Until recently, building codes in the United States have never
been uniform, said Rick Mendez, chief building official for Castle
Rock.

That changed in January, when the country merged its three
regional building code models into one: the International Code
Council building codes for residential and commercial
use.

Having one set of basic building codes means that a building
designed in Atlanta can be built in Castle Rock without needing
major adaptations to meet Castle Rock’s building codes, Mendez
said.

“The entire country had to change to the international codes,”
Mendez said. “It’s costly for a designer to draw plans [for two]
codes. A lot of municipalities up and down the Front Range are on
board with the international codes.”

The process began in 1994, and Mendez said he’s worked on
getting the town on board since 2000.

Knowing the change was coming, Mendez said the Castle Rock
Building Department has reviewed all designs under the existing set
of codes and the international code council codes since
2000.

“I’ve been preparing and training on these codes,” Mendez said.
“This year is the first year there’s been a full set of ICC code
books.”

All Castle Rock building department personnel are certified in
the International Code Council codes, he said.

The new international code has a set of code books for
residential building and one for commercial, Mendez said.

“Before, residential building codes were tacked to the bottom of
commercial building codes,” said Becky Baker, past-president of the
Colorado Chapter of International Code Council and a Jefferson
County building official.

Another change from the 1997 Uniform Building Code is the
international code’s requirement for the height and steepness for
residential stairways, she said.

The 1997 code called for a minimum 9-inch step and a maximum
8-inch rise. The international code calls for a minimum 10-inch
step and a maximum 7 3/4-inch rise.

The change in the width of the stair and the steepness of the
rise is sometimes difficult to redesign, Baker said, but builders
appreciate it.

The international codes will be updated every three years, Baker
said.

“The new codes are a good thing,” Mendez said. “They will make
buildings safer and less expensive. There’s been a lot of advances
in building materials. It’s time for [Castle Rock] to move
forward.”

Mendez plans to have the revised codes ready for Castle Rock
Town Council approval in late August.

“There will need to be some tweaking to make the codes fit with
Castle Rock topography,” Mendez said.

For example, the international code requires roofs bear at least
15 pounds per square foot. However, Castle Rock will continue to
require 30 pounds per square foot, he said.

During the March blizzard, some commercial buildings in Castle
Rock were temporarily closed until the heavy snow could be removed
from their roofs because it was heavier than the maximum allowable
weight load.

Castle Rock also will offer a seminar in August for all building
contractors and neighboring municipalities on the new International
Code Council’s codes, Mendez said.

A representative of the International Code Council will lead the
workshop, which will help contractors and building officials
understand the new codes, Baker said.

“When Jefferson County first adopted these codes we did a
similar workshop,” Baker said. “It’s the right thing to do.”