Significant changes to the 2018 International Residential Code

The 2018 Significant Changes guides are available for the International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes. This valuable series can help any code user save time by zeroing in on the most critical changes in the 2018 International Codes. The Code Council’s technical experts provide summaries, analysis and graphics for these changes making them clear and easy to understand.

2018 International Residential Code

A modification to Section R317.3 (Fasteners in Treated Wood) states that staples in preservative-treated wood and fire-retardant-treated wood are now required to be made of stainless steel.

In the IRC, Table R602.3(1) lists fastener options for wood-to-wood connections. As an alternative, Table R602.3(2) Alternate Attachments to Table R602.3(1) lists additional connection options. Staples have been included in both tables as a fastener option for some connections. Fastener requirements for preservative-treated and fire-retardant-treated lumber are found in Sections R602.3 and R507 with additional requirements for the fasteners found in Section R317. Nails, nuts, washers, screws, bolts and timber rivets may be made of stainless steel, hot-dipped galvanized steel, silicon bronze or copper materials. In the 2018 IRC, stainless steel staples are added as an additional code accepted solution. This addition specifically limits staples to stainless steel when installed in preservative-treated lumber.

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