in Section 403.3.2. Special inspection requirements are added for mass timber construction, including Section 1705.20, which requires periodic special inspections of sealants or adhesives used in adherence to Section 703.7. Construction Types and Fire Resistance Updates The IBC has regularly expanded and refined its requirements related to construction types and fire resistance. The 2021 code cycle was no exception. The following section describes related updates. Section 1604.5 has expanded the classification of Risk Category III buildings to include additional qualifiers such as: • Buildings with one or more public assembly spaces, each with over 300 occupants or a combined public assembly occupancy of over 2,500. • Buildings with Group E or Group I-4 occupancies with more than 250 occupants. Section 716.4 has introduced new listing and labeling requirements for fire curtains. Fire curtains are not specifically required or allowed by the code, but if they are used by special approval or trade-off, standards are now provided by this section. Fire Retardant Treated (FRT) wood is no longer allowed in Group I-2 or Group B Ambulatory Care Facilities shaft enclosures per Section 603.1. This update conforms with applicable Federal Standards and CMS enforcement rules. Section 704.4 requires fire-protected secondary structural members to be protected by individual encasement protection, and Section 704.6.1 requires any attachment to fire-protected steel members, primary or secondary, to be rated for at least 12 inches away from the structural member. Photo Credit: promat.com Local IBC Amendments and Jurisdictional Considerations With the wide range of code editions currently adopted by local jurisdictions, the importance of being cognizant of the applicable requirements and amendments to the IBC cannot be stressed enough. It is recommended to communicate directly with local authorities to confirm the code edition currently adopted and its amendments before initiating the design phase. This section highlights Utah-specific code requirements. Utah has amended Section 902 of the 2021 IBC on fire pump and riser room requirements, adding additional sections on fire pump and fire sprinkler rooms. The Utah amendments focus on room access, passageway clearances, and room markings, as well as room temperature and lighting. These amendments can be found on the State’s website at le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/Chapter3/15A-3-P1.html. Along with adopting the IBC 2021, many local jurisdictions have also adopted its counterpart, the IEBC 2021, governing existing buildings. A notable Utah amendment revises the IEBC Section 906.6, removing and replacing the section with the following: “Bracing requirement for unreinforced masonry parapets and other appendages upon reroofing. Where the intended alteration requires a permit for reroofing and involves 28 REFLEXION
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