Tall Mass Timber code proposals approved at Intl. Code Council public comment hearings

Fourteen tall mass timber code change proposals were approved during the International Code Council (ICC) public comment hearings.

The proposals are now subject to ICC’s online voting, scheduled to begin in November. The final outcome of the voting is expected in December.

The proposals deal with type of construction, performance method, and fire and safety issues.

“ICC’s Ad hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings studied mass timber construction for two years prior to introducing these code change proposals, including conducting numerous fire performance tests,” said Kenneth Bland, P.E., Vice President of Codes & Regulations, American Wood Council, in a news release.

“The result of that rigorous process is that each of the new proposed construction types has had its fire and life safety performance confirmed, resulting in a robust building performance,” he said.