Page 60 - Green Builder May-June 2018 Issue

CODE ARENA CREDIT: SAM BEEBE/FLICKR

The Latest Rules, Regulations and Codes Impacting Sustainable Construction

A Handful of Highs and Lows

The latest legislation for builders tackles air quality, energy efficiency,

timber availability and more.

BY MIKE COLLIGNON
Here is a roundup of recent construction-related PENNSYLVANIA
The Uniform Construction Code Residential Advisory Committee
legislative actions around the country: (RAC) has adopted the 2015 I-codes, with some individual codes
receiving amendments. In regards to the energy code, there were
AUSTIN, TEXAS sections that reverted back to 2009 language, while other sections
The Austin City Council adopted an ordinance aimed at protecting advanced to 2018 language. The air leakage rate was established as
residents from the dangers of an invisible killer: carbon monoxide. five air changes/hour for all Pennsylvania climate zones. Also, the
As of April 1, all existing homes in Austin must contain a CO detector ERI table (R406.4) from the 2018 IECC was incorporated. The new
if they meet one of the following two requirements: codes take effect on Oct. 1.
■ There is a gas or fuel-burning appliance in the home. This was a very positive development for the state. Prior to this
■
■ The home is directly connected to a garage. update, the state had been known for anchoring their energy code to
■
The ordinance gets the existing residential (and commercial) the 2009 IECC. The RAC had typically been stacked against energy
buildings up to the level of newer development. A CO detector has efficiency, and some of the procedures were even modified to prevent
been required on new construction since 2012. The carbon monoxide updates. The Governor’s Office is reported to be “very happy” with the
detectors “must be installed outside of each separate sleeping area outcome of the process, as this gets Pennsylvania out of the bottom
and in the immediate vicinity of each sleeping area. A carbon half of the state energy code rankings.
monoxide alarm must be installed within a sleeping area if a fuel-
burning or solid fuel appliance is located within a sleeping area, a ILLINOIS
bathroom attached to the sleeping area, or a garage attached to the The residential subcommittee of the Energy Codes Advisory Council
sleeping area”. Combined smoke and CO detectors are deemed to (ECAC) met near the end of April to finish its review of all proposed
1
comply with the new ordinance, and detectors do not have to be amendments to the state’s energy code, which is legislatively
hard-wired into the building. mandated to be based on the most-recent model energy code. A
handful of entities put forth proposals to lower the ACH50 level from
5 to 2. In a compromise decision, the subcommittee unanimously
voted to lower the minimum ACH50 level to 4, and the Chair of the
subcommittee voiced his intent to lower it to 3 in the next update
cycle in 2021.

UNITED STATES
The EPA WaterSense program received renewed funding for fiscal
year 2018 via the omnibus spending bill passed in late March.
Interestingly, the budget didn’t provide actual funds, but instead
instructed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to continue the WaterSense
program at its 2017 funding levels of $2 million. According to the
CREDIT: CORGI HOMEPLAN committees have traditionally carried the force of law.
Alliance for Water Efficiency, such instructions from Congressional

The Green Builder Coalition joined 168 other organizations in

of the WaterSense program.
Puts the ‘CO’ in Code. Carbon monoxide detectors are now mandatory for signing a letter of support (https://bit.ly/2IMprU0) for the continuation
nearly all existing homes in Austin, Texas. The new ordinance matches one The International Code Council (ICC) wanted to make sure
for new residential development implemented in 2012. people were aware of a significant change to section N1102.2.2 of

58 GREEN BUILDER May/June 2018 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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