RISBC-19 Rhode Island Fuel Gas Code

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-100.1.5 and 23.27.3-109.1

Purpose and Reason:

The Building Code Standards Committee (BCSC) is proposing amendments to the Rhode Island Fuel Gas Code. The current version of this Code adopted the International Code Council’s (ICC) International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) 2018 edition. Currently, these amendments reflect the BCSC’s proposed adoption of the 2021 edition of the IFGC. The state specific amendments to the IFGC 2021 model code are for consistency with the other building code regulations in RICR Title 510 and the Fire Safety Codes in RICR Title 450, compliance with RI statutes, and ensure that the model codes align with the needs of this state.

Additionally, all building code regulations being amended in this cycle have been edited for clarity and internal consistency of formatting and style, and to be easily read with the other building code regulations and the model codes that these regulations adopt. Formatting changes include: listing every model code chapter and stating whether each chapter is adopted, adopted with changes or deleted; leading all changes with the model code section number for quick reference; and focusing on model code numbering to simplify citation and avoid confusion.

Summary of substantive changes: 

§§ 19.1 and 19.2 – Updated and simplified the provisions in these sections. 

Chapter 1 contains the administrative provisions of IFGC 2021, which are amended for consistency with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-27.3 and other RI building codes within Title 510 and the Rhode Island Fire Safety Codes in RICR Title 450. No change to the status quo. 

Chapters 2, 5, 7, and 8 of IFGC 2021 are adopted with no changes. No change to the status quo. These chapters in IFGC 2018 were adopted without changes but not mentioned in the current draft. They are now listed for clarity and completeness. 

Chapter 3 of IFGC 2021 is adopted with changes. 4 of the 5 state specific amendments to IFGC 2018 are being retained as amendments to IFGC 2021, no change to statute quo. The 2018 deletion and substitution of a state specific provision pertaining to Repair Garages (Sec. 305.10) is being eliminated, because as stated in IFGC 2021 Sec. 305.10, Repair Garage appliance installation is governed by Fire Safety Code/NFPA 30A. 

Chapter 4 of IFGC 2021 is adopted with no changes. All of the prior state specific amendments have been deleted in order to harmonize building code requirements with applicable requirements of the International Fire Code and NFPA 58.  

Chapter 6 of IFGC 2021 is adopted and retains the same state specific amendment that was made to IFGC 2018. No change to status quo. 

IFGC 2021 Appendices A, B and C are adopted and Appendices D and E (which pertain to procedures covered by other state laws) are deleted. The current regulation did not clearly state which appendices were adopted or deleted but just said in 101.3 that “Provisions in the appendices are permitted to be used for determining compliance to this code.” Upon review of the actual appendices, it was clear that only A, B and C needed to be adopted. No change to status quo as the content of the appendices in 2021 IFGC is consistent with the 2018 IFGC appendices that we have explicitly adopted.