Aspen, Colo., building official Stephen Kanipe says that while most builders adapted quickly to the 2009 code, designers have been a harder nut to crack. “There are a lot of details of caulking or transition joints that architects aren’t used to including in their plans. Those details are important because a conscientious builder will build whatever is on the plans.”
Having good plan details is important, but the fact is that some builders may not be familiar with those details. Mike Turns, associate director at the Pennsylvania Housing Resource Center, which trains builders to meet the code, says that most builders in the state were already doing a great job at envelope sealing when the state adopted the 2009 IECC. However, duct sealing and testing were new to many of them, and the need to adjust business practices to that requirement has generated some tension. “Duct sealing is something that traditionally has not been done. It’s another thing the builder has to do, another subcontractor who has to come to the site, and another inspection.”
He doesn’t expect things to get easier with the next cycle. “If the 2012 code doesn’t let you use wall cavities as plenums, that will be a big deal. My guess is that 90% of HVAC contractors are using cavities for returns in Pennsylvania.”
Some builders have trouble with more than just one or two provisions. Jeremy Sigmon, manager of Building Codes Advocacy at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has seen this at work in the LEED program. While LEED points start at 16% above code, some builders need to be brought up to code before going beyond it. He says that in many parts of the country, energy efficiency hasn’t been stressed. “Most builders will have a lot of heartaches going above code, never mind meeting it.”
Getting to Compliance
The difference between adoption and compliance was a subject that came up in several conversations with code experts. For instance, while BCAP’s website identifies 19 states that have adopted the 2009 IECC or equivalent, there can be considerable variation within states. That’s because enforcement is a local matter.
For example, New Hampshire has adopted the 2009 IECC as a statewide code. But according to Medard Kopczynski, a code official in the town of Keene who has talked with code officials around the state, only about a third of them fully enforce it. Another third have plan review with little or no follow up inspections, and the last third don’t bother with it at all.
In Pennsylvania, Turns finds that a lot of inspectors don’t enforce certain provisions, such as the requirement for half of a home’s lighting to be permanently installed high-efficacy fixtures. “I don’t think most inspectors go around counting light bulbs,” he says.
As the chart shows, codes have tightened significantly in recent years after several years of dormancy. The trajectory promises to continue through the next few code cycles.
Source: Energy Efficient Codes Coalition
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