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). For information on use rights and per-missions, please contact: ICC Publications, 4051 Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478.

2 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)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.

3 Knight, PE1507 Mount Vernon , NC 28677704-878-2996 Leon Skinner 21( BUILDING Inspector)Raleigh1 Exchange Plaza, Ste. 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. 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.

4 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, 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.

5 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, 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.

6 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. 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.

7 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. 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 .

8 The International BUILDING code provisions provide many benefits, among which is the model codedevelopment process that offers an international forum for BUILDING professionals to discuss perfor-mance and prescriptive code requirements. This forum provides an excellent arena to debate pro-posed revisions. This model code also encourages international consistency in the application first edition of the International BUILDING code (2000) was the culmination of an effort initiatedin 1997 by the ICC. This included five drafting subcommittees appointed by ICC and consisting ofrepresentatives of the three statutory members of the International code Council at that time,including: BUILDING Officials and code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Con-ference of BUILDING Officials (ICBO) and Southern BUILDING code Congress International (SBCCI). Theintent was to draft a comprehensive set of regulations for BUILDING systems consistent with andinclusive of the scope of the existing model codes.

9 Technical content of the latest model codes pro-mulgated by BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI was utilized as the basis for the development, followed by pub-lic hearings in 1997, 1998 and 1999 to consider proposed changes. This 2015 edition presents thecode as originally issued, with changes reflected in the 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012 editions and fur-ther changes approved by the ICC code Development Process through 2014. A new edition such asthis is promulgated every 3 code is founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of abuilding code that adequately protects public health, safety and welfare; provisions that do notunnecessarily increase construction costs; provisions that do not restrict the use of new materials,products or methods of construction; and provisions that do not give preferential treatment to par-ticular types or classes of materials, products or methods of International code Council maintains a copyright in all of its codes and standards.

10 Maintainingcopyright allows the ICC to fund its mission through sales of books, in both print and electronic for-mats. The International BUILDING code is designed for adoption and use by jurisdictions that recognizeand acknowledge the ICC s copyright in the code , and further acknowledge the substantial sharedvalue of the public/private partnership for code development between jurisdictions and the ICC also recognizes the need for jurisdictions to make laws available to the public. All ICCcodes and ICC standards, along with the laws of many jurisdictions, are available for free in a non-downloadable form on the ICC s website. Jurisdictions should contact the ICC at to learn how to adopt and distribute laws based on the International BuildingCode in a manner that provides necessary access, while maintaining the ICC s NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODEM aintenanceThe International BUILDING code is kept up to date through the review of proposed changes submit-ted by code enforcing officials, industry representatives, design professionals and other interestedparties.