, RAKeith Rogers.

6 PE ChairRalph EuchnerKeith HamiltonBridget HerringRobert MorrowDavid SmithEric Tjalma, RAWade White, PEBUILDINGEXISTING BUILDINGRESIDENTIALD aniel Priest, RA ChairCharles Conner, RAWayne HamiltonSteve Knight, PETony SearsLeon SkinnerEric Tjalma, RALeon Skinner ChairKeith HamiltonWayne HamiltonSteve Knight, PERobert MorrowDaniel Priest, RAWade White, PEDavid Smith ChairCharles Conner, RARalph EuchnerKeith HamiltonSteve Knight, PEFrankie MeadsRobert MorrowLeon SkinnerELECTRICALFIRE PREVENTIONSTRUCTURALWade White, PE ChairRalph EuchnerBridget HerringRobert MorrowDaniel Priest, RAKeith Rogers, PEWayne Hamilton ChairCharles Conner, RARalph EuchnerDaniel Priest, RALeon SkinnerWade White, PESteve Knight, PE ChairFrankie MeadsDaniel Priest, RAKeith Rogers, PETony SearsLeon SkinnerEric Tjalma, RA2018 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODEvACKNOWLEDGEMENTSN orth CAROLINA BUILDING code CouncilBuilding code Chapters 1-15 Ad-Hoc CommitteeCHAIRDan AustinNC Department of InsuranceAlbemarle BuildingRaleigh.

7 NC 27603 Betsy BaileyCarolinas Association of General Contractors6115 Park South Drive, Suite 350 Charlotte, NC 28210 Robbie DavisTurn-Key Contractors5998 Dortches BoulevardRocky Mount, NC 27804 Wayne HamiltonAsheville Fire ServicePO Box 7148 Asheville, NC 28802 Jeff JohnsonJeff Johnson Consulting, Red Hill LaneNew Hill, NC 27562 Carl P. MartinNC Department of InsuranceAlbemarle BuildingRaleigh, NC 27603 Robbie M. Pate (Retired)3620 Joyner City, NC 27822 Daniel PriestPriest ArchitecturePO Box 5295 Charlotte, NC 28299 Bryan RobinsonCity of RaleighOne Exchange PlazaRaleigh, NC 27602 Dan TingenTingen Construction Company, Garvey DriveRaleigh, NC 27616 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING code CouncilBuilding code Chapters 16-36 Ad-Hoc CommitteeMark G.

8 BaileyNC Department of InsuranceAlbemarle BuildingRaleigh, NC 27603 Michael Huslage, AIAB obbitt A & E, PLLC600 Germantown RoadRaleigh, NC 27607 Steve Knight, PENC BUILDING code Council1507 Mount Vernon , NC 28677 Jeff Morrison, PEStroud, Pence & Associates415 Hillsborough Street, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27603 William Murchison, PENC Department of Administration, SCO301 NORTH Wilmington StreetRaleigh, NC 27601 Frank Park, MS, PE, CFMG uilford County Planning & Development400 West Market StreetGreensboro, NC 27402 Bob Ruffner, and Theys Construction Box 4189 Wilmington, NC 28406 Dennis E.

9 Williams, AIAW illiams Design, Architects & Planners, PA126 E Sycamore StreetLincolnton, NC 28092vi2018 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODE2018 NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODEviiPREFACEI ntroductionInternationally, code officials recognize the need for a modern, up-to-date BUILDING code addressingthe design and installation of BUILDING systems through requirements emphasizing performance. TheInternational BUILDING code , in this 2015 edition, is designed to meet these needs through modelcode regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and comprehensive BUILDING code establishes minimum regulations for BUILDING systems usingprescriptive and performance-related provisions.

10 It is founded on broad-based principles that makepossible the use of new materials and new BUILDING designs. This 2015 edition is fully compatiblewith all of the International Codes (I-Codes ) published by the International code Council (ICC) ,including the International Energy Conservation code , International Existing BUILDING code , Inter-national Fire code , International Fuel Gas code , International Green Construction code , Interna-tional Mechanical code , ICC Performance code , International Plumbing code , InternationalPrivate Sewage Disposal code , International Property Maintenance code , International Residen-tial code , International Swimming Pool and Spa code , International Wildland-Urban InterfaceCode and International Zoning code .