EIMA Gives Support to ICC for Building Safety Month

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Scott

Each May, the International Code Council (ICC) promotes Building Safety Month to help businesses and families understand what it takes to build a safe and sustainable building. This campaign is intended to generate awareness, and support for the adoption of modern building code as well as a well-trained work-force to maintain these systems. EIMA is on of the proud sponsors, again this year, for Building Safety Month and will continue to promote the use of safe and sustainable materials in building construction.

EIFS has proven itself to be a resilient cladding material, meeting the ICC regulations for both fire prevention and structural design. Due to its low weight, low construction costs, superior energy efficiency and moisture control, EIFS is a prime example of modern materials that are both safe and sustainable.

EIMA will continue to work with the ICC to promote Building Safety Month.

EIMA Requests Interpretation from ICC on EIFS

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Scott

The EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) recently requested an interpretation from the International Code Council (ICC) on the use of EIFS in the International Residential Code (IRC). The interpretation was requesting further clarification on Section R 703.9 of the 2009 and 2012 editions of the IRC and the use of “barrier” EIFS.

It was the initial understanding, and intent, of EIMA that the code language was to be consistent with the Evaluation Reports of its members, precluding “barrier” EIFS on residential framed/sheathed construction. EIMA’s intent with the initial inclusion of EIFS in the 2009 and subsequently the 2012 code was for EIFS with Drainage (“New” EIFS) to be required on framed walls with sheathing when designing in accordance with the IRC. Further, “barrier” EIFS would not be included in this restriction when the substrate is concrete or masonry walls.

In the ICC’s response to EIMA, they give confirmation that the intent of EIMA’s initial request for inclusion in the 2009 IRC is as they intended. EIFS with Drainage is required for all exterior walls except for concrete and masonry walls, where “barrier” EIFS can be used as an appropriate system.

The entire question and answer from EIMA and the ICC is attached on the following pages.

EIMA Gains Successes at ICC Final Action Hearings

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Scott

The final step in building code development of the International Code Council is the Final Action Hearing. These hearings were held in Port-land, Oregon on October 24-28. Of interest to EIMA at these hearings were several proposed code changes that would, in essence, circumvent the requirement for fire resistance testing pursuant to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 285. NFPA 285 provides fire test methods for evaluation of fire propagation characteristics of exterior non-load-bearing wall assemblies containing combustible components.

The proposed code changes would enable building designers to specify non-compliance, untested water resistive barriers (WRBs) in the building envelope. EIMA opposed these proposed code changes and contributed to their defeat during the initial Code Development Hearings last May. The reasons why EIMA opposed these change were because the WRBs that the designers want to use are non-compliant and, in some cases, not intended for use in vertical assemblies and be-cause exterior wall assemblies with combustible components need to be tested.

Supporting these code changes were the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Envelope Technology and Environment Council (BETEC). AIA and BETEC offered the code change since designers wanted to provide innovative, un-tested designs while relying on a revised code with a less than reliable fire safety requirement while accommodating these designs.

Also, the proponents said that the requirements for fire testing were very confusing. Methods that the AIA/BETEC alliance advocated to achieve fire safety in lieu of testing were the use of fire blocking and use of sprinklers (During the hearings, it was cited.

Methods that the AIA/BETEC alliance advocated to achieve fire safety in lieu of testing were the use of fireblocking and use of sprinklers (During the hearings, there were varying degrees of reliability of sprinklers cited. Some wit-nesses said 85% and some said 98% with a few in between.)

EIMA Voice Heard at the ICC Code Development Hearings

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Scott

Every three years, the International Code Council (ICC) updates its 15 codes. These codes, known as the ‘I-Codes’, cover real property categories ranging from the well-known, International Building Code (IBC) to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC).

The process for amending the I-Codes starts with code development hearings. Prior to these hearings, code proposals to amend a particular I-Code are solicited by ICC from interested parties who submit to them to ICC for first review. They are then placed in order, depending on what part of the particular code they would amend. The code change proposals are then aired before an ICC committee that has jurisdiction over that particular code. The code development hearings for the 2015 version of the I-Codes were held in Dallas, Texas from April 29 to May 6th. After these hearing in Dallas, most of the proposed code changes, even some of those that were disapproved during the code development hearings, will be reviewed by the full ICC Assembly when it next meets in Portland, Oregon on October 24-29, 2012. The Portland hearings are known as the ‘Final Action Hearings.’

EIMA’s Technical and Research Committee has a practice of reviewing the proposed changes submitted for both the code development and final action hearings. Following its review, which occurred during the committee’s meeting, held at the EIMA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, the committee directed EIMA to voice its opinion on several code change proposals, either expressing support or encouraging disapproval of them.

All of the Technical and Research Committee identified items were heard by the ICC Fire Safety Committee late on Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1. In sum, EIMA had much success at these hearings. Below is a recap of the items that EIMA addressed.

The code change proposal numbered FS 145 had the intent to add a method of measuring drainage to the requirement for a means of drainage for high rainfall areas. The EIMA Technical Committee was opposed to this change since the threshold for drainage was less than that already in the code. If passed, it would allow less-effective water-resistive barriers to be included in the wall system. The change was disapproved following EIMA testimony presented by Ms. Tina Cannedy of Parex USA.

The code change proposal numbered FS 148 essentially would, if adopted, eliminate the NFPA 285 fire test requirement for certain water-resistive barriers ‘that are available, tried and tested by long-term proven history of performance as weather barriers (but) that are not able to meet the standards in this test’ (NFPA 285). Right now, Section 1403.2 of the IBC requires weather-resistive barriers while Section 1403.5 requires them to be tested to a standard if they contain a combustible water-resistive barrier that many materials that are traditionally used and have proven their value can’t meet. Manufacturers of these non-285 compliant barriers have persuaded the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences to be proponents for this change. The change was disapproved by a vote of 7-6 following testimony by EIMA codes consultant, Jess Beitel. This was a major EIMA victory

In FS 161, the proposal’s intent was to add new requirements to the code for self-adhered membranes and fluid –applied membranes which comprise growing segments of the flashing material market, but no material property or performance requirements for these materials are currently included in the code (substandard peel and stick). Standards developed by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, AAMA 711 and AAMA 714, were developed with the intent to ensure that these types of material meet minimum performance specifications. This proposal incorporates these industry standards by reference into the code. Because these standards were developed in a non-consensus process, the EIMA Technical Committee opposed the adoption of this proposal. Following EIMA testimony, the Fire Safety Committee voted to disapprove this proposal by a vote of 13-0, another EIMA victory.

The code change proposal numbered FS 187 would accomplish the same, if adopted, as FS 148. It was submitted by the same proponents, too: AIA and NIBS. While this proposed change did not call for exemption from NFPA 285, it would offer competing material manufacturers options of how to comply. Following testimony by Jess Beitel, EIMA Executive Director Dave Johnston, and ally Jerry Phelan of Bayer, the committee voted 13-0 to disapprove this change, an EIMA victory.

FS 200, a change that would bar EIFS and vinyl siding from being used in hurricane prone regions of the U.S. as well as in high wind areas, was considered. A similar proposal, also sponsored by the Portland Cement Association and the Masonry Code Alliance, was defeated by EIMA and its allies when it was considered during the code development hearings for the International Green Construction Code in August 2010. Following testimony by Dave Johnston and several other allies, the committee voted to disapprove this change, 13-0.

This article recently ran in the June 2012 issue of AWCI’s Construction Dimensions.

EIMA to Participate in Critical ICC Code Hearings in Dallas, Texas

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Scott

The International Code Council’s Code Development Hearings will be held in Dallas on April 29—May 8 with attention directed to more than 3,000 code change proposals. These hearings are the first step in the process where the proposals are first sorted by content and then aired to an ICC committee with responsibility for that subject area. Judgment is then passed on them. Later, the committee’s recommendations are considered by the full ICC assembly comprised of code officials and fire service personnel from around the nation. Many code proposals affect EIFS and its substrates, and EIMA will have representatives there protecting EIFS interests. One onerous proposal will reduce the fire testing required for a competing system. EIMA will oppose it.

Link: ICC Code Hearings Info