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Search the building code.

Every 2024 IRC section and the IBC as it loads, by number or topic, plus the local rules for your city. Free to search.

Detached houses, duplexes and townhouses up to 3 stories with their own exits use the IRC; every other building uses the IBC (IBC 101.2).

A random sample from 1,598 sections for San Antonio, TX, the 2024 IRC

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  • R1001.9.2

    Hearth Extension Thickness

    • The hearth extension is at least 2 in thick, or 3/8 in of noncombustible material if the firebox floor is raised at least 8 in above it.

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 10, Chimneys and FireplacesRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

  • R319.1

    Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening Required

    • Every bedroom, basement, habitable attic and room with a sleeping loft needs an operable escape opening to a public way or a yard that reaches one; each basement bedroom needs its own.
    • Exempt: mechanical-only basements of 200 sq ft or less, ICC 500 shelters, and sprinklered basement bedrooms where the basement has two exits.

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 3, Building PlanningRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

  • R403.3

    Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations

    • Heated buildings kept at 64°F or more may use insulated shallow footings instead of going below frost; not for unheated porches, garages or crawl spaces.
    • Shallow footing depth and insulation step up with the air-freezing index; horizontal insulation starts at 2,500 °F-days.
    • Rate foam by its long-term wet R-value per inch: EPS Type II 3.2 vertical and 2.6 horizontal, Type IX 3.4 and 2.8, XPS 4.5 and 4.0.
    • Every Texas county is in the lowest air-freezing band (1,500 °F-days or less).

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 4, FoundationsRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

Searches all 4,276 IRC 2024 sections, 5,532 IBC 2024 sections and defined terms (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 so far) and each city's local rules as they are added. Section numbers and titles from the International Residential Code and International Building Code, 2024 editions, copyrighted by the International Code Council; the IRC's electrical chapters (34 to 43) follow NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code. Requirements are summarized in our words (IRC Chapters 3 to 43, IBC Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33); read the full text at the link on each result. Local values come from each city's published documents.

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