Building Code Council adopts opinion on IBC 5.10.2 correlation error and moves corrected language into CR102

The Washington State Building Code Council on Nov. 14 voted to adopt an opinion addressing a correlation error in International Building Code (IBC) section 5.10.2 and instructed staff to include updated language in its CR102 filing and proceed into the 2024 rulemaking process.

Micah, who drafted the related proposal (listed in the packet as G21GP182), told the council his proposal was written against model‑code language and “did not modify the Washington state amendment” and that the omission in the posted CR102 materials was a correlation issue, not an intentional removal. ‘‘I didn't modify that in that proposal… it modified the model code. Therefore, it needed to be correlated with a carried over Washington amendment,” Micah said.

Angela and others reviewed the amendments report and pointed to the committee/tag votes in March 2021 as evidence that the intent was to carry forward the I‑1 condition 2 allowance. Angela said the amendments report shows the state amendment “was meant to be kept” and that the omission likely occurred during renumbering and correlation for CR102.

After debate about whether the item should be handled by issuing an opinion versus undertaking errata or rulemaking, Tom moved to accept the answers on the opinion sheet; the motion was seconded and the council approved the opinion by voice vote. The chair then asked for a motion to include the updated language in the CR102 document and move into the 2024 rulemaking process; that motion was moved and seconded and adopted by voice vote.

The council recorded the action as an adopted opinion and directed staff to include corrected language in the CR102 filing and proceed with rulemaking steps for 2024. The opinion provides interpretive guidance but does not by itself change code text until the rulemaking process is completed.