 
ICC Approves Skylight Change; Disapproves Others
May 24, 2010
The International Code Council's code change hearings continued
this past weekend in Dallas. During that time a number of proposals
to the International Building Code - Structural related to the glass
and glazing industry were heard and brought to a vote.
S144-09/10-PART I, submitted by Julie Ruth, PE, of JRuth Code Consulting
for the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, was approved
as amended by public comment.
Ruth's proposal to section 202, which deals with unit skylights,
added text to the definition of unit skylights to include tubular
daylighting devices (TDDs). The public comment from Gary J. Ehrlich,
PE, National Association of Home Builders, though, proposed that
TDDs be defined separately as: "A non-operable fenestration
unit primarily designed to transmit daylight from a roof surface
to an interior ceiling via a tubular conduit. The basic unit consists
of an exterior glazed weathering surface, a light-transmitting tube
with a reflective interior surface, and an interior-sealing device
such as a translucent ceiling panel. The unit may be factory assembled,
or field-assembled from a manufactured kit."
In his comment, Ehrlich explained that the reason for his proposal
was that, "a tubular daylighting device is typically field-assembled
from a manufactured kit, unlike a unit skylight which is typically
shipped as a factory-assembled unit. If the current unit skylight
definition is applied to TDDs, some code users will expect that
TDDs be entirely assembled in the factory."
In addition, Ruth's proposal also added text to say that under
1715.6 skylights and sloped glazing, unit skylights shall comply
with the requirements of Section 2405. All other skylights and sloped
glazing shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 24, which
lays out structural requirements for skylights.
Additionally, a revision to S-3-09, proposed by the Window and
Door Manufacturers Association, was approved. In section 1503.6,
crickets and saddles, it states that a cricket or saddle shall be
installed on the ridge side of any chimney or penetration greater
than 30 inches wide as measured perpendicular to the slope. The
following exception was added, skylights installed and flashed in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
In other codes news, S141-09/10, submitted by William E. Koffel,
Koffel Associates Inc., representing the Glazing Industry Code Committee,
was disapproved. The proposal recommended that products installed
in buildings of Group R not more than three stories above grade
plane that are tested and labeled as conforming to AAMA/WDMA/CSA
101/I.S.2/A440 would not be subject to the requirements of Sections
2403.2 and 2403.3 of the code, which ensure safe performance through
proper support of glass.
The next round of code hearings is scheduled for October 28 - November
1, 2010, and will cover the International Energy Conservation Code,
the International Residential Code - Energy, among others.
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