 |
 |
 |
|
2006 Virginia Construction Code, Softcover, is based on the 2006 International Building Code.
SECTION 101
GENERAL
101.1 Short title. The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part I, Construction, may be cited as the Virginia Construction Code. The term "USBC" shall mean the Virginia Construction Code unless the context in which the term is used clearly indicates it to be an abbreviation for the entire Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code or for a different part of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
SECTION 102
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
102.1 Purpose. In accordance with Section 36-99 of the Code of Virginia, the purpose of the USBC is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, provided that buildings and structures should be permitted to be constructed at the least possible cost consistent with recognized standards of health, safety, energy conservation and water conservation, including provisions necessary to prevent overcrowding, rodent or insect infestation, and garbage accumulation; and barrier-free provisions for the physically handicapped and aged.
102.2 Scope. This section establishes the scope of the USBC in accordance with Section 36-98 of the Code of Virginia. The USBC shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies. This code also shall supersede the provisions of local ordinances applicable to single-family residential construction that (i) regulate dwelling foundations or crawl spaces, (ii) require the use of specific building materials or finishes in construction, or (iii) require minimum surface area or numbers of windows; however, this code shall not supersede proffered conditions accepted as a part of a rezoning application, conditions imposed upon the grant of special exceptions, special or conditional use permits or variances, conditions imposed upon a clustering of single-family homes and preservation of open space development through standards, conditions, and criteria established by a locality pursuant to subdivision 8 of Section 15.2-2242 of the Code of Virginia or subdivision A 12 of Section 15.2-2286 of the Code of Virginia, or land use requirements in airport or highway overlay districts, or historic districts created pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia, or local flood plain regulations adopted as a condition of participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Note: Requirements relating to functional design are contained in Section 103.11 of this code.
102.2.1 Invalidity of provisions. To the extent that any provisions of this code are in conflict with Chapter 6 (Section 36-97 et seq.) of Title 36 of the Code of Virginia or in conflict with the scope of the USBC, those provisions are considered to be invalid to the extent of such conflict.
PREFACE
Introduction
The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is a state regulation promulgated by the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development, a Governor-appointed board, for the purpose of establishing minimum regulations to govern the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures.
The provisions of the USBC are based on nationally recognized model building and fire codes published by the International Code Council, Inc. The model codes are made part of the USBC through a regulatory process known as incorporation by reference. The USBC also contains administrative provisions governing the use of the model codes and establishing requirements for the enforcement of the code by the local building departments and other code enforcement agencies.
In keeping with the designations of the USBC used previously, since the 2006 editions of the International Codes are incorporated by reference into this version of the USBC, it is known as the 2006 edition of the USBC.
Arrangement
The USBC is part of the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC), the official compilation of state regulations published under the authority and guidance of the Virginia Code Commission. Due to the difference in the section numbering system between the VAC and the model codes incorporated by reference into the USBC, the UBSC utilizes a dual section numbering system. In the USBC, the VAC section numbers are listed first, followed by a section number matching the model code system. In this printing of the USBC, the VAC section numbers are omitted and only the model code numbering system is utilized. The version of the USBC containing both the VAC section numbers and the model code numbering is available from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and may also be accessed through the website of the Virginia Code Commission or by subscription to the VAC.
Overview
The USBC is divided into three stand-alone parts. Part I contains regulations specific to the construction of new buildings and structures and alterations, additions and change of occupancy in existing buildings and structures and is known as the Virginia Construction Code. Part II contains optional regulations specific to the rehabilitation of existing buildings that may be used as an acceptable alternative to the Virginia Construction Code. Part II is known as the Virginia Rehabilitation Code. Part III of the USBC contains the regulations for the maintenance of existing structures which is enforced at the option of the local governments. It is known as the Virginia Maintenance Code.
The 2006 edition of the USBC is being made available in pamphlet form as in past editions of the USBC. New for the 2006 edition are versions of the Virginia Construction Code, Virginia Rehabilitation Code, Virginia Maintenance Code and a series of Virginia specific trade codes published by the International Code Council (ICC). In the ICC published versions, marginal markings are provided to distinguish between text which is part of the International Codes and text which is part of the state regulations. Double vertical lines in the margins within the body of the codes indicate state amendments to the International Codes. As in the standard printings of the International Codes, a single vertical line in the margins within the body of the code indicates a technical change from the previous edition of the International Codes. Deletions from the previous editions of the International Codes are indicated in the form of an arrow in the margin where an entire section, paragraph, exception or table has been deleted or an item in a list of items or a table has been deleted.
As the Virginia specific trade codes published by ICC (the Virginia Plumbing Code, the Virginia Mechanical Code, the Virginia Fuel Gas Code and the Virginia Energy Conservation Code are excerpts from the Virginia Construction Code, which references the trade codes through the International Building Code (IBC), only those administrative provisions of the Virginia Construction Code which are not dependent on the IBC provisions are included in the Virginia specific trade codes. If questions arise concerning the applicability of any provisions of the Virginia specific trades codes, the Virginia Construction Code provisions should be reviewed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
