Aniruddha Natekar, Cummins Power Generation Inc., Minneapolis

Installation Considerations for IBC-Compliant Generator Sets

The International Code Council's (ICC) International Building Code (IBC) has replaced regional codes in most jurisdictions, making it the primary code document for engineers who specify and supervise the installation of generating equipment. Currently, authorities may be using either the 2000, 2003, or 2006 edition of the IBC, with one of these editions now adopted at either the state or local level in all 50 states. Recently, the State of California adopted the 2006 edition, leading the way for that edition to become a preeminent standard across the United States. The IBC addresses both the design and installation of building systems, with an emphasis on how those systems will perform in emergency situations—and continue to perform after such events. One big change for engineers specifying seismic-related equipment is that the United States is no longer divided into broad seismic zones.