Oregon Board Recommends Commercial Update to 2009 IECC
Legislation passed in 2009 (SB 79) requires the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) to improve the energy efficiency of commercial structures by 15-25% over the existing energy requirements for commercial buildings. For the first time, the energy efficiency provisions will be published as a stand-alone code and based on the IECC. Chapter 5 of the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code (OEESC) will take the place of Chapter 13 of the 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC). At its February 3 meeting, the Building Codes Structures Board reviewed code change proposals and amendments to the 2009 IECC requirements for the building envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems. The Board recommended that the BCD adopt the 2009 IECC with Oregon amendments as the 2010 OEESC, and to move forward with rulemaking.
A public hearing (including testimony) will be held March 16 in Salem. Public comments will be accepted until 5:00pm PDT on March 19. The BCD expects an effective date of July 1, 2010 with a 90-day "phase-in" period where individuals may choose to build either to the 2007 OSSC Chapter 13 energy provisions or the 2010 OEESC.
Similar changes will take place later with the state's residential energy provisions, which will also included in the stand-alone code and based on the 2009 IECC (SB 79 mandates at least a 10% improvement over existing residential requirements). The BCD tentatively expects to complete work replacing Chapter 11 of the 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) with Chapter 4 of the 2010 OEESC in April 2011.
As directed by SB 79, the BCD is also convening a committee and various sub-committees to develop the first Oregon Reach Code. The code will be a single uniform set of statewide optional energy construction standards for builders that wish to go beyond the requirements of the state's mandatory codes.
More Information: March 16 Hearing Notice | Proposed 2010 OEESC Amendments | Reach Code Information | Oregon SB 79 | Oregon BCD