ICC vote disapproves increased heights for wood structures

Voters also disapproved measures to allow wooden parking structures

By Jay Hall

The results of the ICC online governmental voting for the first group of code change proposals for the development of the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) were reported by the International Code Council (ICC) on February 29, 2016. One of the most significant involved cross laminated timber (CLT) construction. For multi-family occupancies the height increase would have been from 5-stories to 9-stories. This proposal was disapproved, but it is likely that the wood industry will propose increases in allowable heights of heavy and cross laminated timber for even larger heights in the 2021 development cycle. ICC approved the formation of an ad hoc committee on tall wood buildings to develop code change proposals to be heard in the development of the 2021 edition of the IBC.

The Group A ICC Cycle voters also disapproved measures to allow wooden parking structures and remove the requirement for dedicated fire service elevators.

Click here for the list of results to Group A ICC proposals which have the potential to impact the cement industry.