The 2018 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) became effective on July 1st, 2021. Virginia will be maintaining its 1-year grace period for permit applicants to choose between the 2015 or 2018 editions of the VUSBC, with the 2015 edition sun-down occurring after June 30th, 2022. The 2018 VUSBC brought some new and exciting code changes that will impact registered design professionals and this article seeks to outline some of those significant changes.
The administrative provisions of the VUSBC were updated to add two elevation certification submissions for those buildings constructed in flood hazard areas. The first elevation certification occurs upon placement of the lowest floor, including the basement, and prior to further vertical construction. The second elevation certification occurs before the final inspection to certify that the enclosures meet the elevation certification. This change does not impose requirements for additional inspections, but rather requires elevation certifications to be provided to the building official at certain states of construction.
One of the more significant changes for design professionals deals with Accessory Dwelling Units. An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is now defined as:
”A dwelling unit in a two-family dwelling that is accessory to the primary dwelling unit. An accessory dwelling unit provides for separate living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities for one or more occupants, but may share living space, means of egress, utilities, or other components. An accessory dwelling unit fully complies with the requirements of this code for a dwelling unit except where specified otherwise.”
DHCD’s State Building Codes Office has put together a handy FAQ to address some of the intricacies of these types of units. That FAQ can be found here. The intent of the ADU provisions is to allow someone to create a dwelling that is accessory to the primary dwelling unit as a way to provide an affordable housing option. ADUs are permitted to share means of egress with the primary dwelling and they are not required to be fire separated provided that an NFPA 72 compliant fire alarm system is installed.
The Seismic Design Category map of R301.2.2.1 has also been updated and Virginia now has a Category C area near Mineral, which includes the counties of Powhatan, Goochland, parts of Cumberland (to the South East), Louisa, and a small portion of western Hanover.
Designers should also consider the updated provisions in R308.4.2 that deal with glazing adjacent to doors. This section has been updated to be more specific with regard to safety glazing on the hinge side near an in-swinging door. The term “perpendicular” has been replaced with “less than 180 degrees from,” which now covers windows installed at an angle. In a field condition where the two adjacent walls next to an in-swinging door are less than 180 degrees from the plane of the door, only the glazing on the hinge side of the door needs to be safety glazed.
Another key consideration for designers is the new appendix, Appendix Q, which provides design criteria for Tiny Homes. DHCD has put together an FAQ on this subject, which can be found here. This new appendix allows permit applicants to decide whether to use the appendix as an alternative to the requirements of the USBC where a dwelling is 400 square feet or less in floor area.