Virginia Administrative Code › Title 13 - HOUSING › Agency 5 - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › Chapter 63 - VIRGINIA UNIFORM STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE › Part I - Construction › Section 13VAC5-63-10 - Chapter 1 Administration; Section 101 General

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Section 101.1 Short title. The Virginia
				  Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part I, Construction, may be cited as the
				  Virginia Construction Code or as the VCC. The term "USBC" shall mean the VCC
				  unless the context in which the term is used clearly indicates it to be an
				  abbreviation for the entire Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code or for a
				  different part of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
Note: This code is also known as the 2021 edition of the
					 USBC due to the use of the 2021 editions of the model codes.
B. Section 101.2 Incorporation by reference.
				  Chapters 2 - 35 of the 2021 International Building Code, published by the
				  International Code Council, Inc., are adopted and incorporated by reference to
				  be an enforceable part of the USBC. The term "IBC" means the 2021 International
				  Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc. Any codes and
				  standards referenced in the IBC are also considered to be part of the
				  incorporation by reference, except that such codes and standards are used only
				  to the prescribed extent of each such reference. In addition, any provisions of
				  the appendices of the IBC specifically identified to be part of the USBC are
				  also considered to be part of the incorporation by reference.
Note 1: The IBC references other International Codes and
					 standards, including the following major codes:
2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC)
2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
2020 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70
2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
2021 International Residential Code (IRC)
Note 2: The IRC is applicable to the construction of
					 detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses as set out in
					 Section 310.
C. Section
				  101.3 Numbering system. A dual numbering system is used in the USBC to
				  correlate the numbering system of the Virginia Administrative Code with the
				  numbering system of the IBC. IBC numbering system designations are provided in
				  the catchlines of the Virginia Administrative Code sections. Cross references
				  between sections or chapters of the USBC use only the IBC numbering system
				  designations. The term "chapter" is used in the context of the numbering system
				  of the IBC and may mean a chapter in the USBC, a chapter in the IBC, or a
				  chapter in a referenced code or standard, depending on the context of the use
				  of the term. The term "chapter" is not used to designate a chapter of the
				  Virginia Administrative Code, unless clearly indicated.
D. Section 101.4 Arrangement of code
				  provisions. The USBC is comprised of the combination of (i) the provisions of
				  Chapter 1, Administration, which are established in this section; (ii) Chapters
				  2 through 35 of the IBC, which are incorporated by reference in Section 101.2;
				  and (iii) the changes to the text of the incorporated chapters of the IBC that
				  are specifically identified. The terminology "changes to the text of the
				  incorporated chapters of the IBC that are specifically identified" shall also
				  be referred to as the "state amendments to the IBC." Such state amendments to
				  the IBC are set out using corresponding chapter and section numbers of the IBC
				  numbering system. In addition, since Chapter 1 of the IBC is not incorporated
				  as part of the USBC, any reference to a provision of Chapter 1 of the IBC in
				  the provisions of Chapters 2 through 35 of the IBC is generally invalid.
				  However, where the purpose of such a reference would clearly correspond to a
				  provision of Chapter 1 established in this section, then the reference may be
				  construed to be a valid reference to such corresponding Chapter 1
				  provision.
E. Section 101.5 Use of
				  terminology and notes. The provisions of this code shall be used as follows:
1. The term "this code," or "the code," where
				  used in the provisions of Chapter 1, in Chapters 2 through 35 of the IBC or in
				  the state amendments to the IBC means the USBC, unless the context clearly
				  indicates otherwise.
2. The term
				  "this code," or "the code," where used in a code or standard referenced in the
				  IBC means that code or standard, unless the context clearly indicates
				  otherwise.
3. The use of notes in
				  Chapter 1 is to provide information only and shall not be construed as changing
				  the meaning of any code provision.
4. Notes in the IBC, in the codes and
				  standards referenced in the IBC and in the state amendments to the IBC may
				  modify the content of a related provision and shall be considered to be a valid
				  part of the provision, unless the context clearly indicates
				  otherwise.
5. References to
				  International Codes and standards, where used in this code, include state
				  amendments made to those International Codes and standards in the
				  VCC.