Top 10 Highlights from 150-pages of proposed changes:
- Effective date: March 1, 2024
- Accessibility requirements: For new buildings, the turning radius increases from 60” to 67” to accommodate motorized wheelchairs, thereby increasing toilet room sizes, etc.
- OBC update is adopting ASHRAE 90.1-2019 which will impact the building envelope and energy efficiency of mechanical equipment.
- The new Ohio Building Code will reference more recent energy and ASHRAE codes. For most building elements, like the walls and roof, the minimum R/U-Values and continuous insulation are increasing.
- Per Section 1110.18, adult changing stations will be required for new builds depending on the use group, building size, and application.
- The occupancy load factor that describes how many square feet per person in a business-use building is changing from 100 sq ft to 150 sq ft., meaning that a B-use building will be less densely occupied.
- GFCI receptacles are required in “areas with sinks and permanent provisions for food preparation, beverage preparation, or cooking” that aren’t necessarily kitchens (i.e. wet bars, beverage prep areas in a convenience store, etc.)
- Occupied roofs do not count towards building height in stories and shall not be included in the building area.
- Chapter 34 – Existing Buildings, has been replaced with the Ohio Existing Building Code OEBC. This code applies to the maintenance, repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to, and relocation of existing buildings and portions of existing buildings that are within the scope of the building code.
- The 2024 Existing Building Code now provides three methods to follow concerning project types for alteration, addition, and change of occupancy, along with levels of classification of work (I, II, and III) in existing buildings.
- Prescriptive Compliance
- Work Area Compliance
- Performance Compliance
For questions regarding these changes, contact The JDI Group.
