NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE: RESIDENTIAL …

1 NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE: RESIDENTIAL code (2015 IRC , IMC , IFGC andIPC with NORTH CAROLINA Amendments)20185711L182018 NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL CodeFirst Printing: May 2018 ISBN: 978-1-60983-824-9 COPYRIGHT 2018 by INTERNATIONAL code COUNCIL, RIGHTS RESERVED. This 2018 NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL code contains substantial copyrighted material from the2015 International RESIDENTIAL code , third printing, which is a copyrighted work owned by the International code Council, advance written permission from the copyright owner, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmit-ted in any form or by any means, including, without limitation, electronic, optical or mechanical means (by way of example, andnot limitation, photocopying or recording by or in an information storage retrieval system).

2 For information on use rights andpermissions, 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 Resi-dential code , IRC 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 Jeffrey IN THE NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL 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.

3 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. 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.

4 250 Raleigh, NC 27612919-851-4422 Wade White, PE 19(Electrical Engineer)Brite Engineering2001 Old Westfield RoadPilot Mountain, NC 27041336-351-3781iv2018 NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL 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 ConsultantBILL KIRK, PEChief RESIDENTIAL 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.

5 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 RESIDENTIAL CODEvACKNOWLEDGEMENTSN orth CAROLINA BUILDING code CouncilResidential code Ad-Hoc CommitteeCHAIRD avid SmithD. Smith, Builder905 Saltwood LaneWilmington, NC 28411910-520-6395 Dennis BordeauxJade Learning6302 Mallard DriveWilmington, NC 28403910-612-7777 Melanie Butler, PENorth CAROLINA Department of Insurance1202 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-1202919-647-0016 Robbie DavisTurn-Key Contractors5998 Dortches BoulevardRocky Mount NC 27804252- 977-6680 Ralph EuchnerPSNC EnergyPO Box 1398 Gastonia, NC 28053704-810-3331 Jeff GriffinMecklenburg County code Enforcement2145 Suttle AvenueCharlotte, NC 28208704-432-1128 Bill Kirk, PENorth CAROLINA Department of Insurance1202 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-1202919-647-0006 Steve Knight, PESteve L.

6 Knight, PE1507 Mount Vernon AvenueStatesville, NC 28677704-878-2996 Robert PrivottNorth CAROLINA Home Builders Association5580 Centerview Dr., Ste. 415 Raleigh, NC 27606919-676-9090 Leon SkinnerCity of Raleigh InspectionsOne Exchange Plaza, Ste. 504 Raleigh, NC 27601919-996-2455 Hiram WilliamsAction Construction Company, Box 4270 Surf City, NC 28445910-620-0695vi2018 NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL CODE2018 NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL CODEviiPREFACEI ntroductionInternationally, code officials recognize the need for a modern, up-to-date RESIDENTIAL code address-ing the design and construction of one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses. The Interna-tional RESIDENTIAL code , in this 2015 edition, is designed to meet these needs through model coderegulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and comprehensive, stand-alone RESIDENTIAL code establishes minimum regulations for one- andtwo-family dwellings and townhouses using prescriptive provisions.

7 It is founded on broad-basedprinciples that make possible the use of new materials and new BUILDING designs. This 2015 editionis fully compatible with all of the International Codes (I-Codes ) published by the InternationalCode Council (ICC) , including the International BUILDING code , International Energy Conserva-tion code , International Existing BUILDING code , International Fire code , International Fuel GasCode , International Green Construction code , International Mechanical code , ICC PerformanceCode , International Plumbing code , International Private Sewage Disposal code , InternationalProperty Maintenance code , International Swimming Pool and Spa code , International Wildland-Urban Interface code and International Zoning code .The International RESIDENTIAL code provisions provide many benefits, among which is the modelcode development process that offers an international forum for RESIDENTIAL construction profes-sionals to discuss prescriptive code requirements.

8 This forum provides an excellent arena to debateproposed revisions. This model code also encourages international consistency in the application first edition of the International RESIDENTIAL code (2000) was the culmination of an effort initi-ated in 1996 by a developement committee appointed by ICC and consisting of representativesfrom the three statutory members of the International code Council at the time, including: BuildingOfficials and code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of BuildingOfficials (ICBO) and Southern BUILDING code Congress International (SBCCI), and representativesfrom the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The intent was to draft a stand-alone resi-dential code consistent with and inclusive of the scope of the existing model codes.

9 Technical con-tent of the 1998 International One- and Two-Family Dwelling code and the latest model codespromulgated by BOCA, ICBO, SBCCI and ICC was used as the basis for the development, followed bypublic hearings in 1998 and 1999 to consider proposed changes. This 2015 edition represents thecode as originally issued, with changes reflected in the 2009 through 2012 editions, and furtherchanges developed through the ICC code Development Process through 2013. RESIDENTIAL electricalprovisions are based on the 2014 National Electrical code (NFPA 70). A new edition such as this ispromulgated every three provisions in Chapter 11 are duplicated from the International Energy ConservationCode RESIDENTIAL Provisions applicable to RESIDENTIAL buildings which fall under the scope of gas provisions have been included through an agreement with the American Gas Associa-tion (AGA).

10 Electrical provisions have been included through an agreement with the National FireProtection Association (NFPA).This code is founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of aresidential 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 NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL CODEA doptionThe International code Council maintains a copyright in all of its codes and standards. Maintainingcopyright allows ICC to fund its mission through sales of books, in both print and electronic International RESIDENTIAL 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.