Puerto Rico

In 1979 the Code for Energy Conservation in Puerto Rico was adopted as part of the Building Codes administered by the Permits and Regulations Administration. Legislation has been enacted that assigns the Energy Affairs Administration responsibility for updating the energy code. The energy code applies to all new and remodeled buildings that have to comply with the Permits and Regulations Administration. A certification by the professional who signs the plans is required. No field inspections are made unless requested for special reasons. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico implements the code. All code revisions apply to all the entire island of Puerto Rico.  (Source: DSIRE).

In February 2011, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico adopted the 2011 Puerto Rico Building Code (PRBC), which references nine 2009 International Code Council model codes, including the 2009 IECC. The 2011 PRBC also includes the 2009 International Building, Residential, Fire, Energy Conservation, Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Existing Building Codes with local amendments.

As an ICC code user, Puerto Rico will benefit from the ICC code development process, which offers a forum for building professionals to discuss performance and prescriptive code requirements. The Code Council will work with Puerto Rico’s recently created Office of Permit Management (OGPE) and its partners to provide building code programs for design and construction professionals. ICC also will assist the PRBC.