Tennessee Building Inspector License & Exam

The 2021 IRC® contains many important changes such as:

• Braced wall lines must be placed on a physical wall or placed between multiple walls.
• The rated separation for two-family dwellings is 1 hour whether or not a lot line exists between units.
• Emergency escape and rescue openings require a clear 36-inch-wide path to a public way.
• An engineered design is required for storm shelters.
• A habitable attic is limited to one-half the area of the story below and the dwelling requires sprinklers.
• Updated Wind Speed maps match IBC and ASCE 7 maps.
• Deck design now considers snow load, tributary area for footing and post height, and guard details.
• Specific requirements for deck guardrails were added.
• Component and cladding wind pressures in Table R301.2(2) are updated for new design wind speeds and hip or gable roof profiles.
• Minimum footing size tables are revised to more accurately reflect current practice.
• Cripple wall requirements apply only to exterior cripple walls.
• New appendices for cob construction and 3D printed construction are added.
• A 30 percent reduction of airflow is permitted for balanced ventilation systems.
• Commercial gas cooking appliances are prohibited.
• The head pressure for a water test of DWV systems increased to 10 feet.
• Air vacuum testing is now permitted for plastic piping DWV systems.
• Section P2904 for dwelling sprinklers is expanded to more closely align with NFPA 13D.
• An emergency service disconnect is required in a readily accessible outdoor location.
• A surge-protective device (SPD) is now required at the service panel.
• The number of receptacle outlets required for peninsular and island countertops in kitchens is determined by the area of the countertop surface.
• GFCI protection is now required for damp and wet locations not included in the other 10 areas requiring GFCI protection.

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The 2021 IBC® contains many important changes such as:

• Puzzle rooms (escape rooms) are now defined and regulated as special amusement areas, requiring compliance with Section 411 and special means of egress requirements.
• For the purposes of determining the allowable number of control areas in a building, each portion separated by one or more fire walls is now considered as a separate building.
• In Group E occupancies, enhanced classroom acoustics in compliance with ICC A117.1 are to be provided in all classrooms having of volume of 20,000 cubic feet or less.
• The requirements for metal composite materials and systems (MCM) installed on the exterior walls of Types I, II, III and IV construction were simplified and sprinkler allowances were deleted.
• The use of intermodal shipping containers as buildings is now specifically addressed through provisions intended to supplement existing applicable IBC requirements.
• Automatic sprinkler protection is now required in Group S-2 open parking garages where any fire area exceeds 48,000 square feet.
• The 2017 edition of ICC A117.1 was adopted.
• Parapets of a minimum height are now required for aggregate-surfaced roofs to prevent blow-off.
• Mixed occupancy buildings with assembly spaces are placed in Risk Category III when the total public assembly occupant load is greater than 2500 people.
• The 2021 IBC snow map is updated to match ASCE 7-16 snow maps by adding a reference to ASCE 7 snow tables in states with large case study areas.
• Secondary rain loads are updated to be consistent with ASCE 7.
• Special inspection requirements were added to address the anchorage and connection of mass timber structural elements.
• Installation of firestop, fire-resistant joint systems and perimeter fire barrier systems in residential-use buildings now requires special inspection in Group R fire areas having an occupant load exceeding 250 people.
• Frost protection for egress doors was added to the foundation requirements.
• ACI standards ACI 117 and ITG 7 were added by reference to provide acceptable tolerances for concrete construction.
• Three new types of construction (Types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C) allow mass timber buildings of taller heights, more stories above grade, and greater allowable areas compared to existing provisions for heavy timber buildings.

The Concrete Manual, now updated to the 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19, provides the guidance and information that inspectors and other construction professionals need to become more proficient in concrete field practices and inspection.

The “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete” (“Code”) provides minimum requirements for the materials, design, and detailing of structural concrete buildings and, where applicable, nonbuilding structures. This Code addresses structural systems, members, and connections, including cast-in-place, precast, plain, nonprestressed, prestressed, and composite construction. Among the subjects covered are: design and construction for strength, serviceability, and durability; load combinations, load factors, and strength reduction factors; structural analysis methods; deflection limits; mechanical and adhesive anchoring to concrete; development and splicing of reinforcement; construction document information; field inspection and testing; and methods to evaluate the strength of existing structures. “Building Code Requirements for Concrete Thin Shells” (ACI 318.2) is adopted by reference in this Code.The Code user will find that ACI 318-14 has been substantially reorganized and reformatted from previous editions. The principal objectives of this reorganization are to present all design and detailing requirements for structural systems or for individual members in chapters devoted to those individual subjects, and to arrange the chapters in a manner that generally follows the process and chronology of design and construction. Information and procedures that are common to the design of members are located in utility chapters.

The quality and testing of materials used in construction are covered by reference to the appropriate ASTM standard specifications. Welding of reinforcement is covered by reference to the appropriate American Welding Society (AWS) standard. Uses of the Code include adoption by reference in a general building code, and earlier editions have been widely used in this manner. The Code is written in a format that allows such reference without change to its language. Therefore, background details or suggestions for carrying out the requirements or intent of the Code provisions cannot be included within the Code itself. The Commentary is provided for this purpose. Some of the considerations of the committee in developing the Code are discussed within the Commentary, with emphasis given to the explanation of new or revised provisions. Much of the research data referenced in preparing the Code is cited for the user desiring to study individual questions in greater detail.

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