NEW CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR 2012
When the 2012 IECC goes into effect next year, builders in jurisdictions that adopt it will face the following changes.
> The code now requires mandatory building tightness (blower door) testing, replacing the optional requirement for either testing or visual inspection.
> Blower door test requirements in climate zones 3-8 (from San Antonio to Seattle, Savannah to Concord, and all points in between) have been reduced from 7 air changes per hour to 3 air changes per hour.
> Blower door testing requirements for homes in climate zones 1-2 have been reduced from 7 air changes per hour to 5 air changes per hour.
> Permissible duct leakage to the outdoors has been tightened from 8 cfm per 100 sq. ft. of conditioned floors pace to 4 cfm per 100 sq. ft.
> Building cavities can no longer be used as supply or return air ducts.
> Wall insulation requirements in climate zones 3 and 4 increase from R-13 to R-20.
> Wall insulation requirements in zones 6-8 are now R-20 cavity insulation + R-5 foam exterior insulation (an increase from R-20 in zone 6 and R-21 in zones 7 & 8).
> Hot water pipes (depending on diameter) beyond a prescribed length must be insulated to a minimum of R-3. There was no previous requirement.
> Attic insulation in attics for climate zones 4 and 5 increases from R-38 to R-49.
> Attic insulation for climate zones 2 and 3 increases from R-30 to R-38.
> Basement and crawl space insulation for climate zone 5 increases from R-10 to R-15.
> The requirement for window Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (reflective value) in climate zones 1-4 is more stringent. This also decreases the amount of daylight that passes through the window.
> The window U-factor (insulation value) in zones 2 through 8 is also more stringent.
> The percentage of high-efficiency light fixtures increases from 50% to 75%.
Source: National Association of Homebuilders
09.2011
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