Habitable Attic Irc 2015
The international codes i codes are the widely accepted comprehensive set of model codes used in the us and abroad to help ensure the engineering of safe sustainable affordable and resilient structures.
Habitable attic irc 2015. The standard contains requirements for habitable and nonhabitable sunrooms. Habitable roomsshall not belessthan 7feet 2134 mm inanyhorizontal dimension. The criteria for a habitable attic is. A finished or unfinished area not considered a story complying with all of the following requirements.
The 2015 irc requires sunrooms to comply with aama npea nsa 2100 12. Sunrooms should be identified as one of the five categories in the construction documents and designed accordingly. Habitable attics require a vertical access and emergency escape and rescue opening. For the purpose of applying this section a habitable attic shall not constitute a story.
A floor area of 70 square feet or more. Habitable rooms shall have a floor area of not less than 70 square feet 6 5 m2. A finished or unfinished attic that has all the makings of a living space is a habitable attic. International residential code 2015 irc 2015.
International residential code 2015 irc 2015. Minimum room areas 62 2015 irc study companion code text. The 2009 and 2015 irc verbiage is similar and still applicable. Habitable attic other conditions relating to occupiable floor area must also be met.
Seetheexceptions for kitchens regarding minimum size and horizontal dimensions. The international code council icc is a non profit organization dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design build and compliance process. An attic designation is appropriate only if the area is not considered occupiable. R300 1 increases in height.
Attics that meet the size and ceiling height criteria of the habitable attic definition in chapter 2 are considered habitable. This is applicable to finished and unfinished spaces. Attic section 202 identifies an attic as that space between the ceiling beams at the top story and the roof rafters. 2015 irc section r202 definitions.
Please be aware of the definition and egress requirements of a habitable attic as it relates to dwellings built from the 2012 irc. The unfinished space between the ceiling assembly and the roof assembly. Where this area has a floor it would be defined as a story. A common misuse of terminology is the designation of a space as a habitable or occupiable attic.
The term habitable attic is relatively new to the residential code. Amendment this section has been amended at the state or city level.