§1730.28. Mandatory adoption of certain nationally recognized codes and standards as the state uniform construction code; adoption by reference

A. Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, the council shall evaluate, adopt, and amend only the latest editions of the following as the State Uniform Construction Code:

(1) International Building Code, not including Parts I-Administrative, Chapter 11-Accessibility, and Chapter 27-Electrical. The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulation of construction within this state. The appendices of that code may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices shall be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption.

(2) International Existing Building Code, not including Parts I-Administrative, and the standards referenced in that code for regulation of construction within this state. The appendices of that code may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices must be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption.

(3)(a) International Residential Code, not including Part I-Administration and VIII-Electrical. The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulation of construction within this state. The enforcement of such standards shall be mandatory only with respect to new construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the International Residential Code, and extensive alterations; however, a municipality, parish, or regional planning commission may enforce Appendix J of the code at its option. The appendices of that code may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices shall be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption, with the exception of Appendix J, Existing Buildings and Structures, which shall not be adopted by the council and may be adopted and enforced only at the option of a parish, municipality, or regional planning commission. For the purposes of this Part, IRC R301.2.1.1 (Design Criteria) shall be amended as follows and shall apply only to the International Residential Code, 2003 edition:

(i) Amendment of R301.2.1.1 (Design Criteria).

(ii) Item 6, the American Concrete Institute, Guide to Concrete Masonry Residential Construction in High Winds Areas, shall be added.

(iii) Item 7, Institute for Business & Home Safety, Optional Code-plus Fortified for Safer Living, shall be added.

(iv) Item 8, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Optional Code-plus Blueprint for Safety, shall be added.

(b) For purposes of this Paragraph, an extensive alteration shall mean an alteration when the total area of all the work areas included in the alteration exceeds fifty percent of the area of the dwelling unit.

(c) For purposes of this Paragraph, "reconstruction" and "alteration" shall have the same meaning as such terms are defined in Appendix J of the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code. For purposes of this Paragraph, "addition" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in Part II of the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code.

(d) The council shall not adopt any part of the International Residential Code that is excluded by Subparagraph (A)(3)(a) of this Section. Further, any rule that adopts or has been adopted to add an excluded part of the code shall be deemed invalid.

(e) Part IV-Energy Conservation of the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code shall be adopted and is amended to require that supply and return ducts be insulated to a minimum of R-6.

(f) The council shall not adopt or enforce any part of the International Residential Code or any other code or regulation that requires a fire protection sprinkler system in one- or two-family dwellings. Further, no municipality or parish shall adopt or enforce an ordinance or other regulation requiring a fire protection sprinkler system in one- or two-family dwellings.

(g) Factory built homes shall be inspected in accordance with the codes in effect for the locality where the home will be ultimately sited, on the date construction begins in the factory.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 836, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.

(4) International Mechanical Code and the standards referenced in that code for regulation of construction within this state. The appendices of the code provided in this Paragraph may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices must be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption.

(5) The International Plumbing Code. The appendices of that code may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices shall be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption.

(6) International Fuel Gas Code and the standards referenced in that code for regulation of construction within this state. The appendices of the code provided in this Paragraph may be adopted as needed, but the specific appendix or appendices must be referenced by name or letter designation at the time of adoption.

(7) National Electric Code.

B. The initial code adopted by the council under the provisions of this Part shall become effective on January 1, 2007.

C. For purposes of Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section, the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code is hereby adopted and amended to include Section R301.2.1.1 of the 2003 edition of the International Residential Code in lieu of Section R301.2.1.1 of the 2006 edition. The code adopted and amended above in this Subsection shall remain in effect until the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code is published, at which time such edition of the code shall be adopted by the council as provided in Subparagraph (A)(3)(a) of this Section. Thereafter, the council shall evaluate and adopt the latest edition of the International Residential Code as provided in Subparagraph (A)(3)(a) of this Section.

D.(1) The state health officer may provide the council with recommended amendments to the plumbing provisions adopted pursuant to this Section. All recommended amendments provided to the council by the state health officer shall be presented to the council for review. The council shall review recommended amendments and vote on whether or not to include such amendments as part of the State Uniform Construction Code at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the council, but no sooner than thirty days after receipt.

(2) Nothing in this Section nor any provisions adopted pursuant to this Section shall lessen the licensing qualifications and requirements provided in R.S. 37:1361 et seq.

Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 12, §2, eff. Nov. 29, 2005; Acts 2006, No. 458, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2007, No. 335, §1, eff. July 9, 2007; Acts 2008, No. 484, §1; Acts 2010, No. 685, §1, eff. June 29, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 390, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; Acts 2014, No. 836, §§3,4, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.