6 Let in the Sun 2015 IRC to Include Sunroom Spec BY DEAN LEWIS L ast fall the International Code Council (ICC) voted to adopt AAMA/NPEA/NSA 2100-12, Specification for Sunrooms, into the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). The specification, cosponsored by AAMA, the National Patio Enclosure Association (NPEA) and the National Sunroom Association (NSA), establishes minimum per- formance requirements for resi- dential sunrooms (including sun- spaces, conservatories, patio enclo- sures, patio covers, porch enclo- sures and other related structures) and the fenestration products used in their assembly, as built from all framing materials. Lack of Specifications In its advocacy to the ICC for adoption of the standard, AAMA pointed out that prior editions of the IRC had only addressed sun- rooms consisting of typical wood framing techniques. There were no provisions for using a stick system consisting of prefabricated framing of aluminum, fiberglass, wood or other materials, with glass or opaque wall or roof panels and steel or aluminum connections, other than by engineering analysis or other means of demonstrating equivalency with the IRC. The lack of definitive specifica- tions and code requirements that specifically address the full spec- trum of sunroom designs had created confusion in the con- struction community, as building officials and industry members alike struggled to apply unrelated code definitions and require- ments to sunrooms. Sunroom Categories The standard establishes five dif- ferent categories of sunrooms based upon the intended use of the space and defines specific design criteria for each: • Category I is defined as a non- habitable, non-conditioned sun- room, thermally isolated from the primary structure, with walls that are either open or enclosed with insect screening or plastic film; • Category II is defined as a non- habitable, non-conditioned sun- room, also thermally isolated from the primary structure but with enclosed walls with open- ings glazed with translucent or transparent plastic or glass; • Category III is essentially the same as Category II, except the fenestration complies with addi- tional requirements for resist- ance to air infiltration and water penetration; • Category IV is defined as a ther- mally isolated and non-habit- able structure with enclosed walls, but conditioned (heated and/or cooled) by a separate temperature control. • Category V is designed to be heat- ed and/or cooled and is open to the main structure. It is subject to additional requirements for air infiltration resistance, water pen- etration resistance and thermal performance. Each category has specified structural requirements for wind loads, dead loads, roof snow loads, live loads and seismic loads, roof load safety factor and maximum deflection of structural members and panels. These requirements reference specified sections of the IRC or ASCE/SEI 7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, as appropriate. The document also establishes specific parameters for a test struc- ture, including minimum depth, width, slope of roof, etc. Why the Standard is Needed The new reference to the specifi- cation is expected to make permit review and inspection of the various types of sunrooms a much smoother process because it makes clarifies those portions of the code that apply to the five sunroom categories. Although the AAMA/NPEA/NSA 2100-12 document won’t appear in the IRC until the publication of the 2015 code is finalized, the industry plans to begin referencing the sun- room categories in permit applica- tions to familiarize contractors and building officials with the requirements. ❙ Dean Lewis serves as educational and technical information manager for the American Architectural Manufacturers Association in Schaumburg, Ill. AAMA ANALYSIS [email protected] Door & Window Market www.dwmmag.com ©2014 Door & Window Market Magazine, 540/720-5584, www.dwmmag.com, All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
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6
Let in the Sun2015 IRC to Include Sunroom Spec
B Y D E A N L E W I S
Last fall the International CodeCouncil (ICC) voted to adoptAAMA/NPEA/NSA 2100-12,
Specification for Sunrooms, into the2015 International ResidentialCode (IRC). The specification,cosponsored by AAMA, theNational Patio EnclosureAssociation (NPEA) and theNational Sunroom Association(NSA), establishes minimum per-formance requirements for resi-dential sunrooms (including sun-spaces, conservatories, patio enclo-sures, patio covers, porch enclo-sures and other related structures)and the fenestration products usedin their assembly, as built from allframing materials.
Lack of SpecificationsIn its advocacy to the ICC for
adoption of the standard, AAMApointed out that prior editions ofthe IRC had only addressed sun-rooms consisting of typical woodframing techniques. There were noprovisions for using a stick systemconsisting of prefabricated framingof aluminum, fiberglass, wood orother materials, with glass oropaque wall or roof panels andsteel or aluminum connections,other than by engineering analysisor other means of demonstratingequivalency with the IRC. The lack of definitive specifica-
tions and code requirements thatspecifically address the full spec-trum of sunroom designs hadcreated confusion in the con-struction community, as buildingofficials and industry membersalike struggled to apply unrelatedcode definitions and require-ments to sunrooms.
Sunroom CategoriesThe standard establishes five dif-
ferent categories of sunroomsbased upon the intended use of thespace and defines specific designcriteria for each:• Category I is defined as a non-habitable, non-conditioned sun-room, thermally isolated from theprimary structure, with walls thatare either open or enclosed withinsect screening or plastic film;
• Category II is defined as a non-habitable, non-conditioned sun-room, also thermally isolatedfrom the primary structure butwith enclosed walls with open-ings glazed with translucent ortransparent plastic or glass;
• Category III is essentially thesame as Category II, except thefenestration complies with addi-tional requirements for resist-ance to air infiltration and waterpenetration;
• Category IV is defined as a ther-mally isolated and non-habit-able structure with enclosedwalls, but conditioned (heatedand/or cooled) by a separate
temperature control. • Category V is designed to be heat-ed and/or cooled and is open tothe main structure. It is subject toadditional requirements for airinfiltration resistance, water pen-etration resistance and thermalperformance.Each category has specified
structural requirements for windloads, dead loads, roof snow loads,live loads and seismic loads, roofload safety factor and maximumdeflection of structural membersand panels. These requirementsreference specified sections of theIRC or ASCE/SEI 7, MinimumDesign Loads for Buildings andOther Structures, as appropriate.The document also establishes
specific parameters for a test struc-ture, including minimum depth,width, slope of roof, etc.
Why the Standard is NeededThe new reference to the specifi-
cation is expected to make permitreview and inspection of the varioustypes of sunrooms a much smootherprocess because it makes clarifiesthose portions of the code that applyto the five sunroom categories.Although the AAMA/NPEA/NSA2100-12 document won’t appear inthe IRC until the publication of the2015 code is finalized, the industryplans to begin referencing the sun-room categories in permit applica-tions to familiarize contractorsand building officials with therequirements. �
Dean Lewis serves as educational andtechnical information manager for theAmerican Architectural ManufacturersAssociation in Schaumburg, Ill.
A A M A A N A L Y S I S
Door & Window Market www.dwmmag.com
©2014 Door & Window Market Magazine, 540/720-5584, www.dwmmag.com, All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
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