Building and Fire Code Adoption Process

Overview

State Building, Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Codes Update
The next state building, fire safety and fire prevention codes obtained legislative approval on September 27th, 2022 and will go into effect on October 1st, 2022.

The new state codes are the:
Adopted Model Codes:

 

The following model codes are adopted by the 2022 state codes:

  • 2021 International Building Code (IBC) by ICC
  • 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) by ICC
  • 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by ICC
  • 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) by ICC
  • 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) by ICC
  • 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) by ICC
  • 2021 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC) by ICC
  • 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) by NFPA
  • 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities by ICC
  • 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) by ICC
  • 2021 NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code by the NFPA
  • 2021 NFPA 1 - Fire Code by the NFPA

The model codes are viewable on their publisher's web sites:

The development of Connecticut specific versions of the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Fire Safety Code (IFC), NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, is underway.

 

Grace Period

The new codes will apply to projects for which a permit is applied for after the effective date. If you have a project that will be significantly impacted by this change in codes, you may apply for a code modification from the Office of the State Building Inspector and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (separate applications) to allow the project to continue under the 2018 state codes. This process, colloquially known as a grace period, will be available for approximately three months from the effective date. See the code modification web page for more information.

If a municipality requires separate permit applications for each portion of a project (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical etc.), then the primary permit application date will determine the code applicable to all permits for the project. For example, a new house being constructed had its building permit applied for before the new code came into effect, but all associated trade permits were applied for after the new code came into effect. In this case, all permits should be reviewed under the code in effect when the building permit (the primary permit) was applied for.

Care should be taken that the scope of the primary and associated trade permits match - for example, if a development of 20 new houses is broken into four phases of five lots each and a building permit application is submitted for lots 1 through 5, the associated trade permits must also be for lots 1 through 5.

Training

The department is also providing free online training on the significant changes in the new codes and other related topics through its learning management system. More information and user instructions are available on the LMS web page.

More Information

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please e-mail the team at das.codesstandards@ct.gov and a team member will get back to you.

Anyone interested in receiving informational and update emails may request to be included by e-mailing DAS.CodesStandards@ct.gov

 

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The Process So Far:

Committee Review 

 

The Codes and Standards Committee and Fire Prevention Code Advisory Committee reviewed the model code books, alongside the 2018 state code amendments and the public code change proposals received (see below) to determine the need for any changes to the Connecticut specific amendments.

 

Code Change Proposals

Proposals were accepted from April 1, 2021 through May 31, 2021. Copies of the code change proposals received for the 2022 state codes are available here:

For the previous track (the aborted adoption of the 2018 I-Codes) proposals were accepted from February 1, 2019 through April 30, 2019.  The document below contains all code change proposals received:

 Public Comment and Testimony

  • Written testimony was accepted during the public comment period (January 31, 2022 - March 17, 2022). 
  • A public hearing was held by the agency in conjunction with the Codes and Standards Committee and the Fire Prevention Code Advisory Committee on February 23, 2022.
Public Comments Received

The public comments received during the public comment period are available here: