Page 29 - Penn State Civil and Environmental Engineering: Annual Report

NEWS PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING RESEARCH CENTER NEWS The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) housed within CEE collaboratively engages with with the residential construction industry to catalyze advancements
in in in in in in in homebuilding through education training innovation research and dissemination The PHRC envisions a a a a a a a a residential construction industry equipped with the knowledge skills and technology to build better homes More information available at phrc psu edu 2018 International Residential Code Code in effect for for Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Code After a a a a a two-year review period the the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) brought changes to the the construction process on on on February 14 At the the the the core of these changes is a a switch from the the the the 2015 ICC ICC building building codes codes to the the the the the 2018 2018 ICC ICC building building codes codes For residential construction the the the 2018 2018 2018 International International Residential Code Code (IRC)
and the the the 2018 2018 International International Energy Conservation Code Code (IECC) now serve as as the the the new baseline for projects in in in Pennsylvania Additionally there continue to be a a a a a a a a a a series of legislative amendments amendments along with RAC amendments amendments that will deviate from the published code The PHRC continues to offer live webinars webinars recorded webinars webinars on-demand continuing education courses and and and in-person training for the the residential construction industry to understand the the latest building codes 2021 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions now available The PHRC developed the 2021 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) for consideration by the the the Pennsylvania Department of of Labor and and Industry to to meet their legislated mandate to to consider the the development of of alternative prescriptive methods for for energy conservation that account for for the the the various climatic regions within the the the Commonwealth per Act 45 of of 1999 The PA-Alt was developed with with the the the intent of of being simpler to to to build to to to and and and easier to to to enforce more rational and and and flexible focused on on on on on Pennsylvania in terms of of climatic and and and and other conditions and and and equivalent equivalent to to the the the the the provisions of of the the the the the IECC IECC The 2021 2021 PA-Alt PA-Alt is is equivalent equivalent to to the the the the the the 2018 2018 IRC and and the the the the the the 2018 2018 IECC IECC The development of of the the the the the 2021 2021 PA-Alt PA-Alt was led by the the the the the PHRC PHRC with guidance from from a a a a a subcommittee of of the the the PHRC PHRC Industry Advisory Council The The 2021 2021 2021 PA-Alt PA-Alt PA-Alt can can be downloaded from from bit bit ly/2021PA-Alt ly/2021PA-Alt The The 2021 2021 2021 2021 PA-Alt PA-Alt PA-Alt PA-Alt Compliance Worksheet Worksheet can can be downloaded from bit bit ly/2021PA-Alt_Worksheet In-person PHRC Housing Conference returns to State College
On March 2-3 the the thirtieth annual PHRC Housing Conference highlighted best practices regulation and innovation in in in in in the the the residential construction industry Attendees enjoyed gathering again after a a a a a a a a a a virtual conference in in in the the the the prior year due to to to the the the the COVID-19 pandemic The event brought together all sectors
of of of the industry including builders design professionals remodelers code officials educators factory-built housing manufacturers manufacturers and and product manufacturers manufacturers Invited speakers presented on on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a wide range of of topics including codes and and and construction construction high-performance and and and and and offsite construction construction weatherization and and and and and building science and and and and and land development and and and and and planning Save the the date for the the 2023 2023 PHRC Housing Conference Conference on on on March 1-2 2023 2023 at at at at at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Conference Conference Center More information is available at at at at bit ly/PHRCHousingConference The sixth biennial Residential Building Design and Construction Conference remains virtual The Residential Building Design and Construction Conference (RBDCC) provided a a a a a a a a a forum for for builders design professionals educators manufacturers and researchers to to discuss the the the latest advancements
in in fin in in in the the the field by sharing their research research findings and innovations related to to residential buildings Due to to the the the the international scope of the the the the conference during the the the the COVID-19 pandemic the the the the event was held virtually in in in in in 2022 Sessions highlighted a a a a a a a a a a a variety of o topics including affordability disaster resilience retrofits building building in in in in in in Alaska occupant behavior mechanical and and and lighting systems building building science education and and and innovative materials like hemp and and and mass timber More information about the RBDCC RBDCC can be found at at at at at at bit ly/ PennStateRBDCC Welcome Darrin Wright to the PHRC team
Darrin Wright has been named the the new PHRC PHRC high- performance housing specialist and joined the the PHRC PHRC team
on on July 11 Wright brings a a a a a a a a a a substantial breadth of of professional experience in in in in in in in the residential residential construction industry including time as a a a a a a a a a a a commercial commercial and and residential residential residential building inspector an an an extensive background in in in both residential residential and and and and commercial commercial project management and and and and site supervision and and and and direct building experience Additionally he has taught secondary secondary and and and post- secondary secondary students in in in in central Pennsylvania focused on on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a variety of residential-related topics including solar panel installation and other emerging energy systems Tracy Dorman receives the the Pennsylvania Builders Association Affiliate of the the Year Award
Congratulations to to Tracy Dorman the the PHRC meeting and events coordinator for winning the the the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) Affiliate of the the the the Year Award
Dorman has served the the the home building industry for more than twenty years at at at at the the the PHRC During that time she has served as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a liaison with PBA executive officers local state and and federal government agencies consultants code officials builders and and the the public She was instrumental in in in in in chartering the the Central PA Professional Women in in in in in Building (PWB) Council Council and serves as chair Additionally she is the the secretary of the the PBA PWB PWB Council Council CEE NEWSLETTER • VOLUME 38 2022 29