I have mocked the place I call home for 45 years, calling Idaho “The hold my beer watch this state,” This dates back to my EMS days. To be true to form, the state, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen or been forced to skip a 3-year building code cycle. The insanity of that and the repercussions are staggering. It makes no sense to me. But here we are using the 2018 IRC (International Residential Code) FFN (Forever For Now).

In Who’s Best Interest Is It?

2018 IRC forever for now

Hell, if I know? However, skipping the 2021 code cycle has to benefit somebody; otherwise, it would never happen. We have always been three years behind so that the bugs could be worked out, and I could digest that, but six years behind? Something is fishy here, and I want to know. For clarity, there is no mandate to have a three-year code cycle; it is just how it has always been done.

Why We Have a 3-Year Code Cycle:

1. To stay up with the building industry’s best practices.
2. To correct the past code cycle mistakes and inconsistencies.
3. To add proper uses of new materials.
4. To update our understanding of building science as it develops.
5. To tighten and loosen rules based on life safety issues that have happened.

It’s time to dig in and figure it out. My hunch is that it is an organization that has some political clout.

Welcome To Idaho, Set Your Watch Back 10 Years

Isn’t that what the sign says as you pass into the Mountain Time Zone? It should. The silliness that happens here boggles the mind. Having hearings to take words carefully put into the codes to help contractors cross reference things has been removed in the name of reducing regulations. Huh? How does removing words equal reducing regulations? I participated for a bit to stem the tide of the loss of connectivity, but I backed off when it was clear that my input was not welcome.  Some legislators got a pat on the back, and a politician got to take credit for reducing regulations.

Here is the 411

The truth is that while they were working on the 2021 code cycle adoption, they peeked at the 2024 code cycle, which is reportedly less restrictive, especially regarding the energy code. So, those new home builders convinced the party in power to skip the normal progression of the code cycle. Wait, what if we get to the following code cycle in 2027, and it looks like the next one is even less restrictive? Do we skip 2024? Time will tell. As a building professional, I want to use the latest and greatest code cycle. IMHO, being behind three years for working out the bugs makes sense. Being behind six or more is foolish.

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