International Fire Code (IFC) (2024 Amendments)
International Fire Code (IFC) (2024 Amendments)
The public input period for this code will close June 27. The Austin City Council will review the proposed changes prior to adoption.
International Fire Code (IFC)
Austin City Council will review the proposed changes for the International Fire Code (IFC). To learn when approved changes are scheduled for consideration by City Council and when the changes will be implemented, please refer to the main page for the COA 2024 Technical Code Changes.
The comment period for the proposed changes will close June 27, 2024. Responses to feedback made during the comment period will be posted in the Documents section following the comment period close date. Please contact DSDCommunications@austintexas.gov for general questions or if you require further assistance.
The IFC is a model fire code developed by the International Code Council. It has been adopted for use as a base code standard by most jurisdictions in the United States, including Austin. The IFC addresses both safety and maintenance concerns for buildings based upon prescriptive and performance-related requirements. The IFC is intended to protect public health and safety while avoiding unnecessary costs and preferential treatment of specific materials or methods of construction.
Public input regarding the proposed 2024 IFC amendments is planned for May 28 - June 27, 2024. All input received will be submitted to the Austin City Council by September 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
When a page is open for public comment, you will notice the button on the project indicates "learn more." The "learn more" button will take you to the individual project page. There, you can provide your feedback and questions about the proposed Code changes. Provide your comment in the available box and select "comment." After a comment period has ended, you can still view the page and access the presentation/documents by selecting "view results". We appreciate your participation.
Adopting the most recent codes help protect the health, safety and welfare of Austin residents by
- Responding to new findings from building science research, field experience or changes in community expectations
- Responding to building performance assessments following catastrophic events to increase resilience in new structures
- Introducing new and innovative technologies and construction methods
- Aligning with other current accepted codes and standards
Additionally, adopting and implementing revised codes within two years of publication date is required to maintain our ISO Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) classification or ISO rating (currently at a class 3 for Commercial and class 4 for Residential). The BCEGS classification and ISO rating affect the insurance rating for the City of Austin.
Although each Code follows the same process, the process occurs at different times for some Codes. Certain Codes also require more steps than others during review. Consequently, not all Codes will be adopted at the same time. Please check the main page for the COA 2024 Technical Code Changes for more detail about the expected timeline for each Code change.
Visit the DSD Public Meetings webpage to access the Technical Code Changes Webinar recording and slide deck from May 20, where some of the proposed changes anticipated for this code were discussed.