The International Code Council (ICC) voted on multiple items for the 2024-2026 Code Development Cycle during the April 2024 Committee Action Hearing (CAH1). ICC has unanimously voted (14-0) to update the language of IMC clause 1109.2.5 Refrigerant Pipe Shafts to better align with ASHRAE 15 2022, where exception (2) to the requirement for shafts is no longer limited to only A1 refrigerants. The change allows A2L refrigerants to be run in wall cavities instead of being forced to run in shafts, so long as the refrigerant concentration limits are met in any occupied space through which the piping passes.
This approval demonstrates ICC’s commitment to updating language around A2Ls using ASHRAE’s guidance and standards. The substantiation of the vote also confirms that the reason why IMC 2021 and IMC 2024 did not have the proper ASHRAE 15 language was due to a timing issue. For more information on this item or to obtain links to the specific items and votes, please contact the DXS Refrigerant Transition Team.
