NFPA

[cppoly]

Not sure which section to post this question on this board, but I wanted to know how to go about finding out what the latest code cycle of NFPA is used in an area.

 

[ron]

Most of the time you have to go to the website of the jurisdiction you are questioning. There is no guaranteed aggregator of information although NEMA usually does a good job for the NEC.

http://www2.nema.org/stds/fieldreps/NECadoption/implement.cfm

 

[cppoly]

Wow, well that's one helpful chart for the NEC!

Even on a local jurisdiction website what are you supposed to look for specifically? Building codes will just reference NFPA 72, but not the year.

So would a logical guess be if the latest building code is lets say 2008 in an area, that the latest NFPA would be 2007, since 2008 code can't reference 2011 code? Or is this not true.

 

[ron]

Wow, well that's one helpful chart for the NEC!

Even on a local jurisdiction website what are you supposed to look for specifically? Building codes will just reference NFPA 72, but not the year.

So would a logical guess be if the latest building code is lets say 2008 in an area, that the latest NFPA would be 2007, since 2008 code can't reference 2011 code? Or is this not true.

No typical pattern. For example http://www.orange-ct.gov/govser/building.htm
Sec.29-252-1c. State Building Code--Connecticut Supplement
State Building Code: 2005-Effective date December 31, 2005.
2003 International Building Code*
2003 International Residential Code* (re-adopted with changes)
2003 International Existing Building Code
2003 International Mechanical Code
2003 International Plumbing Code
2005 National Electrical Code
ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003
December 31, 2005 Connecticut Supplement
August 1, 2009-2009 Amendment
October 2011 - IECC International Energy Conservation Code

 

[ron]

or this one is more up to date

http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?c=36808
Residential (one and two family dwellings, townhouses
and rowhouses):

• 2011 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (based on the 2009
  International Residential Code) effective July 1, 2011
• 2010
  Oregon Manufactured Dwelling Installation Specialty Code - effective April
  1, 2010

Commercial (including structures containing three or more dwelling
units):

• 2010
  Oregon Structural Specialty Code (based on the 2009 International Building
  Code) effective July 1, 2010

2010 OSSC amendments effective March 1, 2012 (this
is a partial list ? for all building code amendments, errata and revisions,
please contact the Oregon
Building Codes Division):

• • OSSC
    Chapter 11 Accessibility
  • ICC/ANSI
    A117.A Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities
  • OSSC
    Section 1007 Accessible Means of Egress
  • OSSC
    Chapter 10 Egress
  • OSSC
    Section 3411 Accessibility for Existing Buildings
• 2007 Portland
  Fire Code (based on the 2007 Oregon Fire Code) effective April 1, 2007
• 2010
  Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code (based on the 2009 International
  Energy Conservation Code) effective July 1, 2010
  • Energy Code compliance information and forms

Mechanical Code:

• 2010
  Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code (based on the 2009 International Mechanical
  Code) effective July 1, 2010

Electrical Code:

• 2011 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code ? (based on the 2011
  NFPA 70 National Electrical Code) effective April 1, 2011

Plumbing Code:

• 2011 Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code (based on the 2009 Uniform
  Plumbing Code) effective April 1, 2011

 

[don_resqcapt19]

If the building code references another code without giving the year or additon of that code, then case law says the edition of the referenced code will be the one that was current at the time that the building code was adopted.

 

[cppoly]

If the building code references another code without giving the year or additon of that code, then case law says the edition of the referenced code will be the one that was current at the time that the building code was adopted.

That's what I thought would make sense. But is it possible that after a code cycle has been passed for a building code, that amendments to the code could reference another code with an updated reference or no?

For example, NYC has a lot of amendments to the building code. I have to open up each one and read it?

Or if you have a direct question, is the best to e-mail the building department website?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Yes, they could change the reference to a newer addition by amendment.