Seattle Extends Building Code Implementation to March 15, 2021

December 14, 2020

 

BIAW Asks State Building Code Council to Follow Suit –

The City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) announced last week it was planning to “adopt the 2018 editions of the national model codes published by the International Code Council along with State of Washington and local amendments in 2021.” They set a target implementation date of March 15, 2021.

The State Building Code Council voted on June 26, 2020, to extend the effective date of the 2018 code to Feb. 1, 2021.

In response to the SDCI announcement, BIAW drafted a letter to the State Building Code Council asking them to delay implementation for the rest of the state to align with the City of Seattle.

“This extension will benefit regulators at the local level who are facing strained revenue and staffing shortages, businesses related to the supply chain of residential home building, and even the burgeoning affordable housing deficit,” the letter says. “Granting this extension will allow builders and industry leaders to make the necessary adjustments to their businesses without hasty decision-making and less-than-thorough implementation, saving time and money for the afflicted homebuilding industry.”

We will keep you posted regarding their reply.

Learn More About Code Changes

In the meantime, you and your team can familiarize yourselves with the changes to the 2018 codes through two educational opportunities this week.

• Significant Changes to the 2018 Codes (9 am to 12:30 pm on Dec. 16, 2020):  Learn the significant changes between the current 2015 codes and the adopted 2018 Codes. The presentation will discuss changes to the Residential Energy, Building, Plumbing, Fire, Mechanical codes, and Washington State Amendments that affect them.  Lead instructor:  Jim Breidenbach, BIAW ROII Field Representative. For course fees and registration, visit the new BIAW community section on the BIAW website. Login required, then click on “Class Schedule.”
• Practical Paths to Achieving the 2018 Energy Code (9 to 11 am on Dec. 17, 2020):  Join instructors Garen Thatcher and Kent Mitchell of Swiftsure Energy Services for this virtual event hosted by Olympia Master Builders and BIAW. The 2-hour-long workshop will highlight multiple practical pathways for compliance with the 2018 Building and Energy Code. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the pathways and get firsthand insight from energy raters with best-practice knowledge in green construction techniques.  Instructors: To register, please contact BIAW directly by 12/16/2020, 360-352-7800 ext. 106 or education@biaw.com.  This course is free to attend.

Find links to both in the new BIAW Community on our website. Login required, then click on “Class Schedule.”