IgCC Roadshow Comes to Boston on August 17th
Friday, July 15, 2011
Every three years the International Code Council (ICC) publishes updates to the multiple volumes of its International Family of Codes. But only once in a blue moon does the ICC publish a code that is completely new, with requirements and compliance options covering an entire spectrum of issues affecting construction and development. 2012 will mark the publication of the new International green Construction Code (IgCC), just such a new code, and to get folks ready the ICC is hitting the road to introduce the code. On August 17th the ICC will host an all-day presentation on the contents and application of the IgCC to be held at the Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill (5 Blossom Street). Space is limited and registration is required (visit www.iccsafe.org to register).
What is a “green construction code”? The answer that the ICC has come up with is a code that incorporates the various point categories of the LEED rating systems as mandatory requirements, as well as additional items that may be required by a jurisdiction, or could be met by the design team in order to satisfy a minimum number of “project electives”. In other words, a code like none other before it. ASHRAE developed a high-performance building standard at around the same time that the IgCC was under development (ASHRAE 189P), with some similarities and some significant differences. Fans of ASHRAE will be pleased to learn that 189P is incorporated as a compliance path within the IgCC.
What’s unique about the IgCC is its comprehensive approach to sustainability in land use, energy and water conservation, indoor environmental quality, commissioning and existing buildings. This new code applies across several jurisdictional silos, such as zoning, plumbing and building, and also extends enforcement beyond the certificate of occupancy in terms of energy performance. But the biggest hurdle to adoption is the paradigm shift that the IgCC represents in terms of design, construction and operation, with economic consequences as yet unknown.
So what would be a reason to adopt the IgCC? The economic consequences of environmental degradation are rarely quantifiable, but they are increasingly recognizable. Rhode Island has already adopted the IgCC for state-funded projects, and Maryland has authorized the code for local adoption by municipalities. A half-dozen other jurisdictions have adopted the IgCC in some capacity, often with incentives such as expedited permitting or tax breaks. Massachusetts is in the process of revising its “stretch code” provisions for optional adoption, should the IgCC be on the table?
Come to the IgCC Roadshow on August 17th and decide for yourself. Attendance is free, but don’t forget to register.