The Building and Residential Code Review Committee, on a vote of 6 to 3, recommended the adoption of Appendix P in the 2006 Michigan Residential Code (MRC). Appendix P requires the installation of an approved automatic fire sprinkler systems (NFPA 13D) in new one- and two- family dwellings and townhouses. The Department of Labor and Economic Growth, with the concurrence of the Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) and the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs, has separated the issue of requiring automatic fire sprinkling systems in new one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses from consideration with the main body of the 2006 Michigan Residential Code. The Department will file a request for rule (RFR) to address the adoption of Appendix P as a separate issue. The Departments' intent is to hold hearings on this rule change concurrent with the hearings to adopt the changes to the 2006 codes. A Public Forum is expected to held in August. Watch the Association web page for more information.
Members will be called upon to give testimony at the Public Forum and Public Hearing to defeat this recommendation.

Basement Egress Windows
In Section R310.1 of the 2006 MRC, the word "habitable" has been removed from the requirement making egress windows required in ALL basements regardless of use, with the exception of basements used only to house mechanical equipment and not exceeding 200 square feet of floor area.
Once again, testimony at the Public Forum and Public Hearing will be the only way to retain the current language.

Window Sill Height
A new section has been added to the 2006 MRC restricts window sill heights to 24" above the floor whenever they are 72" or more above the adjacent grade. Widows restricted to a 4" opening or equipped with a guard meeting ASTM F 2006 or F 2090 are exempt.

Will They Ever Get It Right?
The International Code Council (ICC) has just published the proposed changes to the Code family for the 2006-2007 code cycle. The monograph of these changes, which weighs in at 11 pounds!, includes 319 proposed changes assigned to the International Residential Code (IRC). Proposed changes in other codes may also affect the IRC.