What to expect under the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code
Building Officials descended upon Atlantic City, New Jersey in October to attend the International Code Council’s (ICC) Public Comment Hearings and decide the final version of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The IECC is updated every three years and serves as the national model energy code, which becomes mandatory when adopted by a state or local jurisdiction.
After two grueling days of hearings, the residential provisions of the IECC were decided. A few of the more significant changes included: revisions to the provisions for existing buildings, changes to how the code treats historic buildings, revisions to the air barrier and insulation installation table, new requirements for combustion closets, revisions to the building envelope and duct leakage testing requirements, new and revised requirements for hot water distribution efficiency, a new requirement for drain water heat recovery, a new Energy Rating Index compliance path, and two new appendices.
We will provide an overview of these changes and some of the smaller changes that may still impact construction.
