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ICC Wrap-Up; State Code Developments IECC and IRC Weigh in on Residential Energy Codes The IRC approved measures EC58 and EC59 that will remove performance caps on residential fenestration when performance-based design is used. The IECC defeated both proposals, as well as a proposal that would have made IECC performance caps more relaxed. Final action hearings on this matter will be held next May, but if the decisions of both committees stand, the result may be performance caps in all climate zones for residences built under IECC and no performance caps for those built under IRC. As it pertains to Part II of EC54, the IRC approved a measure that will allow for slightly higher U-factors when certain solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC) are met in climate zones 6-8. IECC disapproved Part I of the same proposal. If the committees uphold their decisions through final action hearings, again, the provisions will vary between IECC and IRC. IECC approved EC39B, which will lower the SHGC from .40 to .37 in climate zones 1-3. This approval creates another variation between IECC and IRC, as the IRC requires a SHGC of .40 in the same climate zones. IECC on the Commercial Front The committee also disapproved EC9-06/06, the proposed standard by the Glass Association of North America (GANA) that would recognize an alternative method of determining thermal performance in nonresidential fenestration products, i.e., American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 507. Currently, IECC requires that thermal performance values in the commercial industry be in accordance with NFRC 100. The committee disapproved the proposal, citing that AAMA 507 does not require third-party certification of manufacturers. They also noted that while AAMA’s proposed standard does require laboratories to be accredited by NFRC, it was unclear if they would be accredited for the AAMA standard or the NFRC standard. GANA recently filed an appeal against the committee, citing a conflict of interest for two voting members of the committee that also serve on the Board of Directors for NFRC. Code Activities in the States Here are the latest code developments as recorded by the Building Codes Assistant Project: Alaska has adopted the 2006 IECC with special amendments for Alaska. The special amendments focus solely on increased insulation requirements for northern Alaska. The new code will become effective on April 1, 2007. Indiana has voted to no longer pursue adoption of the 2006 IECC. The state will continue to use the Indiana Code of 1992. The South Carolina Building Codes Council has stated its intent to continue in the process to adopt the 2006 IECC. The council originally voted to adopt the 2006 IECC in May 2006. Pennsylvania has stated its intent to adopt the 2006 I-Codes. The effective date for adoption of these codes is December 31, 2006. The Montana Building Codes Bureau will hold a hearing in December 2006 to discuss adoption of the 2006 IECC. No date has been set for adoption if the code is approved. The District of Columbia is considering the adoption of the 2006 IECC. This adoption would be in conjunction with the Green Building Act, which would establish incentives for “green” buildings. The 2006 IECC would become effective on January 1, 2008. Kentucky will review possible adoption of the 2006 IECC. The effective date for the code, if adopted, would be July 2007. |
Back to Home Page >>> Chair’s Message – 'Tis the Season >>> NFRC Members Meet in Arlington >>> Interview with Brian Crooks >>> NFRC Elects New Board of Directors >>> DOE Unveils Zero Energy Window >>> ICC Hearings >>> NFRC Releases Annual Homeowners Survey >>> NFRC in the News >>> |
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NFRC Update | December 2006 |
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