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Frequently Asked Questions
 Code Questions If you have a question or need help with a code issue please contact us at 281-351-0048 The following are answers to questions we get every day.
Bath Fan Exhaust
Answer:Section R303.3 of the 2000 IRC states that all bathrooms and toilet rooms must have an operable window or a mechanical venting system. If a mechanical system is used, it must discharge to the outside. If the vent pipe runs more than 15 feet the fan will not be able to discharge the air.The problem comes in when we have bathrooms located in the inner part of the dwelling. It may require a special roof jack above this bathroom to be in full compliance. Some builders will take this vent pipe to the closest soffit vent.This is not a good idea. Soffit vents are considered intake vents and when they are functioning properly will cause static pressure in the vent pipe and not allow the exhaust vent to work properly.
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Dryer Exhaust
Answer:Section M1501 of the 2000 IRC sets forth the requirements for clothes dryer exhaust systems. The vent duct must have a smooth interior surface with joints running in the direction of air flow. All exhaust vents must terminate outside ofthe dwelling. The maximum length of the exhaust vent shall not exceed 25 feet.The maximum length shall be reduced 2.5 feet for each 45-degree bend and 5 feetfor each 90-degree bend. Once again, if the home design places the utility room in the inner portion of the dwelling, these requirements become difficult to meet. However, there are in-stream fans on the market, which allow the maximum length of the vent to be increased.
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Attic Drop Stair
Answer :Sections R309.1and R309.2 of the 2000 IRC states that openings between the garage and dwelling must be at least 20 minute fire rated doors. The garage must also be separated from the residence and its attic space by not less than 1/2 inch sheetrock. Most pull-down attic stairs do not meet either of these requirements. Therefore,attic stairs should be located within the dwelling. When providing access from the garage, a scuttle opening filled with 1/2 inch sheetrock will meet the requirements.
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Appliances in attic
Answer:Section M1305.1.3 deals with appliances located inthe attic. The biggest change in this section of the code is the insertion ofthe sentence " The passageway shall have continuous solid flooring inaccordance with Chapter 5 not less than 24" wide". Inaccordance with Chapter 5 means that the passageway must meet the samerequirements as flooring. This code change is a direct result of two majorjudgments awarded to plaintiffs in 2001. In one case an appliance installer waskilled when he tripped over a strongback, which crossed the passageway. He fellthrough the attic access to a concrete floor below.
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Water pipe bonding
Answer:SectionE3509.6 requires all metal piping within a dwelling must be bonded to the service equipment enclosure or grounding electrode. Section E3509.7 requires all metal gas piping upstream from the meter to be bonded to the service equipment enclosure or grounding electrode.
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Bath Vent
Answer:Section R303.3 requires all bathrooms, watercloset compartments and other similar rooms to be provided with openable windows or mechanical ventilation. The misinterpretation of this section often comes when builders attempt to ventilate a water closet compartment and bathroom withonly one mechanical vent. The International Code Congress intended this section to provide individual ventilation for the water closet compartment and the bathroom respectively. All ventilation systems mentioned in this paragraphmust exhaust directly to the outside.
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Depthof water lines
Answer:Per section P2603.6 of the 2000 IRC all water service pipe shall beinstalled not less than 12 " deep or less than 6 inches below the frostline. According to table R303.2(1) of the 2000 IRC the frost line appears to beat ground level in The Woodlands, therefore the 12" minimum depth wouldapply .
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