Maryland Additional State Info

State Certification Letter for residential code determination has been received:
No

State Certification Letter for commercial code determination has been received:
No

Adoption Process:

The MBPS (Maryland Building Performance Standards) is updated every three years corresponding to the (ICC) International Code Council change cycle. When the International Code Council updates their I-codes, Maryland will adopt the newest version. Maryland has a state process to follow to adopt the new codes so they are usually adopted within 6 months of the printing of the I-codes.

Compliance Method:

The MBPS is mandatory statewide. Builders must demonstrate compliance to local government (cities, counties).

Building professionals use REScheck and COMcheck materials to show compliance.

Enforcement:

The state code is enforced by local jurisdictions that have adopted the code through plan review and inspections.

Background/History:

Prior to the most recent action, the MBPS referred to the 1993 BOCA International NBC. Chapter 13 of the 1993 NBC adopts by reference the 1993 MEC. In addition, the 1993 NBC allows conformance with ASHRAE/IES Standard 90-75 for single-family dwellings and multi-family residential buildings not over three stories high as an alternative to the MEC.

In 1981 Maryland passed the Energy Conservation Building Standards Act, which established the MBPS requiring statewide conformance to the current edition of the BOCA NBC. The Act established a limited role for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The Act also grants them rulemaking authority to amend the MBPS through publications in the Maryland register and subsequent hearings on administrative actions.

Senate Bill 64 passed both the Senate and the House and was signed by the Governor April 25, 2000. On January 1, 2001, the 2000 International Building Code, including the 2000 IECC, became effective. (BCAP July/August 2001).

The Department of Housing and Community Development published a notice to update the MBPS in the Maryland Register on January 13, 1997. They proposed to adopt the 1996 NBC, with amendments, into the MBPS. In its Notice, the Department of Housing and Community Development did not propose to modify anything in the 1996 NBC relating to "energy."

Comments on the proposal were to be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development. No public hearings were scheduled (three relevant hearings were held in the summer of 1996.) That proposal was administratively adopted in April 1997.

The Department of Housing and Community Development has developed CODE LYNX, a computer database that provides easy access to the Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS) and the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code via the internet. CODE LYNX allows users to search for any topic in the MBPS and Fire Code and to compare the BOCA based MBPS with amendments to those standards by local jurisdictons.

All new construction, additions, and alterations to existing buildings must comply with the code.

Effective September 1, 1997, the MBPS refer to the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International 1996 National Building Code (NBC). Chapter 13 of the 1996 NBC adopts by reference the 1995 Council of American Building Officials (CABO) Model Energy Code (MEC.) The 1995 MEC adopts by reference ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1989.

Effective September 20, 2004, the Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS)will be based on the 2003 IBC (including Chapter 13- Energy Efficiency)Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS), based on the 2000 IECC are mandatory statewide

On July 1, 2007, Maryland Building Performance Standards updated to the 2006 IECC.

On October 1, 2009, Maryland Building Performance Standards updated to the 2009 IECC.

Technical Assistance:

Year	Description
1998	Conducted two training sessions - one for COMcheck-EZ and the other for MECcheck. Completed 1998.
1995	A comparison of the BOCA Energy Code with CABO MEC for residential; and a comparison of BOCA Energy Code with ASHRAE 90.1 for Commercial; (2) recommended amendments to BOCA code to bring it into compliance with EPAct.

Residential Construction (New Building Permits):

No data Available at this time.

Commercial Construction (Millions of Dollars):

No data Available at this time.