The Commissioner of Insurance, in Commissioner's Order No. 07-0508, has adopted, effective January 1, 2008, the structural provisions of the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2006 International Building Code (IBC), each with Texas Revisions, as the applicable building code standards for eligibility for windstorm and hail coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (Association). The 2006 Texas Revisions include specifications for the protection of openings; a simplified means of determining wind loads on common sized garage doors; guidance and clarification for the testing and labeling of skylights; and guidance and clarification for corrosion resistance of fasteners and connectors. The new building codes are to be applied to structures that are constructed, repaired or to which additions are made on and after January 1, 2008. The 2006 IRC and the 2006 IBC as adopted will be the building code for determining eligibility for windstorm and hail insurance through the Association in designated catastrophe areas.
In conjunction with the adoption of the 2006 IRC and the 2006 IBC, each with Texas Revisions, new and revised windstorm inspection forms have been adopted to implement the 2006 IRC and the 2006 IBC along with the Texas Revisions.
The Commissioner's Order and full text of the new rule may be accessed on the Department's web site for 2006 Proposed and Adopted Rules at http:// www.tdi.state.tx.us/rules/2006/0621a-059.html.
The 2006 IRC and the 2006 IBC are published by and available from the International Code Council, Publications, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois, 60478-5795. The Texas Revisions to the 2006 IRC and the 2006 IBC along with the new and revised windstorm inspection forms are available from the Windstorm Inspections Section of the Inspections Division, Texas Department of Insurance, 333 Guadalupe, P.O. Box 149104, Austin, Texas, 78714-9104.
Any questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to Sam Nelson at 512-322-2212 or Sam.Nelson@tdi.state.tx.us.
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Alexis Dick
Deputy Commissioner, Inspections Division
Texas Department of Insurance