Page 3 - CodeWatcher Winter 2017 Issue
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CODE WATCHER
January 2017
5 Code Warrior: The Blind Eye 20 Tiny Houses Approved
Without a Hitch
We would like to think that there is a minimum
standard of living that we could all agree on, In a big win for enthusiasts of spare home
but the behavior of people, corporations, and footprints, tiny houses were approved and
countries continues to illustrate that smart incorporated into the International Residential
regulation is needed to guarantee the highest Code. Here’s the back story on how the change
quality of living for all. sailed through the code process so quickly.
6 News and Trends 24 New Guidance
on Air Leakage, ERI
New climate predictions suggest that ignoring
energy codes could be a fatal mistake … 2018 IECC The 2018 IECC recognizes ANSI Consensus
offers prescriptive path for buried ducts in vented Standards to define how to conduct air
attics for all climate zones … how “disaster leakage testing and how to calculate energy
deductibles” could affect building codes rating index scores.
nationwide … Consumer corner: The HERS Score
explained in 3 minutes. 26 Dodging Obsolescence
10 Energy Code Minute: Will the ICC code development process meet
“Back When” a Vapor Barrier the IECC energy savings goals? Here are some
was a Vapor Barrier ideas for making sure each code cycle advances
energy efficiency.
If you want to build high-performing, durable wall
assemblies, you need to rethink some old terms 32 Better Than Code:
and practices. Once Isn’t Enough
14 IECC Votes In! Are HERS raters missing the mark by not
insisting on two blower door tests? A seasoned
Right on schedule, the preliminary results from high-performance builder makes the case for using
the 2018 IECC online vote were released by the ICC. the blower door test (twice) for quality control.
The verdicts largely mirrored the results of the
public comment hearing held in late October.
Read the fate of the most contested proposals.
COVER ART BY KIP AYERS
www.codewatcher.us January 2017 / CodeWatcher 3
