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On March 24, 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy submitted
twelve code-change proposals for the International Energy
Conservation Code and International Residential Code into the
2006/2007 supplemental code development cycle of the International
Code Council. Eleven of the proposed changes apply to residential buildings, one applies to commercial buildings. The proposals can be downloaded individually
below or as a zip file.
Comments on the change proposals can be directed to:
Ronald Majette
Architect, Office of Building Technologies
EE-2J/Forrestal Building
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave, S.W.
Washington, DC 20585
Phone: 202-586-7935
Fax: 202-586-4617
Email: Ronald.Majette@ee.doe.gov
| Code | Summary | Rationale | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| IECC | Explicitly permit trading off duct insulation via the performance path | The 2006 IECC requires a mandatory R8 duct insulation. Proposed change offers a way to trade down to R4 via the performance path. | DOE-IECC-duct-R-tradeoff-perf-path.pdf |
| IECC | Lower SHGC of standard reference design in the performance path to 0.30 in climate zones 1-3. | Most glazing units that meet the code's SHGC requirement of 0.4 are actually more efficient (lower-SHGC) than required. Proposed change brings trade-off value into line with common practice. | DOE-IECC-lowerSHGC.pdf |
| IECC | Expand trade-offs against leakage-tested ducts in the performance path | Proposal adds additional flexibility in giving trade-off credit for ducts tested in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 152-2004. | DOE-IECC-perf-tested-dist-sys.pdf |
| IECC | Clarify roof-color trade-offs in performance path | Proposed change adds guidance on appropriate absorptance values for various roofing materials. | DOE-IECC-roof-color.pdf |
| IECC | Remove SHGC hard limit in Marine Zone 3 | 2006 IECC has no prescriptive maximum-SHGC requirement for Marine Zone 3 but does contain a mandatory hard limit (trade-off limit). Such limit is not reasonable as much of this climate zone has very mild summers. | DOE-IECC-SHGCmarineZone3.pdf |
| IECC, IRC | Clarify bracing (wood-panel) allowances when complying insulating sheathing via prescriptive R-value tables | 2006 IECC/IRC provide guidance on wood-panel allowances only for the rather uncommon combination of R-15 cavity insulation plus R-5 insulating sheathing. Proposed change eliminates uncertainty and ambiguity for other wall-insulation combinations. | DOE-IECC-IRC-bracing-allowance.pdf |
| IECC, IRC | Specify maximum leakage rate for air handlers | 2006 IECC/IRC require a sealed air handler but do not explicitly define such. Proposed change adds a definition patterned after a similar requirement in Florida's state code. | DOE-IECC-IRC-sealed-air-handler.pdf |
| IECC, IRC | Add basement insulation requirement for climate zone 3 | Proposed change eliminates a perverse incentive in the 2006 IECC/IRC that encourages decreased energy efficiency. | DOE-IECC-IRC-zone3-bsmt-insul.pdf |
| IRC | Clarify air-freezing index values for complying frost-protected shallow foundations | 2006 IRC contains a map of AFI values that is difficult to read. Proposed change adds alternative county-based, tabular source for AFI values. | DOE-IRC-air-freezing-index.pdf |
| IRC | Clarify that conditioned crawlspaces are not plenums | Proposed change facilitates the use of explicitly conditioned crawlspaces as a strategy for moving ducts and HVAC equipment inside the conditioned space, by ensuring that the code is not interpreted to define such crawlspaces as plenums. | DOE-IRC-cond-crawl-not-plenum.pdf |
| IRC | Allow insulating sheathing as an alternative to building papers as a weather-resistant barrier | Insulating sheathing properly installed with drainage joints exceeds the performance of building papers and is a cost-effective way to construct efficient walls. Proposed change eliminates a cost-oriented barrier to such walls. | DOE-IRC-insul-sheath-weather-resistant.pdf |
| IECC (commercial) | Require documentation of the location of certain circuit breakers and other equipment on building plans | Proposed change assists code officials in identifying and inspecting equipment that controls voltage and/or amperage of installed lighting systems. | DOE-IECC-commercial-lighting.pdf |