In this month’s featured article, we will walk you through some of the significant changes related to health care facilities in the new International Building Code, 2009 Edition (IBC 2009).

As the adoption processes for IBC 2009 are underway in various states and local jurisdictions, we hope this article will provide you a quick overview of how some of these changes can affect the design, construction, inspection and maintenance of your health care facility project.

Clicking on the section hyperlinks within the article will provide you temporary access to the new IBC 2009 at MADCAD.com. This temporary access will expire on 5/23/2009. In order to make it easier for you to locate the changes, related keywords will be automatically highlighted using the search feature.

Photo: Patricia Hofmeester Ambulatory health care facilities are listed under Business Group B occupancy in IBC 2009.

AMBULATORY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
IBC 2009 section 304.1 added ambulatory health care facilities to the Business Group B occupancy classification.

Previously, IBC and IFC did not have sprinkler requirements specific to Group B occupancy. However, because individuals receiving treatment in ambulatory health care facilities are rendered incapable of self-preservation, a new, specific requirement to provide automatic sprinkler systems in Group B ambulatory health care facilities was added in IBC 2009.

According to IBC 2009 section 903.2.2, fire areas containing a Group B ambulatory health care facility occupancy must have an automatic sprinkler system installed when four or more patients are incapable of self- preservation or one or more patients who are incapable of self- preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge.

ELEVATOR LOBBY
IBC 2006 required an enclosed elevator lobby at each floor where an elevator shaft enclosure connects more than three stories.

One of the exceptions to this requirement was that if the building was sprinklered, elevator lobbies were not required to be enclosed. However, Group I-3 occupancies and high-rise buildings were outside the scope of this exception.

IBC 2009 section 708.14.1 added Group I-2 occupancy to the previously listed occupancies and building types. Now, I-2 occupancies also cannot apply the exception provided to sprinklered buildings for the requirement to provide enclosed elevator lobbies.

Photo: Darla Hallmark Specific set of requirements for portable fire extinguishers are now part of IBC 2009.

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
In IBC 2006, portable fire extinguishers were outside the scope of the building code. The International Fire Code 2006 was referenced in the IBC for the requirements of fire extinguishers.

To ensure that the IBC provides a complete package of requirements as a stand-alone code, portable fire extinguisher requirements were added to IBC 2009.

According to IBC 2009 section 906.1, portable fire extinguishers must be provided in Group I occupancies in addition to Group A, B, E, F, H, M, R-1, R-2, R-4 and S occupancies. Specific set of requirements and exceptions to this requirement are also provided in this section.

Although part of the IBC 2009, these requirements are maintained by the International Fire Code Development Committee.

ACCESS-CONTROLLED EGRESS DOORS
In IBC 2006, entrance doors in a means of egress in Group A, B, E, M, R-1 and R-2 occupancies were permitted to be equipped with an approved entrance and egress access control system.

IBC 2009 section 1008.1.4.4 added Group I-2 occupancy to the list of occupancies above where entrance doors are permitted to be equipped with an approved entrance and egress access control system.

BOLT LOCKS IN PATIENT ROOMS
IBC 2009 added a new exception to the restriction of the use of bolt locks in the means of egress in Group I-2 occupancies.

According to IBC 2009 section 1008.1.9.4, self latching edge or surface mounted bolts are permitted to be used on the inactive leaf where the pair of doors serves patient care rooms in a Group I-2 occupancy and where the inactive leaf is not needed to meet egress width requirements. The inactive leaf is not permitted to have doorknobs, panic bars or similar operating hardware.

SPECIAL LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS IN GROUP I-2
IBC 2009 added a new section to address the specialized delayed egress locking requirements of Group I-2 occupancies.

According to the new section 1008.1.9.6, approved delayed egress locks are permitted in a Group I-2 occupancy where the clinical needs of persons receiving care require such locking. The requirement for the building to have sprinklers or smoke or heat detection systems are the same as the standard delayed egress requirements of section 1008.1.9.7. However, the unlocking requirements for the delayed egress locking listed in section 1008.1.9.6 are specific to Group I-2 occupancies

Photo: Color and CopySpace Doors to sleeping units in Group I-2 facilities that meet certain specifications are exempt from the room side maneuvering clearance requirements for accessibility in IBC 2009.

ACCESSIBLE DOORS
IBC 2009 section 1107.3 added a new exception to the accessible space requirements in sleeping units.

According to IBC 2009 section 1107.3, doors to sleeping units in Group I-2 facilities that are a minimum of 44 inches in width, are exempt from the room side maneuvering clearance requirements of ICC/ANSI A117.1, 2003.

AIR MOVEMENT IN CORRIDORS
According to IBC 2009, as well as previous editions, corridors in means of egress are not permitted to serve as supply, return, exhaust, relief or ventilation air ducts.

IBC 2009 added a new exception to the restriction of air movement in corridors. According to the new exception in section 1018.5, incidental air movement from pressurized rooms within health care facilities is outside the restriction of air movement in corridors, provided that the corridor is not the primary source of supply or return to the room.

EXTERIOR EXIT RAMP AS A MEANS OF EGRESS
IBC 2006 restricted the use of exterior exit ramps and stairways as an element of a required means of egress for Group I-2 occupancies.

IBC 2009 revised section 1026.2 to restrict only the use of exterior exit stairways for means of egress in Group I-2 occupancies.

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