What’s New in 2024 IBC Chapter 17: Special Inspections Get a Major Update
The 2024 IBC adds new special inspection requirements for metal building systems and tightens rebar welding rules. Here’s what inspectors need to know before adoption.
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The 10-2-3 Rule and Other Chimney Facts That Show Up on Every B1 Exam
Chapter 10 is short. Examiners love it. Here are the five chimney and fireplace requirements that appear on the B1 exam more than any others.
The Four-Inch Sphere: A Number Written in Children’s Lives
Why does the IRC require that no guard opening allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through? The answer spans three decades of code tightening — from 9 inches to 6 to 4 — driven by real CPSC data on child head entrapment.
From the Field — When “Just Getting It Done” Breaks the Load Path
A contractor bridged 2×4 blocks over anchor bolts instead of adjusting the stud layout. It was everywhere in the house. Here is why it fails, what the code says, and the fix that actually works.
DOE vs ICC: The $127 Billion Energy Code Dispute
DOE says the 2024 energy code adds $14K per home. ICC says DOE is ignoring $182 billion in energy savings. Here is what inspectors and builders need to know about the standoff.
South Carolina Adopts the 2024 IRC — What Every Lowcountry Inspector Needs to Know
The 2024 IRC is now South Carolina law. Here is what changed, what it means for inspectors, and the key sections you need to know before your next inspection.
What Are “Imaginary Lot Lines” in the 2024 IRC? A Field Guide for Inspectors
The 2024 IRC expanded the imaginary lot line concept to all dwellings on the same lot — not just townhouses. Here is what that means for your fire separation inspections.
SC’s Farm Stand Bill: Three Perspectives on What H5097 Really Means
Signed into law May 15, 2026 with a unanimous vote — but unanimous doesn’t mean uncomplicated. Three perspectives: the farmer, the jurisdiction, and ours.