Confirm the IEBC edition, the compliance method, and the work classification the designer chose, then trace existing, demolished, and new work through the plans, code summary, and structural and MEP drawings. AI can flag conflicts; the design professional and building official decide compliance.
What does the IEBC cover?
ICC’s IEBC addresses the repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to, and relocation of existing buildings, aiming for appropriate levels of safety without requiring full compliance with new construction requirements in the other I-Codes.
ICC publishes the I-Codes as model codes in editions. ICC’s 2024 I-Codes collection includes the IEBC, and the ICC IEBC overview describes how it is adopted; both were checked on October 1, 2026. States and cities adopt a specific edition, often with amendments, and many still enforce an earlier one. Record the edition and amendments the authority having jurisdiction actually enforces; the newest published edition does not establish local adoption.
Some jurisdictions adopt the IEBC within a state code; Oregon’s Structural Specialty Code is based on the IBC, IFC, and IEBC. Record the edition, the chosen compliance method, and the work classification on the code summary before reviewing details.
Separate existing, demolished, and new work
Collect existing-conditions and demolition plans, new-work plans, the code summary with the compliance method and work classification, existing structural information and any evaluation, life safety plans, and the MEP drawings for the affected area. Add any reports the design relies on, such as structural or accessibility evaluations.
Mark the limits of work. Many conflicts arise where new work meets existing construction that the drawings do not fully describe.
Check the classification against the scope of work
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance method | Code summary, general notes | Confirm one compliance method is stated and used consistently. |
| Work classification | Code summary, demolition and new-work plans | Ask the designer to confirm the classification where the scope grew. |
| Change of occupancy | Existing and proposed room uses, code summary | Identify use changes that the code analysis does not address. |
| Existing structure | Existing conditions, structural evaluation, new loads | Trace new equipment or loads onto existing framing. |
| Egress and life safety | Life safety plan, existing exits, new partitions | Check routes through both existing and new construction. |
| Limits of work | Demolition plan, new-work plan, MEP plans | Reconcile where each discipline ends the scope. |
The revised drawing set guide helps track changes between issues, and the NFPA 101 guide covers existing-building life safety where that code applies.
Example: new rooftop equipment on existing framing
Hypothetical example. The mechanical plan adds a new rooftop unit over an area of existing roof framing, while the code summary classifies the work as a minor alteration and the structural drawings include no evaluation of that area.
The mechanical plan places new rooftop equipment over existing framing that the structural drawings do not evaluate, and the code summary does not address the added load. Please confirm the structural approach and work classification.
The structural engineer evaluates the framing and the architect confirms the classification. The conflict is a coordination question; the engineer and building official decide.
Review renovation drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the code edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Add the applicable IEBC from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it, and add the jurisdiction’s published amendments. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the code summary’s IEBC compliance method and work classification with the existing, demolition, and new-work plans and the structural and MEP drawings. Flag scope changes, unaddressed use changes, and new loads on existing construction. Use the supplied IEBC edition where applicable and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets involved. Verify the limits of work and revision before sending a comment, and record existing conditions the drawings do not show.
Document review does not inspect existing conditions, choose a compliance method, perform structural evaluation, or approve the work.