UL has recently conducted research on a wide array of current products and systems originally certified under UL 2196, Tests for Fire Resistive Cables and ULC-S139, Standard Method of Fire Test for Evaluation of Integrity of Electrical Cables and determined that they no longer consistently achieve a two-hour fire-resistive rating when subjected to the standard Fire Endurance Test of UL2196 or ULC-S139.  Consequently, UL and ULC will not be able to offer certification to the currently existing program related to these standards.

As a result, manufacturers are no longer authorized to place the UL mark or ULC mark on the following products:

• UL Classified Fire Resistive Cable (FHJR)
• ULC Listed Fire Resistant Cable (FHJRC)
• UL Listed cable with "-CI" suffix (Circuit Integrity)

Furthermore, UL has removed from its certification directory all Electrical Circuit Protective Systems (FHIT) constructed with Fire Resistive Cable.

To view the UL public notice, visit http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/corporate/newsroom/newsitem.jsp?cpath=%2Fglobal%2Feng%2Fcontent%2Fcorporate%2Fnewsroom%2Fpublicnotices%2Fdata%2Ful-and-ulc-announce-important-changes-to-certification_20120912090000.xml.

To view more information about the types of systems affected and a detailed FAQ, visit http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/perspectives/regulator/fire/cables/.

The Department of Justice’s revised regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) were posted here and published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010.

 The Department has assembled this terrific official online version of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards) to bring together the information in one easy-to-access location.  It provides the scoping and technical requirements for new construction and alterations resulting from the adoption of revised 2010 Standards in the final rules for Title II (28 CFR part 35) and Title III (28 CFR part 36). You have your choice of HTML or PDF versions of the standards.

Proposed Amendments to 521 CMR

This proposed amendments document also includes language regarding the Board's jurisdiction over temporary overnight shelters, which has been submitted as an emergency regulation change to coincide with current language in recent amendments to 780 CMR.  The language requires that effective one year after filing the proposed emergency regulation language, all temporary overnight shelters "shall provide at a minimum, an accessible entrance and an accessible toilet room in compliance with 521 CMR Sections 25 and 30, regardless of whether other work is performed or a change of use occurs." 

These proposed amendments, including the emergency regulation language regarding temporary overnight shelters, were approved by the full Architectural Access Board on February 7, 2011 and were also approved by the Building Codes Coordinating Council on February 17, 2011.  The proposed amendments are now in the approval process per the requirements of Executive Order 485.  These proposed amendments must be approved by the required officials prior to a public hearing being held. 

Please note that these amendments to 521 CMR are part of an on-going process.  The end result of this current process will be a full code revision that is proposed to be ready by the end of 2011 and will include, among other things, new graphics and renumbering of existing sections to be reflective of the IBC format.

Continue to check back with our website for any future updates on this regulation process.

The 8^th edition residential code (for one and two family dwellings and townhouses three stories and less) became effective with the February 4, 2011 Massachusetts Register.  The 7^th edition residential code will remain in effect concurrently with the new 8^th edition until August 4, 2011.  During the concurrency period a project can be designed using either edition.  The deadline for filing a permit application for projects designed using the 7^th edition is August 3, 2011.

The 8th edition residential code is comprised of the International Residential Code 2009 (IRC) and a separate package with Massachusetts amendments.  The IRC is sold by the International Code Council www.iccsafe.org and the Massachusetts amendments package will be available at the State House Bookstore  (617-727-2834).