Adoption of the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code
The Texas Industrialized Building Code Council approved the adoption of later editions of the mandatory building codes at their meeting of November 16, 2023. The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted the rules on May 21, 2024.
The effective date of the following codes is July 1, 2024.
Effective July 1, 2024, all industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components shall comply with the following codes, as amended in §70.101 of the IHB Rules:
- International Building Code (IBC), 2021 Edition, including appendices C, F, and K
- International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 Edition, including appendices AG, AH, AK, AP, AQ, and AT
- International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2021 Edition
- International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 Edition
- International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2021 Edition
- International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2015 Edition
- National Electrical Code (NEC), 2020 Edition
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2021 Edition– for alterations of portable industrialized buildings
Amendments to the codes listed above were also adopted with an effective date of July 1, 2024
The code amendments and other information relevant to the adoption of these codes is available online.
Plan approval and construction to new code editions
Manufacturers who are already certified for Texas will be required to have all documents in the manufacturer’s design package, including their compliance control manual, reviewed and approved to the new code editions with an approval date on or after July 1, 2024, unless the manufacturer has elected to transition approval of their documents prior to the effective date in accordance with Department rule 70.70(a)(5)(B).
Code references in the design package must be to the new code editions. Calculations must reference the new code editions and demonstrate compliance with the new code editions.
A design package is defined as the aggregate of all plans, designs, specifications, and documentation required by the rules to be submitted by the manufacturer to the design review agency for compliance review, including the compliance control manual and the on-site construction documentation.
All construction begun on or after July 1, 2024, must comply with the new code editions and be constructed in accordance with design packages approved to the new code editions.
Transition to new code editions prior to July 1, 2024
Department rule 70.70(a)(5)(B) allows manufacturers to begin constructing to new mandatory building codes prior to the effective date provided that the manufacturer notifies the Department in writing of the effective date of transition. The manufacturer’s design package and all documents approved on or after the effective transition date shall be to the new editions of the mandatory building codes. Plan approval dates for these documents shall be on or after the effective transition date. All construction begun on or after the effective transition date must comply with the new code editions and be constructed in compliance with design packages approved to the new code editions.
Construction started prior to July 1, 2024
Construction to plans approved to the previously adopted mandatory building codes that began prior to July 1, 2024, or prior to the manufacturer’s effective transition date, must be completed, inspected in the plant by a Texas approved third party inspector, and labeled (TX decal must be permanently attached to the unit) by no later than December 31, 2024, or the unit shall not be eligible for a Texas decal.
Effect of new code edition on the certification process for new manufacturers
Beginning July 1, 2024, manufacturers who are not certified for Texas and who have not yet started the certification inspection process will be required to comply with the new code editions as one of the certification requirements.