Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office Currently Adopted Codes

Currently Adopted Codes

The codes currently adopted by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office are:

1. International Building Code (IBC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC); See Appendix for amendments;
2. International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, published by the ICC, with amendments;
3. The International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC);
4. The International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC);
5. The International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC);
6. The International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), see Appendix for amendments;
7. The International Fire Code (IFC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), see Appendix for amendments;
8. For commercial buildings, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), see
9. Appendix for amendments;
10. For one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes, the IECC, 2018 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), with amendments;
11. The International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), see Appendix for amendments;
12. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, 2021 edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), shall govern new Small Residential Board and Care facilities that:
    1. Are a change of occupancy from either a residential occupancy or a health care occupancy; and
    2. House eight (8) or fewer residents, and all residents have and maintain the ability to move reliably and escape to a point of safety as a group within three (3) minutes.
13. The National Electrical Code (NEC), 2017 edition, published by the NFPA, except that:
    1. Section 110.24, Available Fault Current shall be optional; and
    2. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) shall be optional for bathrooms, laundry areas, garages, unfinished basements, which are portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage, work or similar area, and for branch circuits dedicated to supplying refrigeration equipment.
14. No provision of the preceding cited publications shall be adopted that conflicts with:
    1. The installation and service standards of portable fire extinguishers and fixed fire extinguisher systems in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-14-.02; and
    2. The standards for engaging in the liquefied petroleum gas business in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-17-.02.

Code Adoption History

Code and Edition

a) See Appendix for amendments.

b) See link for amendments.

c) For one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, 2009 IECC with amendments.

d) For state buildings, educational occupancies, and any other occupancy requiring an inspection by the state fire marshal for initial licensure.

e) Except: 2006 Edition for F1, F2, S1, and S2.

IBC–International Building Code, IEBC–International Existing Building Code, IECC–International Energy Conservation Code, IMC–International Mechanical Code, IPMC–International Property Maintenance Code, IRC–International Residential Code, NFPA LSC–National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code 101, SBC–Standard Building Code

Appendix

2021 International Building Code Amendments:

1. Remove Chapter 11 Accessibility.

2. The requirements of Section 423 Storm Shelters shall not be required.

3. Section 903.3.1.2 NFPA 13R sprinkler systems shall be replaced with the following:

Automatic sprinkler systems in Group R occupancies may be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13R where the Group R occupancy meets all of the following conditions:

(i) Four stories or less above grade plane.

(ii) For occupancies other than Group R-2, the floor level of the highest story is 30 feet (9144 mm) or less above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

For Group R-2 occupancies, the roof assembly is less than 45 feet (13716 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. The height of the roof assembly shall be determined by measuring the distance from the lowest required fire vehicle access road surface adjacent to the building to the eave of the highest pitched roof, the intersection of the highest roof to the exterior wall, or the top of the highest parapet, whichever yields the greatest distance.

(iii) The floor level of the lowest story is 30 feet (9144 mm) or less below the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

The number of stories of Group R occupancies constructed in accordance with Sections 510.2 and 510.4 of the International Building Code shall be measured from grade plane.

4. For Group E occupancies in all jurisdictions in Tennessee, local education agencies, public charter schools, and non-public schools may allow classroom doors to be locked to prevent unwanted entry provided that the locking means meets the requirements in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (2021) Section 15.2.2.2.4.1.

5. For college and university instructional buildings in all jurisdictions in Tennessee, college and university administrators may allow classroom doors to be locked to prevent unwanted entry provided that the locking means meets the requirements in the NFPA (2021) Section 39.2.2.2.2.

6. Dwellings licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) as Family Home Daycares shall use Appendix AM of the 2021 International Residential Code.

7. Where ASCE 7-16 is referenced for seismic design or mapped ground accelerations, ASCE 7-22 mapped ground accelerations may be used to determine the S1 and Ss values.

8. The requirements for flammable gas shall be those found in the International Building Code (IBC), 2024 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), and shall include the following:

(i) For Chapter 2, the definition for Flammable Gas shall be replaced with the definition found in the 2024 International Building Code.

(ii) For flammable gases, Table 307 .1(1) shall be replaced with Table 307 .1(1) of the 2024 International Building Code.

(iii) For flammable gases, Section 307.4 High-hazard Group H-2 shall be replaced with Section 307 .4 High-hazard Group H-2 of the 2024 International Building Code.

(iv) For flammable gases, Section 307.5 High-hazard Group H-3 shall be replaced with Section 307.5 High-hazard Group H-3 of the 2024 International Building Code.

(v) For flammable gases, Section 414.2.5 shall be replaced with Section 414.2.5 of the 2024 International Building Code.

(vi) For flammable gases, Table 414.5.1 shall be replaced with Table 414.5.1 of the 2024 International Building Code.

2021 International Property Maintenance Code Amendments:

The following sections shall be removed: 302.4 Weeds, 302.8 Motor vehicles, 302.9 Defacement of property, 304.2 Protective Treatment, 304.8 Decorative features, 304.14 Insect screens, and 308 Rubbish and Garbage.

2021 International Fire Code Amendments:

1. Section 510.1 Exception 2 shall be replaced with the following:

Where it is determined by the local fire chief in coordination with local law enforcement and EMS that the radio coverage system is not needed.

2. Section 903.3.1.2 NFPA 13R sprinkler systems shall be replaced with the following:

Automatic sprinkler systems in Group R occupancies may be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13R where the Group R occupancy meets all of the following conditions:

(i) Four stories or less above grade plane.

(ii) For other than Group R-2 occupancies, the floor level of the highest story is 30 feet (9144 mm) or less above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

For Group R-2 occupancies, the roof assembly is less than 45 feet (13716 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. The height of the roof assembly shall be determined by measuring the distance from the lowest required fire vehicle access road surface adjacent to the building to the eave of the highest pitched roof, the intersection of the highest roof to the exterior wall, or the top of the highest parapet, whichever yields the greatest distance.

(iii) The floor level of the lowest story is 30 feet (9144 mm) or less below the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. The number of stories of Group R occupancies constructed in accordance with Sections 510.2 and 510.4 of the International Building Code shall be measured from grade plane.

3. Appendix L (Requirements for Fire Fighter Air Replenishment Systems) shall be optional.

4. For Group E occupancies in all jurisdictions in Tennessee, local education agencies, public charter schools, and non-public schools may allow classroom doors to be locked to prevent unwanted entry provided that the locking means meets the requirements in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (2021) Section 15.2.2.2.4.1.

5. For college and university instructional buildings in all jurisdictions in Tennessee, college and university administrators may allow classroom doors to be locked to prevent unwanted entry provided that the locking means meets the requirements in the NFPA (2021) Section 39.2.2.2.2.

6. The requirements for flammable gas shall be those found in the International Fire Code (IFC), 2024 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC), and shall include the following:

(i) For Chapter 2, the definition for Flammable Gas shall be replaced with the definition found in the 2024 International Fire Code.

(ii) For flammable gases, Table 911.1 shall be replaced with Table 911.1 of the 2024 International Fire Code.

(iii) For flammable gases, Table 5003.1.1(1) shall be replaced with Table 5003.1.1(1) of the 2024 International Fire Code.

(iv) For flammable gases, Table 5003.1.1(3) shall be replaced with Table 5003.1.1(3) of the 2024 International Fire Code.

(v) For flammable gases, Section 5003.8.3.5 shall be replaced with Section 5003.8.3.5 of the 2024 International Fire Code.

(vi) For flammable gases, Section 5003.11 shall be replaced with Section 5003.11 of the 2024 International Fire Code.

2021 International Energy Conservation Code Amendments:

1. Remove C405.11 Automatic Receptacle Control, C405.12 Energy Monitoring, and C408 Commissioning.

2. The 2006 edition shall apply to the following occupancy classifications as defined by the International Building Code (IBC), 2021 edition:

(i) Moderate-hazard factory industrial, Group F-1;

(ii) Low-hazard factory industrial, Group F-2;

(iii) Moderate-hazard storage, Group S-1; and

(iv) Low-hazard storage, Group S-2.

3. For daycares licensed by DHS not located in a dwelling unit, the 2015 edition shall apply, except C408 System Commissioning shall be removed.

2021 International Existing Building Code Amendments:

1. Remove Chapter 3 Section 306 Accessibility for existing buildings.

2. Replace Section 405.2.3.3 Extent of repair for noncompliant buildings with the following: If the evaluation does not establish that the building in its predamaged condition complies with the provisions of Section 405.2.3.1, then the building, including its foundation, shall be retrofitted to comply with the provisions of this section. The wind loads for the repair and retrofit shall be those required by the building code in effect at the time of original construction, unless the damage was caused by wind, in which case the wind loads shall be in accordance with the International Building Code. The seismic loads for this retrofit design shall be those required by the building code in effect at the time of original construction, but not less than the reduced seismic forces.

3. Replace 405.2.4 Substantial structural damage to gravity load-carrying components with the following: Gravity load-carrying components that have sustained substantial structural damage shall be rehabilitated to comply with the applicable provisions for dead, live, and snow loads in the International Building Code. Undamaged gravity load-carrying components, including undamaged foundation components, that receive dead, live, or snow loads from rehabilitated components shall also be rehabilitated if required to comply with the design loads of the rehabilitation design.

4. The requirements of Section 303 Storm Shelters are not required.

New Small Residential Board and Care Facilities:

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, 2021 edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), shall govern new Small Residential Board and Care facilities that:

1.  Are a change of occupancy from either a residential occupancy or a health care occupancy; and

2. House eight (8) or fewer residents, and all residents have and maintain the ability to move reliably and escape to a point of safety as a group within three (3) minutes.