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Scope of the IECC
The residential provisions of the 2000 IECC cover one- and two-family residential buildings, and multifamily buildings three stories or less in height. Multifamily buildings have three or more dwelling units.
One- and two-family residential
Multifamily three or less stories in height
What buildings are exempt?
- Buildings with no heating or cooling
- Historical buildings
- Classified as historically significant by governing bodies
- On The National Register of Historic Places
- Buildings eligible for such listing
- Buildings with low peak energy use (for all purposes) - NOTE: This is VERY low energy use, and if anyone has examples of this exemption being used, please let us know.
- < 3.4 Btu/hr/ft2 of floor area
- < 1.0 W/ft2 of floor area
What areas of a building must comply?
New construction, which includes
- new buildings and
- additions to existing buildings.
Conditioned space (only conditioned spaces must comply with the IECC requirements), represented by the following:
- Temperatures within the space are 50°F or higher (heating) or 85°F or lower (cooling) during normal operation
- Heated and/or cooled air (positive supply)
- Uninsulated surfaces located within a space (e.g., uninsulated ducts may "accidentally" condition the space)
Other Situations
Additions
- Compliance for additions may be shown in two ways: the addition on its own or the whole building. See our Residential Additions FAQs for more information about entering additions in REScheck.
- Energy-using equipment (including heating and cooling equipment and water-heating systems) in the addition that is covered under the provisions of the general requirements must meet the applicable requirements.
Mixed Occupancy
- Major occupancy type is > 90% of floor area of any floor in the building
- Interpret occupancy floor area as conditioned space
- Minor occupancy can comply with the provisions of the major occupancy
- Example: In a three-story building where the first floor is retail and the other two are residential, the retail space could comply with the residential code if the retail space were less than 10% (rather than the commercial code it would usually be required to meet)
- Where there is no "major" occupancy, each occupancy must comply with the applicable code
Summary
- The residential provisions of the 2000 IECC cover one- and two-family residential buildings, and multifamily buildings three stories or less in height.
- New construction (new buildings and additions to existing buildings) must comply with code provisions.
- When mixed occupancy exists in a building, the minor occupancy can comply with the same provisions as the major occupancy if it occupies < 10% of the floor area.
Questions or comments? Send an e-mail.
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