There have been inquiries as to when wind provisions are no longer applicable, and when buildings must be designed in accordance with one of the reference standards in Section R301.2.1.1, Wind Limitations and Wind Design Required, of the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC/2015). Previously, Section R301.2.1.1 of the 2009 IRC stated that in regions where the basic wind speeds (from Figure R301.2.4) equaled or exceeded 100 miles per hour in hurricane prone regions, or 110 miles per hour elsewhere, the design of the building was outside of the scope of the IRC, and had to be designed in accordance with one of the reference standards. This has changed. Currently, according to Section R301.2.1, Wind Design Criteria, of the IRC/2015, buildings must be constructed using Table R301.2(1), Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria, as determined from Figure R301.2(4)A, Ultimate Wind Design Speeds. The referenced standards are required to be used in regions where the wind design is subject to Figure R301.2(4)B, Regions Where Wind Design is Required. According to Figure R301.2(4)B, New Jersey is not in a region where wind design is required, therefore, Section R301.2.1.1, Wind Limitations and Wind Design Required, is not applicable. Therefore, all buildings designed pursuant to the provisions of the IRC/2015 are not required to comply with the reference standards in Section R301.2.1.1, Wind Limitations and Wind Design Required, and may be designed in accordance with Section R301.2.1, Wind Design Criteria. Source: Marcel Iglesias Code Assistance Unit (609) 984- 7609

Reprinted with permission from NJ Construction Code Communicator – Fall 2016