Week of September 27, 2010

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CODE ALERT BULLETIN

Brought to you by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its new website the Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN)
Welcome to the weekly Code Alert Bulletin designed to share information and support timely participation in state and local activities related to the adoption of building energy codes. Each bulletin will highlight immediate opportunities to influence the outcome of state and local policy, indicate code status, and recommend action. We believe that by broad dissemination of these opportunities among energy efficiency supporters, we will collectively increase our impact at the state and local level and improve the outcome of policy debates and legislative and regulatory proceedings. We invite you to pass this email along to others who support energy efficiency improvements at the state and local level and would like to receive this information. If you are aware of activity that needs to be on this list, or would like to provide feedback on this bulletin, please contact Paul Karrer at (202) 530-4347 or pkarrer@ase.org.

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* Code Updates *
Oregon New Commercial Energy Code Fully Effective October 1 Tennessee New Standards for Residential Buildings Effective October 1

* State Alerts *
Florida Comments on Energy TAC Recommendations Due Oct. 18

* General Alerts *
BCAP New OCEAN Map Tracks State Implementation Activities Around the Nation

 2009 IECC ICC and DOE Release FREE Electronic Version of 2009 IECC DOE Determination Affirms RES Energy Savings of 2009 IECC; Comments Due Oct. 4 ICC Final Action Hearings Oct. 24-31 in Charlotte; Early Registration Ends Sept .22

* Calendar *

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Oregon
Alert Status: After the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) filed an official Adoption Notice for its final draft of the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code (OEESC), the chapter on commercial energy efficiency (Chapter 5) of the 2010 OEESC will take the place of Chapter 13 of the 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC). The commercial chapter will be effective July 1, 2010 with a 90-day "phase-in" period (ending October 1) where individuals may choose to build either to the 2007 OSSC Chapter 13 energy provisions or the 2010 OEESC. For the first time, the states energy efficiency construction provisions will be published as a stand-alone code and based on the 2009 IECC. According to BCD, the code will achieve 15% energy savings beyond the existing commercial code by making changes in three main areas: requiring increased insulation and energy-efficient windows, adding automatic lighting controls, and requiring more efficient mechanical systems. As for an updated residential code, BCD tentatively expects to complete work in April 2011 replacing Chapter 11 of the 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) with Chapter 4 of the 2010 OEESC (which will achieve 10-15% greater energy savings) More Information: BCAP Oregon Code News | Adoption Notice | 2010 OEESC Final Draft | Oregon SB 79 | Oregon BCD Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org] Top

Tennessee
Alert Status: After the passage of legislation in June requiring the state to update its building energy standards, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurances Division of Fire Prevention filed a rule doing so with the Secretary of State on March 29. Pending review by the Attorney Generals office, the rule will enact statewide standards for residential and state-owned building construction. Among the key changes:

Effective July 1, 2010: For new construction and additions to state buildings, the energy efficiency provisions (Chapter 13) of the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) will be replaced by ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007. Effective October 1, 2010: The statewide standard for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses will be the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC). The energy efficiency provisions (Chapter 11) of the IRC will be replaced by the 2006 IECC.

 Effective October 1, 2011: Residential additions of 30 or more square feet will be included under the statewide residential standard. Other provisions in the rule regarding local adoption and enforcement include: Before July 1, 2010: Local jurisdictions that have adopted a residential code that is current within 7 years of its current published edition (i.e. 2003 or later version of the IECC or IRC) must notify the Division of Fire Prevention of their intent to undertake their own enforcement program. The Division of Fire Prevention will enforce the statewide residential standards in jurisdictions that do not have enforcement programs. Local governments that do not adopt and enforce a residential code may opt out of the state enforcement program with a two-thirds majority vote of the local governing body before July 1, 2010 and again after subsequent elections for that body. More Information: BCAP Tennessee Code News | Residential Code Rule Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] or Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org] Top

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Florida
Alert Status: As part of the 2010 Florida Building Code update, the Florida Building Commission has moved to completely revise the Florida Energy Efficiency Conservation Code using the 2009 IECC as the foundation code. The proposed Florida-adjusted 2009 IECC is available here. The Energy Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met on August 25 and took actions on 107 proposed code modifications. Comments on the TAC recommendations are due October 18. The full Commission will consider the recommendations at a Rule Adoption Hearing December 7-8, and a final rule adopting the 2010 FBC will be filed by February 1. More Information: BCAP Florida Code News | TAC Meeting Documents | 2010 Florida Energy Code Draft | 2010 FBC Code Adoption Schedule Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@recacodes.com] or Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] Top

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Energy Code Implementation Map
Alert Status: BCAP has unveiled a map on its website OCEAN that tracks the various energy code implementation projects around the nation, including BCAPs Compliance Planning Assistance (CPA) program. Check out the map for the implementation activities in your state, or contact BCAP about any projects that we missed. More Information: BCAP Implementation Status Map | Compliance Planning Assistance (CPA) Program | BCAP Code News Action: If you would like to alert BCAP about an implementation project in your state, contact Mark Lessans [mlessans@ase.org] Top

2009 IECC Free Electronic Download

Alert Status: Via funding through a federal grant, the International Code Council (ICC) and the U.S. Department of Energy have partnered to provide at no cost a downloadable version of the 2009 IECC. To download a free electronic version of the 2009 IECC, you will have to fill out a form in order to receive the link and serial number to unlock and read the protected PDF. According to DOE, the 2009 IECC will produce approximately 15% in energy-efficiency gains compared to the 2006 edition. As a result, homes and building built in accordance with the 2009 IECC including schools and hospitals will consume less energy and help the environment by reducing emissions associated with operations. More Information: BCAP 2009 IECC Code News | 2009 IECC Download Page | ICC Home Page | EnergyCodes.gov Top

DOE 2009 IECC Residential Determination

Alert Status: The Department of Energy has preliminarily determined that the 2009 IECC would achieve greater energy efficiency in low-rise residential buildings than the 2006 IECC. Also, DOE has preliminarily determined that the 2006 IECC would achieve greater energy efficiency than the 2003 IECC. Finally, although DOE has preliminarily determined that the 2003 IECC would not achieve substantially greater energy efficiency than the 2000 IECC, DOE found that the 2003 IECC is no less energy efficient than the 2000 edition. If these determinations are finalized, states would be required to file certification statements to DOE that they have reviewed the provisions of their residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether to update their code to meet or exceed the most recent code with an affirmative determination (the 2009 IECC). Visit OCEAN to see states progress on complying with this requirement for the most recent commercial and residential determinations previously published by DOE. Comments on the preliminary determinations are due October 4 (see the ADDRESSES portion of the Federal Register notice). More Information: BCAP Federal Code News | Federal Register Notice | Determinations: Commercial & Residential | All About Determinations Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Eric Lacey with RECA [eric@recacodes.com] Top

ICC Final Action Hearings

Alert Status: Join the International Code Council for its 2010 Annual Conference and Group B Final Action Hearings, October 24 through October 31, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The hearings on the 2012 IECC and 2012 IRC energy chapter (Chapter 11) will be held October 27-31. Early registration has been extended to September 22. Click here for registration information. More Information: ICC Charlotte Hearings | Registration | Hearing Schedule | 30% Solution 2012 Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Bill Fay with EECC [bfay@ase.org] Top

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Events, Hearings, and Comment Deadlines

Sept 1 Nov 17: New York Residential builder energy code training throughout the state Mon, Oct 4: DOE Comments due on preliminary determinations of 2009 IECC residential energy savings Tue-Thur, Oct 12-14: EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & EXPO: October 12-14 in Portland, Oregon Mon, Oct 18: Florida Comments due on FBC Energy TAC recommendations for 2010 FBC amendments Wed, Oct 20: Utah Senate Business and Labor Interim Committee hearing on residential recommendations Sun, Oct 24 Sun, Oct 31: ICC 2012 IECC and IRC Final Action Hearings in Charlotte, NC Wed, Nov 3: Georgia DCA Board meeting on IECC/NGBS final adoption approval in Atlanta, GA Wed-Fri, Jan 26-28: Green and Blue Conference 2011 in Auburn, AL Top

BCAP Events Calendar

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