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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