Page 16 - CodeWatcher Winter 2017 Issue

2018 IECC Online Vote

Right on schedule, the preliminary results from the 2018
IECC online vote were released by the International Code
Council (ICC) onTuesday, December6.Theverdicts largely
mirrored the results of the public comment hearing held
in late October. Of the 85 proposals considered, only 12%
of the code change proposals had their outcome changed
by the online vote. The residential energy code’s most
contested proposals did not see a reversal of fortune.
What does that mean for the homebuilding industry?

Mechanical Maximum Energy Rating Index
Equipment Climate Zone Energy Rating Index
Tradeoff
Zone Rating Index
Like the three previous iterations of the code, builders 1 57
will not be allowed to trade off envelope insulation when 2 57
using more efficient equipment. (Author’s note: Both sides 3 57
would be wise to put pressure on DoE to update the NAECA 4 62
requirements on equipment. Otherwise, we’ll be witnessing 5 61
round 5 of this debate in spring 2019.) 6 61
7 58
ERI Path 8 58

This section underwent major changes, but the online vote Table R406.4 (N1106.4)
merely affirmed the actions taken at the public comment
hearings. First, the ERI levels are going up slightly. (See the ventilation rates from the 2018 IRC (which mirror
table, right.) ASHRAE 62.2-2010) are to be used. Currently, RESNET 301
references the ASHRAE 62.2-2013 rates, though it has been
Next, the use of on-site power generation determines stated the standard could change in order to be congruent
the prescriptive envelope backstop. If renewables are used, with the IECC. (For more details, see “New Guidance on
the 2015 IECC prescriptive requirements must be met. Air Leakage, ERI,” page 24. )
If renewables are not used, then the existing 2009 IECC
requirements remain the backstop.

RESNET 301 (with a twist) – RESNET/ICC/ANSI 301
will now be the only ERI methodology allowed in the ERI
path. However, if the project has to adhere to the IRC, then

16 CodeWatcher / January 2017 www.codewatcher.us