DCI’s Vice President Jeff Brink speaks to BISNOW about California’s updated building code which goes into effect January 1, 2020 and contains new seismic requirements influencing upcoming projects. Developers and project teams kicking off new projects in the state will be pushed to find viable options to lower construction costs with alternative building materials, such as cross laminated timber (CLT).

SEATTLE, Washington -- There are significant changes coming with the new International Building Code (IBC 2018/ASCE 7-16), specifically seismic design load requirements for buildings in high seismic regions.

“While typical building code cycles see maybe 5% to 20% change, the new changes—for some extreme cases—will increase up to 80%,” said Tom Xia, PhD, DCI Engineers Principal, Technical Director and member of the ASCE and Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). “That is not a minor change.”