Page 60 - Green Builder July-August 2019 Issue

CODE ARENA
CREDIT: KWANGMOOZAA ISTOCK

The Latest Rules, Regulations and Codes Impacting Sustainable Construction

Four IECC-R Proposals to

Track in 2019

Keep an eye on these possible TABLE R407.3 (IRC N1107.3)
compliance actions heading your way in Cooling and heating load per square foot

the near future. Cooling Load per Heating Load per
Climate Zone
BY MIKE COLLIGNON Square Foot Square Foot
HE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE 0 10.1 Btuh 3.1 Btuh
(IECC) Group B code hearings were held in Albuquerque, 1 8.9 Btuh 4.6 Btuh
N.M., from April 28 to May 8. While there were a number
of codes being considered during this 11-day stretch, the 2 11.6 Btuh 7.3 Btuh
T IECC is arguably the “star” of this set of codes. There were 3A and 3B 6.5 Btuh 8.5 Btuh
hundreds of code change proposals led; some familiar, some new.
Rather than rehash all that transpired over the six days that the 4A and 4B 7.6 Btuh 8.8 Btuh
IECC-R was heard, we’re going to highlight the outcomes of a few 3C 3.3 Btuh 5.8 Btuh
signi cant proposals.
4C 6.0 Btuh 7.1 Btuh
[NOTE: In the context of this article, “outcome” means the decision of 5 7.0 Btuh 11.4 Btuh
the code committee, and is the first stage in a three-stage process.
6 5.5 Btuh 11.6 Btuh
After the code committee makes its recommendation, the code
7 4.9 Btuh 13.1 Btuh
change proposals and the respective recommendations are put out
for public comment. Those comments will then be considered at a 8 4.0 Btuh 18.1 Btuh
public comment hearing (PCH) in Clark County (Las Vegas), Nev., on COMMITTEE ACTION: Approved as Modi ed: “This is a clean and
Oct. 23-30. Per the ICC: “Following the PCH, the Online Governmental simple compliance path: It increases exibility by adding another
Consensus Voting (OGCV) period will start approximately two weeks option, focuses not on materials but e’ciency. The modi cations
after the conclusion of the PCH. The results of the PCH will be combined clari ed that the language applies to envelope load and it does not
impact equipment e’ciencies or lighting, corrected the citation, and
with the OGCV to determine the final disposition of the code change
added as mandatory the certi cate (Vote: 6-5).”
proposals that were considered at the PCH.”]
COMMENTARY: Interestingly, there was an assembly motion to
disapprove this proposal. However, the online vote after the hearing
RE17-19 did not sustain that motion (by a 61 percent to 39 percent margin),
PROPOSAL: This would create a new compliance alternative in so it remains approved as modi ed. This will be a proposal that
Section R407. Compliance would be determined using heating and will certainly garner a number of comments this summer, and will
cooling load analysis. Energy code compliance through this path generate quite a bit of testimony in October.
would still need to meet the provisions identi edww in Sections
R102.3, R403.5, R403.8, R403.9, R403.10, R403.11, and R404.1: RE27-19
Equivalent HVAC building load. The ratio of the space cooling load and PROPOSAL: This proposal would create a new compliance option
space heating load to conditioned floor area shall be less than or equal for wood-frame wall insulation requirements. (The underlined
to the values in Table R407.3. content in the table equals proposed new language.)
Air leakage and duct leakage testing would be retained in this This proposal looks to accomplish a few things:
proposed compliance path. 1. Include an additional equivalent insulation option for cavity

58 GREEN BUILDER July/August 2019 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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