The building code development cycle results in a new edition every three years. Now, states and municipalities decide which to adopt, amend and enforce in their jurisdictions.
The International Code Council (ICC) released its2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on August 14. NAHB commends the flexibility of he new residential provisions. They offer a substantially wider range of options for builders to achieve compliance.
The 2024 IECC sets minimum requirements for energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings. It is the most adopted energy code in the country. The IECC sets the national model energy code for low-rise residential buildings into federal law. The residential provisions of the IECC also provide the basis for International Residential Code (IRC) Chapter 11 Energy Efficiency.
The 2024 Model Code Will Make Houses About 7% More Efficient
The prescriptive compliance path will require additional efficiency practices from a list of dozens of measures with assigned credits. The new code updates and expands the performance compliance path. Once again, it allows equipment trade-offs. It also recognizes duct location. And the Energy Rating Index (ERI) compliance path improves its usability. Also, provisions for existing buildings received substantial updates.
The 2024 IECC will also include appendices (which states and municipalities can choose to adopt to be part of the mandatory requirements in their jurisdiction.) These were developed to address state and local goals for electrification and even higher levels of performance, including options to achieve zero net energy in residential and commercial buildings.
Read-only versions of the 2024 IECC and the 2024 IRC Chapter 11 are available online for free, and full access versions are available for ICC Digital Codes subscribers. PDF downloads and physical codebooks will be available soon in the ICC online store.
Read NAHB’s summary of significant changes to the 2024 IECC residential provisions and a list of recommended amendments to the 2024 IECC to improve cost-effectiveness.
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