GPT Washington State Building Codes

[Eric]

The Washington State Building Codes GPT incorporates the following codes, accessed at https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/washington:

• 2021 Washington State Building Code (Jul 2024)
• 2021 Washington State Energy Code - Residential Provisions (Jan 2024)
• 2021 Washington State Existing Building Code (Jul 2023)
• 2021 Washington State Fire Code (Jan 2024)
• 2021 Washington State Fuel Gas Code (Jun 2023)
• 2021 Washington State Mechanical Code (Aug 2023)
• 2021 Washington State Residential Code (Oct 2024)
• 2021 Washington State Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Sep 2023)
• 2021 Washington State Energy Code - Commercial Provisions (Feb 2025)

 

[Emily C]

I really like this feature!! I tried to trip it up with some questions, but it's answered all of the ones I asked so far. I really like how it references where it comes from when it answers.

 

[Eric]

I really like this feature!! I tried to trip it up with some questions, but it's answered all of the ones I asked so far. I really like how it references where it comes from when it answers.

Thanks for testing it out! I've been tinkering with GPTs lately and thought this might be a neat addition to the forum. I'm going to add GPTs for a handful of states (and probably for federal/Corps too) and see whether there's any kind of audience out there for this type of tool.

Also, like I mentioned in my PM, feel free to pass along additional building codes for Washington State (e.g., for Sequim), if you like, and I'll be happy to incorporate into the Washington State GPT's knowledge base (you can attach in replies to this thread or PM them to me). No pressure at all, of course - only if you're at liberty to share documents like that and think it'd actually be useful. Again, just something I'm exploring right now...

 

[Lindsay]

This is fun! I asked it several questions about fire sprinklers. I also asked when the 2021 codes were adopted and it gave me the answer along with references. I thought it would get confused when I asked about "WUI" instead of typing the words out but it knew what I means! Thanks for sharing this with us.

 

[dollyachie]

Wow! This is a handy tool! I asked a bunch of random questions that we typically hear from customers and it was able to answer most of them! I can see myself using this often. Thank you!

 

[Emily C]

I use it to help me with some materials in my WABO plan reviewer course, if I need to know what chapter references something. I am thankful for this as a resource!!

 

[joannaberes]

The Washington State Building Codes GPT incorporates the following (accessed at https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/washington):

• 2021 Washington State Building Code
• 2021 Washington State Energy Code - Residential Provisions
• 2021 Washington State Existing Building Code
• 2021 Washington State Fire Code
• 2021 Washington State Fuel Gas Code
• 2021 Washington State Mechanical Code
• 2021 Washington State Residential Code
• 2021 Washington State Wildland-Urban Interface Code

Have additional codes to add? Please reply below. Any files or webpages you'd like incorporated into the GPT can be included as attachments to your posts.

This is such a cool tool. I keep asking in different ways if a deck with a roof requires stamped drawings from a design professional. The GPT says " yes it may...". How do we discern a real Yes or No response?

 

[joannaberes]

I am slow to play around with the Chat GPT tools. My work subscribes to the ICC site, and I use the premium subscription tools for the code section searches. How does the GPT tool and search terms differ from a regular search engine search? I feel like I need to ask a data scientist/librarian about this stuff, the next time I talk to my librarian friends.

 

[Eric]

I am slow to play around with the Chat GPT tools. My work subscribes to the ICC site, and I use the premium subscription tools for the code section searches. How does the GPT tool and search terms differ from a regular search engine search? I feel like I need to ask a data scientist/librarian about this stuff, the next time I talk to my librarian friends.

These GPTs draw from the codes on the ICC site (listed above), in addition to other sources such as local jurisdiction websites and other codes/amendments a jurisdiction may be operating under. Washington State has state-required codes, in addition to local amendments, so the state-level GPT on this page will probably have limited utility for local WA jurisdictions that rely on the state codes in addition to any amendments they may have adopted. Local jurisdictions can request their own jurisdiction-specific GPT by submitting a request here.

These customized GPTs are more useful than other search tools because they're completely tailored to the jurisdiction, allowing for a more complete search.

 

[Eric]

This is such a cool tool. I keep asking in different ways if a deck with a roof requires stamped drawings from a design professional. The GPT says " yes it may...". How do we discern a real Yes or No response?

It probably doesn't say explicitly in any of the source material (i.e., the ICC codes listed above). Or maybe this is determined at the local level. In these situations, to help train the GPT, it would probably be best if someone fully knowledgeable of the answer added the correct response to this (or the subject jurisdiction's) GPT thread. The GPT scans this thread and incorporates user feedback posted here back into its knowledgebase.