Appendix Q Tiny House A Crowning Achievement

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Pivotal For The Advancement Of The Tiny House Industry

I have been documenting the progress of Appendix Q Tiny Houses for almost two years. I started tracking the adoption process of the states and local jurisdictions and submitting supportive comments during the public comment phases and I will continue to follow this process. 
 
The approval of Appendix Q Tiny Houses to the inclusion of the 2018 IRC was a crowning achievement for the tiny house industry and has been pivotal to the acceptance of tiny houses as a viable solution to housing and is broadening homeownership.
 
It has been an exciting process to see that more than half of the country has adopted Appendix Q Tiny Houses.
 
I have enjoyed uncovering the many different methods that the different jurisdictions have used to adopt, reference and amend Appendix Q Tiny Houses.
 
Goose Creek, South Carolina has outlined a guide for tiny houses and a builder can, case by case, apply using the alternate method as allowed by the section “Alternate Method”(R104.11.)
 
 
Jurisdictions have also passed ordinances into law applying Appendix Q Tiny Houses to tiny houses on wheels, including Lake Dallas, Texas and Sitka, Alaska and there is legislation in Phoenix, Arizona that is in the works.
 
 
 

Washington State Tiny House Bill 5383: Effective Date Feb. 1st, 2020

Tiny House Bill 5383, which became effective on Feb. 1st, 2020   defines tiny homes and mandated that the building code council write building codes for tiny homes. Appendix Q Tiny Houses was used as a basis for the standards.

New Section: Sec. 1

Tiny houses have become a trend across the nation to address the shortage of affordable housing. As tiny houses become more acceptable, the legislature finds that it is important to create space in the code for the regulation of tiny house siting. Individual cities and counties may allow tiny houses with wheels to be collected together as tiny house villages using the binding site plan method articulated in chapter 58.17 RCW. The legislature recognizes that the International Code Council in 2018 has issued tiny house building code standards in Appendix Q of the International Residential Code, which can provide a basis for the standards requested within this act.

Washington state has amended and adopted Appendix Q Tiny House to be effective February 1st, 2021.

Tiny houses on wheels will go through the Modular inspection and approval process with L & I. This includes out of state manufacturers that sell to a consumer in Washington state.

Tiny Houses  Definition: Section Five HB 5383

“Tiny house” and “tiny house with wheels” means a dwelling to be used as permanent housing with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation built in accordance with the state building code.

Washington State Regulation Of Tiny Houses

Michigan: Appendix Q Tiny House Is A Selected Option In ”Select IRC Options Use With The Michigan Residential Code”

The Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) and the International Code Council (ICC) have joined forces to publish a targeted book of changes in the 2018 IRC to allow Home Builders Association of Michigan members and others to benefit from their new ability without having to buy the entire code. The book is titled ” 2018 Select IRC Options For Use With The Michigan Residential Code.”

Michigan Is Staying With 2015 IRC Until 2021 Is Adopted

The Flex Code Law, Public Act 504 of 2012 allows Michigan to choose to update the Michigan Residential Code every three or six years. Michigan chose not to update to the 2018 edition of the IRC published by the ICC and will be staying with the 2015 MRC until the 2021 edition of IRC is available and adopted.

HBAM and ICC Publish 2018 Select IRC Options

 

Appendix Q Tiny House

Appendix Q Tiny Houses was approved for inclusion in the 2018 International Residential Code ( IRC ) building code to provide regulations and standards for tiny houses on a foundation that is 400 square feet or less.

Appendix Q relaxes various requirements in the body of the code as they apply to tiny houses that are 400 square feet or less.
 
Attention is specifically paid to features such as compact stairs, including hand rails and headroom, ladders, reduced ceiling heights in lofts and guard and emergency escape and rescue opening requirements of lofts.

The International Residential Code is a comprehensive, stand alone residential code that creates minimum regulations for one-and two family dwellings of three stories or less.

The IRC brings together all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel, gas, energy and electrical for provisions for one-and two-family residences.  Appendix Q was adopted to the IRC building code standards through the ICC Code Developement Process.

Jurisdictions may use Appendix Q as a model code to adopt, reference or amend. Builders or even jurisdictions that have not adopted the 2018 IRC or the Appendix, can seek approval ”on a project basis through the alternative materials and designs provision” in the IRC.-David Eisenberg,  co-author of The Strawbale House Book.

Follow The Progress

ASTM Global Tiny House Standards

We are at the cusp of a new pivotal moment for tiny houses, we have been in discussion with ASTM to develop new global standards for tiny houses to further progress the industry.

Learn More About The ASTM Tiny House Standards Initiative

 

How Can We Develop Standards To Fit The Needs Of The Different Participating Countries

In my discussions with Janine, the President of the Australian Tiny House Association, we realized we had some different ideas on how to develop certain standards.
 
In the US, a lot of stakeholders have voiced that they want to develop a standard for tiny houses on wheels, referencing NFPA 1192 and ANSI 119.5 as a couple of standards and they see a tiny house on a  foundation as a different standard.
 
In Australia, Janine expressed that they desire to have a tiny house on wheels standard be the same as the tiny house on foundation standard, with only the base, or the floor system to change.
 
Many have said that would not work for us in the US, partly because of taxation purposes, one is personal property, one is real property, one has a vin number, etc….etc….
 
I feel I have thought of a way that all countries can have want they want and I created a short video to present my idea.
 
 

Standards And Sections Of A Standard Are Like Building Blocks That Can Be Added, Subtracted, And Rearranged To Fit The Need Of Each Country.

In the United States, Appendix Q Tiny Houses was approved for inclusion in the 2018 International Residential Code ( IRC ) building code to provide regulations and standards for tiny houses on a foundation that is 400 square feet or less.

Appendix Q relaxes various requirements in the body of the code as they apply to tiny houses that are 400 square feet or less.

Attention is specifically paid to features such as compact stairs, including hand rails and headroom, ladders, reduced ceiling heights in lofts, and guard and emergency escape and rescue opening requirements of lofts.

The International Residential Code is a comprehensive, stand-alone residential code that creates minimum regulations for one-and two-family dwellings of three stories or less.

We Develop Two Standards In Tandem With Each Other

In the US, Appendix Q Tiny House has gained traction and has been adopted by over half of the country, so in order not to confuse the marketplace, this is what I am laying out as a preliminary idea.

We have proposed to develop a standard to supplement and meet the code requirements of  Appendix Q Tiny House, and then we would not to be in conflict with the code. Let’s call it ASTMQ2021.

To summarize,  we develop a new ASTM standard that supplements Appendix Q Tiny House ( ASTMQ2021) in tandem
 
With a second standard for tiny houses on a foundation. ( That references Appendix Q Tiny House and ASTMQ2021 and the Tiny House Construction Guide developed by the Australian Tiny House Association  )
 
The second standard could be adopted by the rest of the world.
 
That is not in conflict with Appendix Q Tiny House or the ICC Off- Site Construction And Modular Standards Committee since they are choosing to strike tiny homes and tiny houses from their standards. 
 
I have given temporary names to the following standards: ( ASTMQ2021 And ASTME1111) 
 

Subcommittee Name: Tiny Houses on a Foundation

a) A Terminology standard for tiny houses on a foundation
b) ASTMQ2021: A Specification standard to compliment and meet the code requirements Of Appendix Q Tiny House including :
2) Sprinkler System
3) Installation
4) Transport
5) Siting
6) Diagrams
7) Checklist For Inspector Or 3rd Party Agency
c) Second Standard ASTME111:  Tiny House On Foundation Standard:  Referencing Appendix Q Tiny House, ASTM Standard Q2021, and The Tiny House Construction Guide Developed by the Australian Tiny House Association
1) Minimum design and building specifications
2) Structural safety practices
3) Permanent foundations standards including, but are not limited to, perimeter foundations, pier foundations, drilled piers, or a concrete slab
4) Removable foundation standards including, but are not limited to, pier foundations, ground screws, and skids.
5) Certification
d) An ASTM White Paper: Tiny Houses On A Foundation
 

Australia

Tiny Houses On A Foundation

Tiny Houses On Wheels

Australia could adopt ASTME1111, the new Tiny House Foundation Standard for foundation homes.

Reference ASTME1111 Tiny House On Foundation Standard from the floor joists up
And reference sections of the tiny house on wheels standard such
How the house adheres to the chassis, DRings, Hurricane Ties, tiny house chassis standard.
Tiny house chassis standard

Contact Janet Thome To Be Added To ASTM The Stakeholders List To Participate

 

Janet Thome is the Founder and President of Tiny House Alliance USA and is leading the ASTM

Tiny House Initiative. Please contact Janet to be added to the stakeholder’s list.

ja***@ti******************.org