WEEK

OF

SEPTEMBER 26-30, 2011

CODE ALERT BULLETIN

Brought to you by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its website The Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN) Welcome to the weekly Code Alert Bulletin designed to share information and support timely participation in state and local activities related to the adoption and implementation of building energy codes. This bulletin highlights immediate opportunities to influence state and local policy outcomes, indicates code status, and recommends contact for action. By promoting these opportunities among energy efficiency supporters, advocates can collectively increase their impact at legislative and regulatory proceedings at the state and local levels. Please forward this bulletin to others who support the advancement of building energy efficiency. If you are aware of activity that should be on this bulletin, or would like to provide feedback, please contact Paul Karrer at (202) 530-4347 or pkarrer@ase.org. For the latest energy code news and BCAP activity, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

* CODE RESOURCES *
BCAP Calling for Nominations for Energy Code Champion

* NEW STATE ALERTS *

Connecticut DPS Adopts 2009 IECC Effective October 7 Vermont 2009 IECC Residential Update Effective October 1; Summer Training Planned

* ONGOING STATE ALERTS *

Alabama October 6 Hearing on Proposed Alabama Energy Code Michigan House Committee Holds Hearings on Length of Code Update Cycle Nevada Energy Office Posts 2009 IECC Rulemaking Schedule Pennsylvania RAC Begins 2012 IECC Update Process

BCAP CODE CHAMPION

* CALENDAR * *****

Alert Status: BCAP is seeking nominations for Energy Code Champion to recognize those working to promote and advance energy code policy. If you would like to nominate

someone, please send their name, organization, and a few sentences on their work promoting and advancing energy codes to Paul Karrer at pkarrer@ase.org. Action: Please submit nominations to Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org] Top

***** CONNECTICUT
Alert Status: On September 27, the Department of Public Safety adopted the 2011 Amendments to the 2005 State Building Code to adopt the 2009 IECC. After submitting the rule to the Secretary of State, the new code will be effective October 7. The state had previously updated its energy code through the 2009 Amendments which adopted the 2006 IECC on August 1, 2009. More Information: BCAP Connecticut Code News | 2011 Amendments | Public Act 09-192 | Previous CT Code News Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Carolyn Sarno with NEEP [csarno@neep.org] Top

VERMONT
Alert Status: On July 1, the Department of Public Service (DPS) updated the 2011 Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) to reference the 2009 IECC with several strengthening amendments from the 2012 IECC (the 2005 RBES currently is based on the 2000 IECC). As directed by Vermont Act 45 of 2009, DPS approved the new code in January, and the Vermont Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) approved it in June. The revisions will take effect October 1, 2011 and will apply to all new residential construction, including alterations, renovations, repairs, and additions larger than 500 square feet. An updated Vermont Residential Energy Code Handbook will be completed by the end of July and will be posted on the RBES webpage. It will also be available free of charge from DPS and the Energy Code Assistance Center. Free trainings on the 2011 RBES have been developed by Efficiency Vermont. Sessions were held for July 21 in Burlington and July 28 in Manchester. More will be added through the end of the year. DPS is also currently updating the 2011 Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) to reference the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 with several strengthening amendments from the 2012 IECC. More Information: BCAP Vermont Code News | Rules: RBES & CBES | DPS Home | Vermont Act 45 Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Carolyn Sarno with NEEP [csarno@neep.org] Top

***** ALABAMA
Alert Status: The Alabama Residential and Energy Codes Board has approved proposals for Alabamas first mandatory statewide energy code. On January 25, the Board signed off on a new commercial code based on the 2009 IECC. On April 12, it accepted a recommendation to adopt a new residential energy code based on the 2009 IRC with strengthening amendments that would make it equivalent to the 2009 IECC. In August, the Boards proposals (Rule 305-2-4) were published in the state administrative journal. A public comment hearing will be held on October 6 in Montgomery. The rule then

goes before a legislative review committee for 35 days. If approved, the new code is expected to be effective in October or November 2011. Legislation passed in March 2010 the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes (AERC) Board the authority to adopt mandatory residential and commercial energy codes for the entire state and residential building codes for jurisdictions that had not implemented a residential building code prior to March 2010. The state has previously adopted the Residential Energy Code for Alabama (RECA 2004) based on the 2000 IECC as a voluntary code for residential construction. Since December 2008, the 2006 IECC has been encouraged for private commercial construction. The Alabama Building Commission enforces ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 for all state building construction. More Information: BCAP Alabama Code News | Oct. 6 Hearing Notice | Rule 305-2-4 | SB 315 | ADECA Building Energy Efficiency | ADECA Building Energy Codes Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] Top

MICHIGAN
Alert Status: On September 14th, 21st, and 28th, the House Committee on Regulatory Reform held hearings on legislation that could significantly hinder future updates of the Michigan Uniform Energy Code (MUEC). A substitute amendment has been submitted to replace HB 4561. The amendment would replace the regular 3-year code update review cycles with a three to six year cycle, at the discretion of the administrator. It would also strike a provision in current state law that allows the code to incorporate the provisions of a code, standard or other material by reference and limit referenced standards to only the specific model codes listed in the statute (and the standards contained in those model codes). The 2009 MUEC (based on the 2009 IECC with Michigan amendments and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007) became effective March 9. More Information: BCAP Michigan Code News | HB 4561: Home & Text | 2009 MUEC: Residential & Commercial | DELEG Bureau of Construction Codes Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Isaac Elnecave of MEEA [ielnecave@mwalliance.org] Top

NEVADA
Alert Status: The Nevada State Office of Energy (NSOE) has posted draft regulations (LCB File Number R024-11) scheduled dates for the states rulemaking process to adopt the 2009 IECC (as required under NRS 701.220) this fall. NSOE will host two stakeholder meetings in Las Vegas and Reno and three regulation hearings in Las Vegas, Carson City, and Elko. NSOE anticipates having the new regulations finalized and adopted by December 30, 2011, and will be proposing an effective date of July 1, 2012. BCAP has partnered with NSOE and other stakeholders to develop the Nevada Gap Analysis report and 5-Year Strategic Compliance Plan as part of BCAPs CPA Program. The City of Las Vegas has already adopted the Southern Nevada Building Officials (SNBO) 2009 IECC Amendments for Southern Nevada effective July 5. More Information: BCAP Nevada Code News | Draft Regulations | Stakeholder Meetings | Hearings: Vegas Carson City Elko | NSOE | NRS 701.220 | CPA: Gap Analysis Compliance Plan Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Monica Brett with SWEEP [mbrett@swenergy.org] or Jim Meyers with SWEEP [jmeyers@swenergy.org]

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PENNSYLVANIA
Alert Status: The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) Review and Advisory Council (RAC) has begun the process to review the 2012 ICC Codes, including the 2012 IECC, for potential adoption. The timeline for the code update process and the schedule for the three public hearings have been posted online. The first will be held September 15 in Harrisburg. In April 2011, the state legislature passed legislation (HB 377) significantly altering the process to update the states construction codes (the 2009 I-Codes series, including the 2009 IECC, became effective December 31, 2009). Among the changes: A 2/3 majority of the RAC is now required to approve code change proposals to adopt provisions from the next ICC code series; The RAC would be required to submit a report on any proposed changes within 12 months of the official publication of ICCs triennial code updates; and HB 377 also repealed the residential sprinkler provisions of the 2009 IRC and reverted to the 2006 wall bracing requirements. Interested parties may submit recommendations that the Council adopt code changes from the 2012 ICC codes by the December 31 deadline. Following public hearings in the fall, the Council will meet in January to debate all noncontroversial code changes. The Council will schedule meetings for early 2012 to consider and vote on controversial changes individually based on the overall number of controversial code changes. Those meetings will be organized by code. These proposed changes must receive 2/3 approval from the Council to be included in its final report recommending changes for adoption. This report must be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) by July 31, 2012. More Information: BCAP Pennsylvania Code News | Hearing Schedule | Process Timeline | RAC | UCC | HB 377 | PA Code News Archive Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org] or Carolyn Sarno with NEEP [csarno@neep.org] Top

EVENTS, HEARINGS,

AND

***** COMMENT DEADLINES

Sat, Oct 1: Vermont 2011 Residential Building Energy Standards (exceeds 2009 IECC) effective Wed-Thur, Oct 5-6: MEEA Midwest Regional Building Energy Codes Conference in Chicago, IL Thur, Oct 6: Alabama ADECA hearing on Alabama Energy and Residential Code (2009 IECC/IRC) in Montgomery Fri, Oct 7: Nevada Regulation hearing on 2009 IECC update in Las Vegas, NV Tues, Oct 18: Nevada Regulation hearing on 2009 IECC update in Carson City, NV Thur, Oct 20: Pennsylvania RAC Hearing on UCC (2012 IECC) update in West Hazelton, PA Tues, Nov 1: Ohio Updated Ohio Building Code (commercial - 2009 IECC/90.12007) effective date Wed-Sun, Nov 2-6: ICC 2012 IGCC Final Action Hearings in Phoenix, AZ

Wed, Nov 9: Pennsylvania RAC Hearing on UCC (2012 IECC) update in Cranberry Township, PA Thur, Nov 10: Nevada Regulation hearing on 2009 IECC update in Elko, NV Sun, Jan 1: North Carolina 2012 NC Energy Conservation Code (meets/exceeds 2009 IECC) effective Wed, Feb 1: New Mexico 2009 NM Energy Conservation Code revision (2009 IECC) effective Thur, Mar 1: North Carolina 2012 NC Energy Conservation Code mandatory compliance effective Thur, Mar 15: Florida Anticipated effective date of 2010 Florida Building Code (2009 IECC/ state-based)
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BCAP Events Calendar

*****
Building Codes Assistance Project 1850 M Street NW | Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20036 (202) 530-4347 | Contact BCAP * To join or remove yourself from this mailing list, please email your request to Paul Karrer at pkarrer@ase.org *