The codes and standards currently adopted and enforced by the Alabama Building Commission as the State Building Code are:

2003 International Building Code

2003 International Plumbing Code

2003 International Fuel Gas Code

2003 International Mechanical Code

2002 National Electrical Code

2003 International Fire Prevention Code

2004 Alabama Building Energy Conservation Code

ABC-4 Computer Program Manual

Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities: State and Local Governments (ADAAG)

ABC Code Supplements (Bound at the end of this Chapter)

(*) The requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities supersede the handicapped requirements contained in the International Building Code.

The Commission adopts by reference, as official "recommendations" rather than as mandated regulations, Chapter 5 of the Architectural and Transportation Barrier Compliance Board (ATBCB) publication; "Recommendations for Accessibility Standards for Children’s Environments."

Future revisions to the State Building Code will be made in accordance with procedures of the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act. The public will be notified of the Commission's intended action in the Alabama Administrative Monthly, published by the Legislative Reference Service, Administrative Procedure Division. The public will be given the opportunity to present their views and opinions to the Director for consideration. Upon satisfaction of these procedures, page 1 of this chapter will be re-published containing the revised State Building Code and distributed to holders of this Manual.

Information regarding the costs and availability of the adopted codes may be obtained as follows:

1. International Codes

           International Code Council

           4051 W Flossmoor Rd

           Country Club Hills, Il  60478  Phone 1-800-214-4321

2. National Electrical Code

          Secretary, Standards Council

          National Fire Protection Association

          1 Batterymarch Park

          Quincy, MA 02269-9101 Telephone No: 1-800-344-3555

3. Energy Conservation Code and ABC-4 Computer Program Manual

          Alabama Building Commission

4. ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities

                                  AND

Recommendations for Accessibility Standards

for Children’s Environments

       Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

       1331 F Street, N.W., Suite 1000

        Washington, D.C. 20004-1111 Telephone No. 1- 800 - 872-2253

With the exceptions of the energy conservation standards and the accessibility standards adopted in the State Building Code, the State Building Code is applicable to construction in Alabama defined as:

ENERGY CONSERVATION STANDARDS of the State Building Code apply to all buildings constructed or remodeled with state appropriated funds or funds from any other instrumentality of the state.

ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS: The Commission’s responsibility to review plans and specifications for compliance with accessibility standards applies only to buildings and facilities used by the public which are constructed in whole or in part by the use of state, county, or municipal funds, or the funds of any political subdivision of the state. See Title 21-4-6 for jurisdiction shared with the State Fire Marshall.

1. In case of conflict between the State Building Code, local codes, the Life Safety Code (which is enforced by the State Fire Marshal), or other codes, the most stringent requirements shall prevail.

2. All food preparation facilities, private water systems, and sewage disposal systems must also meet requirements of, and be approved by, the County Health Department of jurisdiction.

The compliance of plans and specifications with code requirements, is the responsibility of the primary design professional and approval of these documents by the Technical Staff does not relieve the primary design professional of this responsibility.

1. ABC Code Supplement No.1, LABELING OF FIRE DOORS AND FRAMES

All door openings in fire resistive walls and partitions requiring a rating shall be protected by assemblies which include doors, frames, hardware, closing devices, anchorage, sills, etc., installed in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 80, Standard for "Fire Doors and Fire Windows" and the State Building Code.

To further clarify the basic requirements and/or the correct method of labeling that will be acceptable to the Alabama Building Commission, the labels shall include the following:

1. Accessibility: Each component shall bear a label located so as to be accessible after installation.

2. Permanence: Each component shall bear a label of a type of material and be so attached that the life of the label and the attachment thereof can reasonably be expected to equal the life of the component to which it is attached. Labels shall be raised or embossed on metal labels or stamped into metal frames. Plastic or paper labels are unacceptable.

3. Legibility: The label design shall be such that it can be visible and legible at all times and must be clean of any paint or other coverage making the label illegible.

4. Fire Resistance: All approved labels on doors and on frames shall include thereon the fire resistance rating in hours and/or minutes for which the door or frame is labeled. Labels on frames with transoms or sidelights must identify that the opening assembly includes same.

5. Other Requirements: The labels or stamps applied to frames must be provided by a manufacturer that has been approved by a laboratory or organization to provide testing and follow-up services for fire-rated opening assemblies.