2023 Utah Code › Title 15A - State Construction and Fire Codes Act › Chapter 3 - Statewide Amendments Incorporated as Part of State Construction Code › Part 2 - Statewide Amendments to International Residential Code › Section 203 - Amendments to Chapters 6 through 15 of IRC.

Effective 7/1/2023
15A-3-203.
Amendments to Chapters 6 through 15 of IRC.
(1) IRC, Section 609.4.1, is deleted.
(2) In IRC, Section N1101.5 (R103.2), all words after the words "herein governed." are deleted and replaced with the following: "Construction documents include all documentation required to be submitted in order to issue a building permit."
(3) In IRC, Section N1101.12 (R303.3), all wording after the first sentence is deleted.
(4) In IRC, Section N1101.13 (R401.2), add Exception as follows:
"2. Exception: A project complies if the project demonstrates compliance, using the software RESCheck 2012 Utah Energy Conservation Code, of:
(a) on or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2019, "3 percent better than code";
(b) on or after January 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2021, "4 percent better than code"; and
(c) after January 1, 2021, "5 percent better than code.""
(5) In IRC, Table N1102.2 (R402.1.2), in the column titled MASS WALL R-VALUE, a new footnote j is added as follows:
"j. Log walls complying with ICC400 and with a minimum average wall thickness of 5 inches or greater shall be permitted in Zones 5 through 8 when overall window glazing has a .31 U-factor or lower, minimum heating equipment efficiency is 90 AFUE (gas) or 84 AFUE (oil), and all other component requirements are met."
(6) In IRC, Sections N1102.2.1 (R402.2.1), a new Section N1102.2.1.1 is added as follows:
"N1102.2.1.1. Unvented attic and unvented enclosed rafter assemblies. Unvented attic and unvented enclosed rafter assemblies conforming to Section R806.5 shall be provided with an R-value of R-22 (maximum U-Factor of 0.045) in Climate Zone 3-B or an R-value of R-26 (maximum U-factor of 0.038) in Climate Zones 5-B and 6-B provided all the following conditions are met:
1. The unvented attic assembly complies with the requirements of the International Residential Code, R806.5.
2. The house shall attain a blower door test result < 2.5ACH 50.
3. The house shall require a whole house mechanical ventilation system that does not rely solely on a negative pressure strategy (must be positive, balanced or hybrid).
4. Where insulation is installed below the roof deck and the exposed portion of roof rafters are not already covered by the R-20 depth of the air-impermeable insulation, the exposed portion of the roof rafters shall be wrapped (covered) by minimum R-3 unless directly covered by drywall/finished ceiling. Roof rafters are not required to be covered by minimum R-3 if a continuous insulation is installed above the roof deck.
5. Indoor heating, cooling and ventilation equipment (including ductwork) shall be inside the building thermal envelope."
(7) In IRC, Section N1102.4.1 (R402.4.1), in the first sentence, the word "and" is deleted and replaced with the word "or."
(8) In IRC, Section N1102.4.1.1 (R402.4.1.1), the last sentence is deleted and replaced with the following: "Where allowed by the code official, the builder may certify compliance to components criteria for items which may not be inspected during regularly scheduled inspections."
(9) In IRC, Section N1102.4.1.2 (R402.4.1.2), the following changes are made:
(a) In the first sentence:
(i) "The building or dwelling unit" is deleted and replaced with "A single-family dwelling";
(ii) after January 1, 2019, replace the word "five" with "3.5"; and
(iii) the words "in Climate Zones 1 and 2, and three air changes per hour in Climate Zones 3 through 8" are deleted.
(b) The following sentence is inserted after the first sentence: "A multi-family dwelling and townhouse shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate of not exceeding five air changes per hour."
(c) In the third sentence, the word "third" is deleted.
(d) The following sentence is inserted after the third sentence: "The following parties shall be approved to conduct testing: Parties certified by BPI or RESNET, or licensed contractors who have completed training provided by Blower Door Test equipment manufacturers or other comparable training."
(10) In IRC, Section N1103.3.3 (R403.3.3), the exception for duct air leakage testing is deleted and replaced with the following:
(a) on or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2019, with the following: "Exception: The duct air leakage test is not required for systems with all air handlers and at least 65% of all ducts (measured by length) located entirely within the building thermal envelope.";
(b) on or after January 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2021, with the following: "Exception: The duct air leakage test is not required for systems with all air handlers and at least 75% of all ducts (measured by length) located entirely within the building thermal envelope."; and
(c) on or after January 1, 2021, with the following: "Exception: The duct air leakage test is not required for systems with all air handlers and at least 80% of all ducts (measured by length) located entirely within the building thermal envelope."
(11) In IRC, Section N1103.3.3 (R403.3.3), the following is added after the second exception: "The following parties shall be approved to conduct testing: Parties certified by BPI or RESNET, or licensed contractors who have completed either training provided by Duct Test equipment manufacturers or other comparable training."
(12) In IRC, Section N1103.3.4 (R403.3.4):
(a) in Subsection 1, the number 4 is changed to 8, the number 113.3 is changed to 170, the number 3 is changed to 6, the number 85 is changed to 114.6; and
(b) in Subsection 2:
(i) on or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2019, the number 4 is changed to 8 and the number 113.3 is changed to 226.5;
(ii) on or after January 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2021, the number 4 is changed to 7 and the number 113.3 is changed to 198.2; and
(iii) on or after January 1, 2021, the number 4 is changed to 6 and the number 113.3 is changed to 169.9.
(13) In IRC, Section N1103.3.5 (R403.3.5), the words "or plenums" are deleted.
(14) In IRC, Section N1103.5.3 (R403.5.3), Subsection 5 is deleted and Subsections 6 and 7 are renumbered.
(15) IRC, Section N1103.6.1 (R403.6.1), is deleted and replaced with the following: "N1103.6.1 (R403.6.1) Whole-house mechanical ventilation system fan efficacy. Fans used to provide whole-house mechanical ventilation shall meet the efficacy requirements of Table N1103.6.1 (R403.6.1).
Exception: Where an air handler that is integral to tested and listed HVAC equipment is used to provide whole-house mechanical ventilation, the air handler shall be powered by an electronically commutated motor."
(16) In IRC, Section N1103.6.1 (R403.6.1), the table is deleted and replaced with the following:
"TABLE N1103.6.1 (R403.6.1)
MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM FAN EFFICACY
FAN LOCATION  AIR FLOW RATE MINIMUM (CFM) MINIMUM EFFICACY (CFM/WATT) AIR FLOW RATE MAXIMUM (CFM)
HRV or ERV  Any  1.2 cfm/watt  Any
Range hoods  Any  2.8 cfm/watt  Any
In-line fan  Any  2.8 cfm/watt  Any
Bathroom, utility room  10  1.4 cfm/watt  <90
Bathroom, utility room  90  2.8 cfm/watt  Any"
(17) In IRC, Section N1106.4 (R406.4), the table is deleted and replaced with the following:
"TABLE N1106.4 (R406.4)
MAXIMUM ENERGY RATING INDEX
CLIMATE ZONE  ENERGY RATING INDEX
3  65
5  69
6  68"
(18) In IRC, Section N1103.7 the word "approved" is deleted in the first sentence and the following is added after the word methodologies ", complying with N1103.7.1".
(19) A new IRC, Section N1103.7.1 is added as follows: "N1103.7.1 Qualifications. An individual performing load calculations shall be qualified by completing HVAC training from one of the following:
1. HVAC load calculation education from ACCA;
2. A recognized educational institution;
3. HVAC equipment manufacturer's training; or
4. Other recognized industry certification."
(20) In IRC, Section M1307.2, the words "In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, and D2, and in townhouses in Seismic Design Category C", are deleted, and in Subparagraph 1, the last sentence is deleted.
(21) In IRC, Section M1401.3 the word "approved" is deleted in the first sentence and the following is added after the word methodologies ", complying with M1401.3.1".
(22) A new IRC, Section M1401.3.1, is added as follows: "M1401.3.1 Qualifications. An individual performing load calculations shall be qualified by completing HVAC training from one of the following:
1. HVAC load calculation education from ACCA;
2. A recognized educational institution;
3. HVAC equipment manufacturer's training; or
4. Other recognized industry certification."
(23) In IRC, Section M1402.1, the following is added at the end of the second sentence: "or UL/CSA 60335-2-40."
(24) In IRC, Section M1403.1, the characters "/ANCE" are deleted.
(25) IRC, Section M1411.9, is deleted.
(26) In IRC, Section M1412.1, the characters "/ANCE" are deleted.
(27) In IRC, Section M1413.1, the characters "/ANCE" are deleted.
Amended by Chapter 209, 2023 General Session