2021 Building Code Adoption
The City of Great Falls Planning & Community Development Department, Building Safety Division has officially adopted the 2021 Building Codes as of September 9, 2022. The adopted codes are listed blow:
- International Building Code, 2021 Edition (IBC)
- International Existing Building Code, 2021 Edition (IEBC)
- International Residential Code, 2021 Edition (IRC)
- Uniform Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition (UPC)
- National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition (NEC)
- International Mechanical Code, 2021 Edition (IMC)
- International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 Edition (IFGC)
- National Fire Protection Association 99, 2018 Edition (NFPA 99)
- International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. 2021 Edition (ISPSA)
- International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2021 Edition (IWUIC)
- International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Edition (IECC)
- ICC A117.1 Accessibility, 2017 Edition
The State of Montana officially adopted the 2021 International Building Codes along with the 2020 National Electrical Code, 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, 2017 ICC A117.1 and 2018 NFPA 99 including amendments on June 9, 2022. From that date, the state gave all cities 90 days to officially adopt those codes locally.
Since the state adoption, the Building Safety Division has been working with the Homebuilders Association as well as local Architects, Engineers, Contractors and homeowners to reach out with information that may be beneficial with this transition. City staff in the Building Safety Division have been reviewing the new codes for significant changes that may impact Architects, Engineers, Contractors and homeowners so they can be a positive source of information moving forward.
On the commercial side, there may be projects that Architects and Engineers are currently designing using the 2018 codes for submittal after the adoption on September 9, 2022. The Building Safety Division will accept those plans and will review using the 2018 codes until November 9, 2022. City staff will not accept projects designed using both 2018 and 2021 codes.
On the residential side, City staff will be taking that same approach. At the onset of adoption, residential plans examiners will work with contractors and homeowners during plan review to educate them on any significant changes.
Building Department staff will be of help with this transition but I encourage everyone in the field of construction and design to take it upon themselves to be proactive in learning the new codes. Resources are available in Planning and Community Development as well as various resources on file at the City of Great Falls Library.
Please contact myself at 455-8404 or any of the staff in the Building Department for further clarification as we move forward with the 2021 codes.
Respectfully,
Bruce Haman, Building Official – CBO
Planning & Community Development
