Item No. _____10b_supp_____
Meeting Date: February 27, 2024

Adoption of the 2021 International Building
Codes, with Washington State Amendments

Pat Lawler, Sr. Manager, Airport Building Department

                     Overview
•  Washington State Building Codes are the International family of codes
and standards with state amendments to be adopted by Commission
with an implementation date of March 15, 2024.
•  Best practices, modern technology, and lessons learned are
incorporated into each new cycle of building codes.
•  Next steps
•   Incorporate Commission feedback. Seek Commission adoption at the 3/12/24
meeting.

2

        2021 Washington State Building Codes
State Codes helps to ensure buildings in the State are safe for occupants.
•  The Washington State Building Code (WSBC) includes the following
codes with state amendments added for local conditions:
•     International Building Code (IBC)
•     International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (WSEC)
•     International Mechanical Code (IMC)
•      International Fuel Gas Codes (IFGC)
•     International Fire Code (IFC)
•     2020 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70).
•     Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
•     ICC-A117.1-2017 Accessibility Standard

3

           State Building Code Development
Code Council advises State Legislature on code issues.
•  Washington State Building Code is usually updated on a three-year
cycle, but the pandemic and state lawsuits delayed the 2021 code
adoption.
•  State Building Code Council (SBCC) Rule-making provides a process for
amendments to national and state codes
•  The state code is developed through open meetings and public
hearings, including Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings for review
of each code.

4

                State Building Code Council
•  The State Building Code Council is an agency created by the legislature
to provide independent analysis and objective advice to the legislature
and the Governor's Office on state building code issues.
•  The Council establishes the minimum building, mechanical, fire,
plumbing and energy code requirements necessary to promote the
health, safety and welfare of the people of the State of Washington, by
reviewing, developing and adopting the state building code.

5

                Inter-Local Agreement
•  The 2021 code adoption is required by the state and the Inter-Local
Agreement with the City of SeaTac.
•  The City of SeaTac and the Airport Building Department are required by
state law to regulate the minimum requirements of the state adopted
codes.
•  The Airport Building Department and the Port of Seattle Fire Dept. have
separate, but many times overlapping regulatory responsibility for
enforcing the codes. The ABD and POSFD work together with the City of
SeaTac regarding our roles in the ILA.

6

                 2021 Building Code
Code change examples:
•  Turning radius and clearance dimensions increased for accessibility
(ADA). This is to accommodate electrically powered wheelchairs.
•  The IBC includes Mass Timber as a code approved type of construction.
•  The definition of atrium changed to three stories instead of two, except
hospitals and prisons.


7

                   Questions?


8