Louisiana IBTS: The Minimum Codes Mandated For And Adopted By Louisiana

The Minimum Codes Mandated by Act 12

  • International Building Code, 2006 Edition, plus Chapter 35 Referenced Standards
  • International Existing Building Code, 2006 Edition
  • International Residential Code, 2006 Edition
  • International Mechanical Code, 2006 Edition, and the referenced standards
  • The Louisiana State Plumbing Code, Part XIV of the State Sanitary Code
  • International Fuel Gas Code, 2006 Edition and the referenced standards
  • National Electric Code, 2005 Edition

This list was prepared after a thorough review of Act 12, which was made law in November of 2005. Additional documents reviewed include Title 55, Part VI Uniform Construction Code Rules as published in the Louisiana Register, Vol 32, No. 09, dated September 20, 2006. This also includes information that is currently being put into effect as "emergency rules", and therefore not published as of the current date. Certain exceptions apply to some of the adopted codes, as detailed below:

Details On Adopted Codes

International Building Code, 2006 Edition, plus Chapter 35 Referenced Standards

Adopted with the exceptions of:

  1. Chapter 1, Administration
  2. Chapter 11, Accessibility
  3. Chapter 27, Electrical
  4. Chapter 29, Plumbing Systems

International Existing Building Code, 2006 Edition

Adopted with the exceptions of:

  1. Chapter 1, Administration
  2. Referenced standards

International Residential Code, 2006 Edition

Adopted with the exceptions of:

  1. Part I, Adminstrative
  2. Part V, Mechanical
  3. Part VII - Plumbing
  4. Part VIII - Electrical
  5. For 2007, they have adopted the 2003 IRC Windspeed Maps. On Jan 1, 2008, the 2006 IRC Windspeed Maps go into effect.

The IRC has also been amended by adding the following:

  1. All applicable referenced standards
  2. Appendix J, Existing Buildings and Structures
  3. For R301.2.1.1 (Design Criteria) add the following:
  • Item 6, the American Concrete Institute, Guide to Concrete Masonry Residential Construction in High Wind Areas
  • Item 7, Institute for Business and Home Safety, Optional Code-plus Fortified for Safer living
  • Item 8, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Optional Code-plus Blueprint for Safety