Building Code Changes - 2022

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) has moved forward with PA Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC) regulatory obligations requiring the updating and adoption of the triennial building codes. Because of a nuance in the state law, there is a staggered adoption, first for the accessibility provisions and secondly for the adoption of the building code provisions.

The changes to the applicable code standards are as follows:

1. Accessibility Provisions

a. Effective January 1, 2022

i. The accessibility provisions of the 2021 ICC family of codes went into effect. This includes the 2021 IBC (Chapter 11 and Appendix E) and the ICC A117.1-2017 Standard. There are other referenced accessibility sections of the 2021 editions of the IPC, ISPSC and the IEBC that apply. To review the full list of applicable provisions, click the following hyperlink: Accessibility Code Provisions

ii. It is permissible to utilize the 2018 IBC and associated references if a design contract is provided for the project that pre-dates January 1, 2022, and an application is submitted prior to June 30, 2022. Effective July 1, 2022, all projects, regardless of contractual status, will be reviewed for accessibility under the 2021 ICC family of codes.

2. Building Code Provisions

a. Effective February 14, 2022

i. The 2018 ICC family of codes will go into effect. This would include all applicable codes: IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, IFC, ISPSC and NEC.

ii. It is permissible to utilize the 2015 I Codes and associated references if a design contract is provided for the project that pre-dates February 14, 2022, and an application is submitted prior to August 14, 2022. Effective August 15, 2022, all projects, regardless of contractual status, will be reviewed under the 2018 I- Codes.