2024 North Carolina Building Code

The 2024 North Carolina Building Code introduces several important updates to improve clarity, safety, and design flexibility. It provides clearer provisions for occupied roofs, including how they are counted for building height and stories, along with requirements for occupant notification systems and necessary elevator access. The code also establishes new Type IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C mass-timber construction categories, with revised limits for building height, number of stories, and allowable area.

Additionally, the traditional frontage area-increase formula has been replaced with simplified tabular requirements, making calculations more straightforward for designers. Guidance has also been added to ensure continuity of fire-resistive protection where secondary steel elements connect to primary structural members.

Egress provisions have been refined as well, addressing mechanical rooms and penthouses, occupied roof egress pathways, and requirements for interior areas of refuge at the exit-discharge level. Updates also improve accessibility standards, including clearer wheelchair turning and clearance requirements.