Sign In or Register Here


7 minus one

Please enter your e-mail address below. We will email you a link to reset your password.

4 plus six

To complete your registration, please verify your email address.

2 plus six

We have sent an email to the address you provided. Please click the link in the email to confirm your email address.

Your account has been marked for password reset. Please change your password.

4 plus two

Only registered ICC members have access to this article at this time.

Explore all the benefits that ICC Membership has to offer and become a member today to gain access to this exciting content.

If you're already an ICC member Sign In Now.


Can We Help?
  • Reset My Password
  • I Need More Help
Family of Solutions menu icon
  • ICC Family of Solutions
  • ICCSafe
  • myICC
  • Digital Codes
  • cdpACCESS
  • Store
  • Support
Skip to Main Content
  • ICC Main
  • myICC
  • BSJ
  • Journal
  • Store
  • Store
  • cdpACCESS
  • cdpACCESS
  • Digital Codes
  • Help
  • Help
    • ICC Family of Solutions
    • ICCSafe
    • myICC
    • Digital Codes
    • cdpACCESS
    • Store
    • Support
Building Safety Journal Logo
Building Safety Journal Logo
  • Archive
    • May, 2023 Articles
    • April, 2023 Articles
    • March, 2023 Articles
    • Febuary, 2023 Articles
    • January, 2023 Articles
    • December, 2022 Articles
    • 2023 Articles
    • 2022 Articles
  • Browse by Category
    • Deep Dives
    • Member News
    • Personal Perspectives
    • Quick Hits
    • Technical Topics
    • Press Releases
    • Sponsored Content
    • View All
  • Browse by Topic
    • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
    • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
    • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
    • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
    • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe
  • Family of Solutions menu icon
    • ICC Family of Solutions
    • ICCSafe
    • myICC
    • Digital Codes
    • cdpACCESS
    • Store
    • Support

Join today!

Keep up-to-date on crucial industry news, innovative training and expert technical advice with a free subscription to the award-winning Building Safety Journal.

Subscribe
  • Archive
    • May, 2023 Articles
    • April, 2023 Articles
    • March, 2023 Articles
    • Febuary, 2023 Articles
    • January, 2023 Articles
    • December, 2022 Articles
    • 2023 Articles
    • 2022 Articles
  • Browse by Category
    • Deep Dives
    • Member News
    • Personal Perspectives
    • Quick Hits
    • Technical Topics
    • Press Releases
    • Sponsored Content
    • View All
  • Browse by Topic
    • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
    • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
    • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
    • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
    • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe
  • Archive
    • May, 2023 Articles
    • April, 2023 Articles
    • March, 2023 Articles
    • Febuary, 2023 Articles
    • January, 2023 Articles
    • December, 2022 Articles
    • 2023 Articles
    • 2022 Articles
  • Browse by Category
    • Deep Dives
    • Member News
    • Personal Perspectives
    • Quick Hits
    • Technical Topics
    • Press Releases
    • Sponsored Content
    • View All
  • Browse by Topic
    • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
    • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
    • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
    • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
    • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe

Significant changes to the 2018 International Residential Code

August 10th, 2020
by International Code Council
  • Technical Topics

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 R308.4.4 (Glazing in Guards and Railings) states that unless laminated glass is used, structural glass baluster panels in guards now require an attached top rail or handrail. Because of the increased probability of impact, glazing used in guards always requires safety glazing. In addition, a safety factor of 4 applies to glazing used in handrail assemblies and guards in accordance with Table R301.5.

With this change, structural glass baluster panels require an attached top rail or handrail as an additional safety feature in case the glass should fail. The intent is that the top rail would remain in place to prevent a fall should the glass give way. To ensure that the rail remains in place, the code requires it to be supported by at least three structural baluster panels or otherwise held in place to resist the prescribed loads in case of failure of the glazing.

Click here to read the full significant change.

About the Author
International Code Council
The International Code Council is a nonprofit association that provides a wide range of building safety solutions, including product evaluation, accreditation, certification, codification and training. It develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
Submissions
Check out upcoming BSJ topics and send us articles for consideration:
Or send by email

Want to advertise in the BSJ?
Click Here

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

  • 23 22579 COMM BSM BSJ Sponsors 400x400 WAD FINAL1 HIRES
  • CISPI BSJ ROS Ad 270x270 April
Live Chat
Live Chat
ICC ICC

Subscribe to the Building Safety Journal

Subscribe

Connect with Us

    

ICC Family of Solutions

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Policy