Multi-Disciplinary Research Team Seeks Input on International Residential Code Improvements

Housing costs and affordability have become critical issues across the United States and many parts of the world. To ensure model codes are aligned with best practices for safety, usability and construction cost efficiencies, earlier this year, the International Code Council (ICC) announced a wholistic review of the International Residential Code® (IRC) to identify potential changes that can reduce construction costs and simplify the code without degrading existing life safety requirements. It established a Code Council Board IRC Review Committee (BIRC) and will shortly appoint an Advisory Committee of building safety experts.  

To facilitate this review, the Code Council is working with an independent multi-disciplinary research team, which includes personnel from Clemson University, Western Michigan University and San Jose State University. The research team is beginning its review with a call for public input to help identify areas within the IRC that can be improved through future incremental changes. The goal is to identify potential opportunities to reduce construction costs and improve usability without compromising life safety requirements. 

This initiative is part of ICC’s broader effort to promote housing affordability through the I-Codes. The IRC is designed to be a prescriptive, self-contained code that supports conventional residential construction practices. The research team’s review aims to ensure the code remains practical for jurisdictions and practitioners, while maintaining its integrity as a safety-focused document.  

Public Comments 

A public comment portal will be available on the BIRC webpage (comment by clicking on the “Submit a Comment / Suggestion” button on the committee page) starting October 21st, and we encourage you to submit your feedback by November 28th.  Your insights will be instrumental in guiding the research team and committee’s work and shaping future improvements to the IRC.