New Gate Safety Standards for 2027 I-Codes
The International Code Council (ICC) has recently approved four gate safety proposals that will significantly strengthen the current safety standards and maintenance requirements for horizontal slide gates (ASTM F1184) and swing gates (ASTM F900) across the United States of America. These proposals include revisions of several model codes for both ASTM F1184 and ASTM F900. When International Codes are updated, it’s important to remain informed about the changes to ensure a high standard of safety practices is being followed and gate requirements are being met.
What are International Codes (I-Codes)?
I-Codes are developed and set by the International Code Council and consist of fifteen different building safety codes as a way to maintain high safety standards when it comes to the design and construction of structures. They are the most used set of compliance codes in the world and are consistently being reviewed for improvement.
Gate safety is included within these International Codes as a way to promote proper maintenance and safety practices to prevent gate-related injuries.
The newest updates will affect the following I-Code families:
- International Building Code
- International Residential Code
- International Existing Building Code
- International Property Maintenance Code
What are the Major Changes Being Proposed for the 2027 Model I-Codes?
- Expanding requirements for IBC Section 3110 to include national safety standards for manual sliding gates (ASTM F1184) and manual swing gates (ASTM F900), alongside the existing requirements for automatic gates.
- Requiring existing gates to comply with the updated IBC when the gate is being altered, repaired, or replaced.
- Updating the IRC Appendix to also incorporate F1184 and F900.
- Adding gate definitions and safety requirements to the IPMC to strengthen ongoing maintenance expectations on existing gates.
More information will be released as the process of adapting these new codes continues. The informational PDF linked below can provide more insight.
AFA Release Statement for 2027 Gate Safety I-Codes
