Title 23, Title 23 and Safety

(a) The building code standards committee shall be composed of twenty-five (25) members, residents of the state who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Eight (8) members are to be appointed for terms of one year each, seven (7) for a term…

(a) The state building code standards committee has the authority to adopt, promulgate, and administer a state building code, which shall include: (1) Provisions and amendments as necessary to resolve conflicts between fire safety codes and building codes, as provided for in § 23…

(a) The committee shall have the authority to adopt and promulgate a housing and maintenance code that shall be reasonably consistent with recognized and accepted standards and codes promoted by national model code organizations. The code shall be submitted to the legislature for…

All existing codes shall remain in effect until the date established by the legislative act which provides for the adoption of the code promulgated by the committee.

The state building code standards committee has the authority to adopt, amend, and repeal the building code elements of the rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and structures and to promulgate and administer the building code elements of the rehabilitatio…

(a) The state building code standards committee (“committee”) shall adopt an energy conservation code that shall be based on appropriate nationally and internationally recognized models, and shall promulgate and administer the energy conservation code. The energy conservation cod…

The state building code standards committee has the authority, in consultation with the building code commissioner, to adopt, maintain, amend, and repeal code provisions, which shall be reasonably consistent with recognized and accepted standards and codes, including for existing…

The building codes standards committee, after the state building code is adopted and promulgated, will serve as a board of standards and appeals. For the purpose of securing for the public the benefits of new developments in the building industry and insuring public health, the b…

The local building codes and ordinances shall remain in effect until the adoption of the state building code, July 1, 1977, and the local cities and towns shall be prohibited from enacting any local building codes and ordinances in the future. Inconsistent local charter provision…

This chapter shall not be construed to limit or restrict the authority of the state or local fire marshals as provided in chapter 28.1 or 28.28 of this title.

Unless otherwise specifically provided in this code, all references to article or section numbers shall be construed to refer to an article, section, or provision of this code.

(a) This code shall be construed to secure its expressed intent which is to insure public health, safety, and welfare insofar as they are affected by building construction, through structural strength, adequate egress facilities, sanitary conditions, equipment, light and ventilat…

Specialized codes, rules, or regulations pertaining to building construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or demolition promulgated, and as amended from time to time, by the various authorized state agencies shall be incorporated in this code.

The provisions of this code shall apply to all buildings and structures and their appurtenant constructions, including vaults, area, and street projections and accessory additions, and shall apply with equal force to municipal and state authorities established by the legislature …

No building or structure shall be constructed, extended, repaired, removed, demolished, or altered in violation of these provisions, except for ordinary repairs as defined in § 23-27.3-102.0.

Any requirement essential for structural strength, adequate egress facilities, sanitary conditions, equipment, light and ventilation, and fire safety of a proposed building or structure at the plan review stage, and which is not specifically covered by this code, shall be determi…

The building official as hereinafter defined shall determine any requirement which is not specifically covered by this code and which is essential for structural strength, adequate egress facilities, sanitary conditions, equipment, light and ventilation, and fire safety of existi…

When the provisions in this code specified for structural strength, adequate egress facilities, sanitary conditions, equipment, light and ventilation, and fire safety conflict with the local zoning ordinances, this code shall control the erection or alteration of buildings. In re…

(a) Ordinary repairs to buildings and structures may be made without application or notice to the building official, but the repairs shall not include: (1) The installation of any siding; (2) The cutting away of any wall, partition or portion of the wall; (3) The removal or cutti…

When the installation, extension, alteration, or repair of an elevator, moving stairway, mechanical equipment, refrigeration, air conditioning or ventilation apparatus, plumbing, gas piping, electric wiring, heating system, or any other equipment is specifically controlled by the…

All buildings and structures and all parts of them shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. All service equipment, means of egress, devices, and safeguards which are required by this code, or by the rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and str…

The owner, as defined in article 2, or the owner’s designated agent, shall be responsible for the safe and sanitary maintenance of the building or structure and its exitway facilities at all times, unless otherwise specifically provided in this code.

The legal use and occupancy of any structure existing on July 1, 1977, or for which it had been heretofore approved, may be continued without change, except as may be specifically covered in this code or as may be deemed necessary by the building official for the general health, …

It is unlawful to make any change in the use or occupancy of any structure or part of it which would subject it to any provision of this code, including the rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and structures, without the approval of the building official …

If a portion of a building is changed in occupancy or to a new use group, and that portion is separated from the remainder of the building with the required vertical and horizontal fire division complying with the fire grading as provided by this code, then the construction invol…

After an approved change of use has been made to a building or parts thereof, the reestablishment of a prior use that is not permitted for a new building, or parts thereof of the same type of construction, is prohibited unless all the applicable provisions of this code have been …

(a)(1) Except as provided in this section, existing buildings or structures when altered, renovated, reconstructed or repaired or a change of use occurs as specified in this section shall be made to conform to the requirements of the rehabilitation building and fire code for exis…

If substantial improvements are made within any twelve (12) month period costing in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the physical value of the building, this code’s requirements for flood resistant construction for new structures shall apply.

If the building is damaged by fire or any other cause to an extent in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the physical value of the building before the damage was incurred, this code’s requirements for flood resistant construction for new structures shall apply.

If the cost of alterations or repairs described in this chapter is between twenty-five (25%) and fifty percent (50%) of the physical value of a structure, the building official shall determine to what degree the portions so altered or repaired shall be made to conform to the requ…

If the cost of alterations or repairs described in this chapter is twenty-five percent (25%) or less of the physical value of the building, the building official shall permit, consistent with the requirements of the rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and…

In applying the provisions of §§ 23-27.3-106.0 — 23-27.3-106.5, physical value of the building or structure shall be based on the current market value. Market value shall be established by the owner who shall provide the market value of the building or structure prior to alterati…

There exists a state building code office within the office of the state fire marshal, who is the head of the department of business regulation’s division of building, design and fire professionals pursuant to § 23-28.2-1. The office is comprised of the state building code commis…

The appropriate local authority shall appoint an officer to administer the code. The officer shall be known as the building official. Two (2) or more communities may combine in the appointment of a building official for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, inc…

(a) The appropriate state or local authority may appoint one or more full-time or part-time inspectors to assist the building official in the performance of his or her duties and in the enforcement of this code. (b)(1) Building Inspectors-1 shall have a minimum of three (3) years…

The appropriate local authority shall appoint an alternate building official to act on behalf of the building official during any period of disability caused by, but not limited to, illness, absence, or conflict of interest. The alternate building official shall meet the qualific…

(a) The state building commissioner may appoint such other personnel as shall be necessary for the administration of the code. In the absence of a local building official or an alternate, as detailed in § 23-27.3-107.2, the commissioner shall assume the responsibility of the loca…

The state building code commissioner shall be a member of the classified service, and for administrative purposes shall be assigned a position in the department of business regulation’s division of building, design and fire professionals. Qualifications for the position of the st…

The building official, to be eligible for appointment, shall have at least five (5) years’ experience in both residential and commercial construction, shall have been employed as a Building Inspector-2 for a minimum of one year, and shall possess an International Code Council (IC…

(a) The state building commissioner and building code standards committee and appeals committee shall accept successful completion of programs of training developed by public agencies as proof of qualification pursuant to §§ 23-27.3-107.5 and 23-27.3-107.1.1 to be eligible to be …

(a) The committee shall offer a continuing educational program designed to assist all state and local building officials and inspectors in executing their responsibilities as defined in this chapter. Regular attendance at these programs shall be required of all building officials…

Neither the building commissioner, nor any full-time building officials, or full-time local inspectors, as defined in this code, shall be engaged in, or directly or indirectly connected with, the furnishing of labor, materials, or appliances for the construction, alteration, or m…

The state building commissioner, the members and staff of the building code standards committee and the board of standards and appeals, the building official, officer, or employee charged with the enforcement, administration and/or review of this code, while acting for the state …