The RCI Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) responds to industry issues, policy, and standards as they occur, and recommends association policy to the RCI Board of Directors on matters related to these items. They have just issued a statement regarding the 2015 IBC and IRC revisions which could potentially lead to unsafe conditions due to new exceptions regarding roof drainage. The full text of the notice is below. You can also download a pdf of this advisory, and view this and past advisories on the Policy Statements page of the RCI website (located under the News/Advocacy menu).
TITLE: Secondary (Overflow) Drainage Provisions Revised in the 2015 International Building Code and the 2015 International Residential Code DESIGNATION: RCI-TA-015-2017 OBJECTIVE: To raise awareness of potentially unsafe conditions that may result due to exceptions regarding roof drainage within the 2015 IBC and 2015 IRC, if the primary drainage system becomes compromised.
A. BACKGROUND Only a limited number of jurisdictions have adopted the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and/or 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) as of January 2017. However, for those jurisdictions that have done so, without state or local modification to Chapter 1511.1, exception 2 (IBC) and/or Chapter R908.1, exception 2 (IRC), the result may be the creation of potentially unsafe conditions if the primary drainage system becomes compromised.
B. CODE PROVISIONS International Building Code During the 2015 code development process, a proposal was submitted to provide an exception to the reroofing requirements contained in Section 1511, Reroofing, of the IBC. The proposal was accepted. Section 1511.1 of the IBC reads as follows:
Exceptions:
International Residential Code During the 2015 code development process, a proposal was submitted to provide an exception to the reroofing requirements contained in Section R908.1, Reroofing, of the IRC. The proposal was accepted. Section R908.1 of the IRC reads as follows:
C. DISCUSSION
D. A CALL TO ACTION The issue of adequate drainage, including overflow or emergency drainage, should be properly considered in roof re-cover and replacement projects. If the primary drainage system becomes compromised, the structure may be overloaded with water that cannot be evacuated from the roof, and could potentially collapse. Without attention to this important aspect of replacing an existing roof, there is a potential for tragedy. The 2015 IBC and IRC have been published and allow these exceptions. RCI members and registrants should still consider providing secondary drainage systems, regardless of any exceptions allowed by the building code. Where the 2015 IBC and/or 2015 IRC are not yet adopted by the state or local jurisdiction, the code council in that state or jurisdiction should be notified to inform them of the risk these exceptions represent.
DISCLAIMER This Technical Advisory is intended to serve only as a general resource and to identify potential issues for consideration by industry professionals. Each person using this Technical Advisory is solely responsible for the evaluation of the Technical Advisory in light of the unique circumstances of any particular situation, must independently determine the applicability of such information, and assumes all risks in connection with the use of such information. The materials contained in this Technical Advisory do not supersede any code, rule, regulation, or legislation and are not intended to represent the standard of care in any jurisdiction.
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