Public Meeting Notice  BBRS 11th Edition Residential Code Subcommittee Meeting- 9.3.26

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In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of Building Regulations and Standards 11^th Edition Residential Code Subcommittee will be convening a regular meeting. 

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner.

Meeting Minutes – BBRS Residential Code Committee

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards Residential Code Committee convened a regular monthly meeting on:

Microsoft Teams Meeting September 3^rd, 2026

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 9:06 AM Chair Becca Edson called the open meeting to order.

Informational note: All votes were taken by roll call. Where each member voted in favor, the vote will be reported as unanimous.

Committee Members Present:

• Becca Edson
• Todd Cantor
• Greg Gagnon
• Reade Milne
• Len Morse-Fortier
• Ross Seavey

Committee Members Absent:

• Jason Ferschke
• David Riquinha
• David Silveira 

DOL Staff Present:

• Tammy Gropman, Executive Director
• Charles Kilb, Senior Board Counsel
• Andrew Chase, Associate Executive Director

1. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Meeting Minutes 
2. June 18^th, July 2^nd, July 16^th, and August 6^th, 2026 – Ross Seavey motioned to approve all meeting minutes, seconded by Reade Milne. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
3. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted IRC and 780 CMR 51.00 Chapter Reviews
4. 2024 IRC Appendix BI
5. Members reviewed 2024 IRC Appendix BI concerning light clay construction. Members discussed that the appendix had not previously been adopted in Massachusetts and considered whether any Massachusetts-specific amendments were necessary. Members noted that the appendix provides a method of construction subject to the involvement of a registered design professional and expressed support for retaining the option rather than prohibiting its use. Members concluded that no Massachusetts-specific amendments were necessary. Reade Milne motioned to adopt Appendix BI without amendment, seconded by Becca Edson. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
6. 2024 IRC Appendix BO
7. Members conducted an extensive review of Appendix BO, Existing Buildings, comparing the 2024 IRC provisions with the 10th Edition Massachusetts amendments and provisions that had appeared in the 2021 IRC but were deleted from the 2024 IRC. Members discussed the overall approach of keeping Appendix BO concise and relying on the 2024 IRC language unless a Massachusetts-specific provision was necessary. Members considered the provision in R1 102.6.1 stating that additions, alterations, repairs, and relocations should not cause an existing structure to become less compliant than it was previously; members discussed retaining the substance of that provision in Chapter One rather than duplicating it in Appendix BO. Members also discussed the 12-month aggregation or “lookback” concept for related work, including its implications for energy and flood requirements, and supported retaining language stating that related work permitted within a 12-month period is considered a single project, with the concept potentially located in Chapter One rather than framed as “multiple categories of work.”
8. Members reviewed BO 102.3.2 and compared it with the 2024 IRC provision addressing unreinforced masonry parapets, including BO 105.4.3. Members discussed differences involving seismic design category D2 and the 25 percent threshold and supported removing the reference to seismic design category D2 and the 25 percent limitation so that the Massachusetts provision would apply more broadly to unreinforced masonry parapets. Members also discussed removing an exception and other limiting language and agreed to defer the final placement and comparison of the provisions for further structural review.
9. Members reviewed provisions concerning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide protection when a sleeping room is added to an existing dwelling and discussed retaining several Massachusetts amendments that had originated from repeated code questions. Members supported carrying forward the first four provisions as 11th Edition amendments, while discussing that requirements for smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide protection are also addressed through R3 10, R3 10.5, and R3 11. Members also discussed the provision for an attached garage and concluded that the garage-related requirement should remain, with Chapter Three reviewed to ensure that heat detection and notification requirements are appropriately addressed. Members determined that BO 102.4.4 and BO 102.4.5 concerning energy storage systems should not be carried forward because energy storage systems are addressed elsewhere, including R3 30.7 and a separate energy-related appendix.
10. Members discussed historic buildings and whether the Appendix BO provisions from the 10th Edition should be retained. Members noted that the 2024 IRC addresses historic buildings primarily through provisions relating to substantial improvement and energy requirements, while Massachusetts General Law Chapter 143, Section 3A addresses conflicts involving historic-district ordinances or bylaws. Members discussed the potential interaction between the residential code, the IEBC, historic commissions, flood requirements, and energy requirements and concluded that the historic-building amendment did not need to be brought into Appendix BO.
11. Members reviewed replacement-window provisions and discussed the relationship between Appendix BO and the emergency escape and rescue opening requirements in Chapter Three. Members specifically discussed R3 10.5 and the 2024 IRC language permitting a replacement window to be the manufacturer’s largest standard size that fits the existing frame or opening, subject to the applicable conditions. Members concluded that the 2024 IRC language already addresses the issue and agreed to retain the black-and-white 2024 IRC text without carrying forward the deleted language or adding an additional cross-reference.
12. Members reviewed flood hazard provisions and discussed whether references should point directly to the applicable floodplain section rather than through Table 301.2 and another cross-reference. Members noted that the 2024 numbering differs from the 10th Edition and identified R3 22 in the existing references and Section 306 for floodplains in the 2024 code as matters requiring consistency checks. Members also discussed “equivalent alternatives” and “compliance alternatives,” concluding that the Appendix BO provision should retain the term “equivalent alternatives” because it operates differently from the compliance-alternative process addressed in Chapter One. Members agreed that references to Chapter One and Chapter Three should be checked for consistency with Massachusetts amendments.
13. Members discussed provisions concerning features exceeding code requirements, concluding that BO 102.8.2 should not be carried forward because members considered the provision unnecessary and potentially confusing with the separate compliance-alternative process. Members also reviewed provisions concerning unlined chimneys and the connection of new HVAC appliances. Members discussed references to 248 CMR and 527 CMR and concluded that the provision should be retained while removing references to those other codes so that the requirement would focus on appliance manufacturer installation requirements within the scope of the building code, which could be enforced as part of the installation.
14. Members discussed latent conditions and whether the provisions appropriately addressed unsafe or dangerous conditions. Members raised concerns that the language could create an additional pathway for addressing unsafe structures and could overlap with Chapter One, R1 102.6.4, R1 102.8, and statutory procedures under M.G.L. Chapter 143. Members discussed the respective roles of building officials, licensed construction supervisors, and property owners and concluded that the substance that may be useful should instead be addressed in Chapter One. The latent-conditions provision was therefore not to be carried forward as an Appendix BO amendment.
15. Members then discussed whether Appendix BO should continue to contain references to energy efficiency, accessibility, roofing, and other chapters. Members considered whether such references were useful signposts or whether they would unnecessarily complicate the new structure of Appendix BO. Members ultimately favored relying on the 2024 IRC’s organization rather than recreating Appendix AJ as a roadmap for existing buildings. Members also reviewed BO 102.4.3 and BO 102.8.8 and identified a conflict with Chapter Three emergency escape and rescue opening requirements, concluding that the conflicting provisions should not be carried into the 11th Edition.
16. Members reviewed the provisions concerning more restrictive requirements, preliminary meetings, and existing-building evaluations. Members noted that preliminary meeting authority is addressed in Chapter One and that the 2024 IRC no longer requires a formal existing-building evaluation to be submitted for one- and two-family dwellings. Members did not object to omitting those provisions from Appendix BO. Members also discussed definitions and agreed generally that definitions duplicated in Chapter Two or no longer used in Appendix BO should not be carried forward as Massachusetts amendments.
17. Members discussed hazardous materials and concluded that an additional Appendix BO provision was unnecessary because the subject is addressed elsewhere. Members reviewed structural provisions and agreed to retain the 2024 IRC language without adding the deleted 10th Edition structural language. Members discussed seismic provisions and agreed to defer the issue pending input from the structural group, including whether the Massachusetts provisions should continue to exclude or otherwise address seismic requirements for one- and two-family dwellings. Members also discussed electrical equipment and wiring and agreed that BO 105.5 should be struck and reserved rather than retaining substantive electrical requirements, with members emphasizing consistency with the approach taken for other specialized codes such as energy and fire.
18. Members reviewed ventilation and agreed that the reference to Chapter Three should remain because it directs users to another section of the same code. Members discussed R3 25 concerning light, ventilation, and heating and the interaction with mechanical ventilation and the energy code. Members also reviewed ceiling-height provisions and discussed the relationship between BO 105.7 and Chapter Three, including provisions for existing buildings, habitable attics, basements, bathrooms, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms. Members noted that the 2024 IRC contains similar language in Section 313 and agreed that the redundancy could be addressed during the Chapter Three review while leaving the Appendix BO existing-building provision in place. Members also discussed the wording “not less than 50% of the required floor area” and agreed that, although the language was awkward, the committee did not want to amend the code solely to improve wording. 
19. Discuss Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated 48 Hours in Advance of the Meeting
20. No items were discussed. 
21. Adjournment – The next meeting is scheduled for September 17^th, 2026
    1. Becca Edson motioned to adjourn, seconded by Reade Milne. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously.
    2. Meeting adjourned at 11:27 AM.

Items Relied Upon

• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Minutes
• 2024 IRC
• 780 CMR provisions

It is anticipated that the topics shown below will be discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 

1. Review/Discuss/Vote Meeting Minutes 
   1. June 18, 2026 
   2. July 2, 2026
   3. July 16, 2026
   4. August 6, 2026
2. Review/Discuss/ Vote IRC and 780 CMR 51.00 Chapter Reviews 
   1. 2024 IRC Appendix BI
   2. 2024 IRC Appendix BO
   3. 2024 IRC Chapter 3
   4. 2024 IRC Chapter 1and 780 CMR 51.00 Chapter R1
3. Discuss matters not reasonably anticipated by the chair, 48 hours in advance of the meeting

Adjournment – the next scheduled meeting is September 17, 2026