If your jurisdiction will adopt the 2009 IRC as soon as January of 2010, be reminded that plan submissions for new homes that are reviewed and approved prior to that date (or prior to the date your jurisdiction will adopt the 2009 IRC) will typically be approved to be built under the 2006 IRC or previous Code.

Many builders in my region (especially townhouse builders) are doing just that:

Getting their plans submitted, reviwed, and approved before the end of the year so they can avoid having to install fire sprinklers and add AFCI protected circuits....among other things.

The fire sprinkler systems and AFCI circuit protection can easily add $10,000 to the cost of a modest sized house or townhouse under the new regulations.

If these new regulations affect YOU, and you plan to build in 2010, check with your code office to see if you too can get your plans approved before the 2009 IRC becomes effective in your area.

It could save you a TON of money.

Single and Two-family dwellings will be required to have fire sprinkler systems beginning January 1, 2011.

Wow!

Fire officials (and the sprinkler industry) have been pushing for this for years here in the Great White North. With the precedent set to the South, I can see it here soon too. Already, Ontario has mandated sprinklers for all multiple unit residential buildings over three storeys in height starting next year.

Wow also on the sprinkler requirement. I can't see that happening in most jurisdictions. IRC is just a recommendation. Our state has been debating the arc fault requirement since Jan - I mean it is in the paper weekly. Arc faults are considerably less cost than sprinklers but the builders are fighting it tooth and nail. Our new governor even has a position on it - I mean when does that happen with a code requirement?

It is hard to imagine in the current economic climate (which I suspect will last for years) that such an onerous cost would be laid upon new home builders.

The energy stuff is really modest and just starts bringing things up to where common sense would put them if long term costs were taken into account.

I am pretty confused on the code issues - our state is up to date on the IRC. We permitted in 2009 (Feb) We already have tamper resistant outlets everywhere, GFCI in all basements/garage, and we have arc faults outside of bedrooms. I'm wondering if there was an update since 2006 or did we just adopt 2009 early. Now we don't have CO detectors.

The 2009 IRC references the 2008 National Electric Code.

It is within the 2008 NEC that the requirements for AFCIs and tamper proof receptacles are found.

The 2006 IRC is still referencing the 2005 version of the National Electric Code which is why these electrical updates will only appear in January for those that adopt the 2009 IRC.

Some states only use the current version (2008) of the National Electric Code for residential wiring, which is why some states are already implementing tamper proof receptacles and AFCI breakers for all locations.

These new code additions will certainly be required at some point but in my very limited experience it is the rare jurisdiction that adopts the latest codes. Best to talk to the local building inspector and electrical inspector to determine what code versions are in effect and when/if they plan to adopt the latest versions.

On the other hand, many jurisdictions have had stricter building codes that are only just now coming out in the IRC. For example, residential sprinkler systems have been required in new builds in certain counties in MD for at least 4-5 years now. And then you have preferences that are not code but are what the inspector(s) wants to see. Some elec inspectors in MD & NY now want to see 12 ga wiring for all 15A/20A ckts. You can fight it as a non-code rqmt, and even win, but you're asking for trouble. Illogically, my elec inspector wanted 12ga wiring (14ga OK for switch legs) but did not require AFCIs (as rqrd by NEC 2005). Go figure.

One counter to david_cary's comment. The IRC, or any code, is a recommendation only until a jurisdiction adopts it. Basically, the only codes that matter are those specified by the local jurisdiction. And I believe compliance is stricter in urban vice rural areas.

Just my two cents...

Our building dept adopted the 2003 code (I think) when we built. It said you had to have HVAC ducts sealed. We wanted ours sealed, but the inspector said they didn't check for that and our HVAC sub knew it, so DH had to do all of the duct sealing himself.

Anne

Why would the building department have anything to do with your contract with the builder? Your HVAC specification should have required duct sealing (and not with duct tape).

The building dept didn't have anything to do with our contract since we were owner-builders. Our HVAC sub knew our bldg dept didn't inspect for the duct sealing, so he said they wouldn't do it.

We didn't use duct tape; we used whatever the special tape is and whatever the goop is. I don't know the correct terminology--DH researched and bought all of this stuff.

Anne

My point is that you could inspect the ducts yourself and enforce the contract if sealing was required in the design documents. Of course, it is never a good idea to just specify that the system must meet the building/energy code; the design should be specified in the contract. It's not the building department's responsibility to provide quality control for a project.