Week of August 9, 2010

*To join or remove yourself from this mailing list, please email your request to Paul Karrer at pkarrer@ase.org.*

CODE ALERT BULLETIN

Brought to you by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its new 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 of building energy codes. Each bulletin will highlight immediate opportunities to influence the outcome of state and local policy, indicate code status, and recommend action. We believe that by broad dissemination of these opportunities among energy efficiency supporters, we will collectively increase our impact at the state and local level and improve the outcome of policy debates and legislative and regulatory proceedings. We invite you to pass this email along to others who support energy efficiency improvements at the state and local level and would like to receive this information. If you are aware of activity that needs to be on this list, or would like to provide feedback on this bulletin, please contact Paul Karrer at (202) 530-4347 or pkarrer@ase.org.

*And for the latest energy code news and BCAP activity,*
follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.

*****
* Newest Alerts *
Georgia SCAC Approves 2009 IECC and Residential Green Code; Hearing Sept. 22 North Dakota Code Committee Final Action Hearing Sept. 15-16 Oregon Reach Code Committee Meeting August 18 Utah Commission Approves 2009 IECC Residential Code; Hearing Sept. 8 ICC 2012 IECC and IRC Final Action Hearings Oct. 27-31 in Charlotte Green and Blue Conference 2011 Save the Date: Jan. 2628 in Auburn, AL

* Calendar *

*****
Georgia
Alert Status: The State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) met on July 29, where it voted to recommend that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Board adopt the 2009 IECC with Georgia Amendments and the 2008 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) with Georgia Amendments. A public hearing to accept written comments will be held September 22 in Atlanta. Written comments must be submitted by September 3.The DCA Board will meet November 3 in Atlanta to give final approval to both codes, which will take effect on January 1, 2011. More Information: BCAP Georgia Code News | SCAC Homepage | SCAC Memorandum Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Sernulka with BCAP [bsernulka@ase.org] or Eric Lacey with RECA [eric.lacey@bbrslaw.com] Top

North Dakota
Alert Status: By legislative mandate, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services is updating the 2008 State Building Code and reviewing amendments to the 2009 IECC (also the 2009 IBC, 2009 IRC, 2009 IMC, and 2009 IFGC). Energy conservation standards must now be included in the State Building Code. The North Dakota Building Code Advisory Committee met on August 11 to receive comments and develop recommendations on the proposed amendments. On August 27, DCS will send out the recommendations by the BCAC on the proposed amendments to the eligible voting towns, cities, counties, and committee members. The eligible voting jurisdictions and voting individuals will hold a final action hearing on September 15-16 to vote on the proposed amendments. The tentative effective date for the updated state code is January 1, 2011. As a home rule state, local jurisdictions would still have to choose to adopt the amended state code, a different code, or no code at all. More Information: BCAP North Dakota Code News | ND State Building Code Home Page | Proposed Amendments: 2009 IECC & 2009 IRC | 2008 ND State Building Code | Home Rule for Advocates | SB 2352 (2009) Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Isaac Elnecave of MEEA [ielnecave@mwalliance.org] Top

Oregon
Alert Status: The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) Reach Code Committee will hold its next meeting August 18 in Salem. BCD has identified the 2012 International Green Construction Code Version 1.0 as the model document for Oregons first Reach Code, which they hope to present to the appropriate advisory board or boards by September 2010, for an anticipated code adoption date of April 1, 2011. More Information: BCAP Oregon Code News | Oregon Reach Code Committee | Residential provisions | ODJC News Article | Oregon SB 79 | Oregon BCD Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Paul Karrer with BCAP [pkarrer@ase.org]

Top

Utah
Alert Status: On August 11, the Utah Uniform Building Code Commission voted 5-2 to adopt the 2009 IECC for new homes and major residential renovations. The vote also included an amendment that will allow homes using the performance path to show compliance by demonstrating 12% energy savings beyond the 2006 IECC using that codes performance path criteria. The Uniform Building Code Commission will hold a public hearing on September 8 to take written comments and public testimony. The state had previously updated its commercial code to the 2009 IECC after the passage of the State Construction Code Adoption Act, effective July 1, 2010. Ken Baker of K Energy will be offering a series of residential, commercial, and plan review training sessions throughout the state from August 17 to October 6. More Information: BCAP Utah Code News | September 8 Hearing Notice | State Construction Code Adoption Act | Utah Uniform Building Code Commission | Code Training Information | Building Codes and Contractors Training Calendar Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Kevin Emerson with Utah Clean Energy [Kevin@utahcleanenergy.org] or Jim Meyers with SWEEP [jmeyers@swenergy.org] Top

ICC Final Action Hearings

Alert Status: Join the International Code Council for its 2010 Annual Conference and Group B Final Action Hearings, October 24 through October 31, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The hearings on the 2012 IECC and 2012 IRC energy chapter (Chapter 11) will be held October 27-31. Click here for registration information. More Information: ICC Charlotte Hearings | Registration | Hearing Schedule Action: If interested in getting involved, please contact Bill Fay with EECC [bfay@ase.org] Top

*****
Events, Hearings, and Comment Deadlines

Sat, Aug 14 Sun, Aug 22: ICC IGCC Version 1.0 public comment hearings in Rosemont, IL Fri, Sept 3: Georgia Written comments on IECC/NGBS adoption due to DCA Fri, Sept 10: Washington SBCC public hearing on 2009 WSEC implementation date in Spokane Tues, Sept 14: North Carolina NCBCC hearing on final approval of 2012 NC State Building Code Wed, Sept 22: Georgia DCA Public Hearing on IECC/NGBS adoption in Atlanta, GA Fri, Sept 24: Washington SBCC public hearing on 2009 WSEC implementation date in Olympia Mon-Wed, Oct 12-14: EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & EXPO: October 12-14 in Portland, Oregon

Sun, Oct24 Sun, Oct 31: ICC 2012 IECC and IRC Final Action Hearings in Charlotte, NC Wed, Nov 3: Georgia DCA Board meeting on IECC/NGBS final adoption approval in Atlanta, GA Wed-Fri, Jan 26-28: Green and Blue Conference 2011 in Auburn, AL

BCAP Events Calendar

*And for the latest energy code news and BCAP activity,*
follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.