Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently completed their analysis of the commercial provisions of the International Code Council’s 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). As stated in PNNL’s report, “the 2021 edition of the IECC results in site energy savings of 12.1% at the aggregate national level compared to the 2018 IECC edition. In addition, on a national weighted average basis, the 2021 IECC is 6.5% more efficient for site energy use than Standard 90.1-2019.” The 2021 IECC also provides a nationally aggregated energy cost savings of 10.6% and greenhouse gas emissions savings of 10.2% as compared to the 2018 edition.

These savings are in addition to an earlier analysis by DOE and PNNL that found that the residential provisions of the 2021 IECC represent a 9.4% site energy savings improvement and an 8.7% improvement in carbon emissions relative to the 2018 IECC, saving homeowners an average of $2,320 over the life of a typical mortgage.

The DOE will be releasing significant funding to support jurisdictions in the update and implementation of energy codes. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides $225 million over five years to support the implementation of updated energy codes. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides an additional $1 billion to support jurisdictions in adopting the 2021 IECC or the zero energy appendices for residential and commercial buildings contained in the 2021 IECC. Details on the funding and how the Code Council can support jurisdictions in accessing it are available at iccsafe.org/federalgrants.

Second, the Code Council, along with 12 national organizations, launched the Code on a Mission campaign with a goal to have over one-third of the U.S. population (115 million people) covered by codes that meet or exceed the 2021 IECC by the end of 2023. As of September 2022, the campaign was over halfway to achieving this goal, with over 70 million Americans currently covered. The Code on a Mission webpage features a suite of resources to support communities in the adoption and implementation of the 2021 IECC.

“The IECC is one of the most effective approaches to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of buildings. The Code Council is committed to advancing future editions of this energy code to meet the sustainability and resiliency needs of all communities,” said Ryan Colker, Vice President of Innovation of the Code Council.

Development of the 2024 edition of the IECC is currently underway and will deliver even more savings to consumers, including pathways to require zero energy buildings by 2030. PNNL will also be conducting an analysis of the 2024 IECC updates to document the additional savings. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in the development process, by providing feedback on the commercial and residential public comment drafts. The commercial draft is open for comment through October 21, 2022. The residential provisions will be open later this fall.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Louisville, K.Y. – The International Code Council selected the new officers and directors for its 2022-2023 Board of Directors during the Annual Business Meeting at the organization’s annual conference in Louisville, KY. The board is responsible for the Code Council’s strategic direction, while also acting as the voice of the association’s membership.

The newly elected executive committee is:

• President—Michael Wich, CBO. Wich is the director of Building Code Administration and the Chief Building Official of the South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma, Louisiana. He is a former president of the Building Officials Association of Louisiana.
• Vice President—Stuart Tom, P.E., CBO, FIAE. Tom is the  Superintendent of Building and Fire for the City of Pasadena, California. He is a registered engineer in the states of Washington and California, holds a host of professional certifications, and is active in the development of fire and life safety codes and standards at the national and state level.
• Secretary/Treasurer— David Spencer, CBO. Spencer is the Operations Manager in Adams County, Washington, with a team consisting of Plans Examiners, Building Inspectors, and consultants with plan reviews, inspections, manpower, customer service, and technology needs. He is also a member of the Washington Association of Building Officials and the Region II Chapter of the Code Council.

Further, Cindy Davis, CBO will automatically assume the role of Immediate Past President. Davis is the Deputy Director of the Virginia Division of Building and Fire Regulations.

Additionally, newly elected and re-elected board members include:

• Angie Wiese, P.E., CBO, Section B Director for a 3-year term
• Ron Hampton, MCP, CBO, Section D Director for a 3-year term
• Jack Applegate, CBO, CPI, CHI, Director at Large for a 3-year term
• Shirley Ellis, CBO, Director at Large for a 2-year term
• José Roig, CBO, CCEA, Director at Large for a 3-year term

“The Code Council Board of Directors represent leaders in the profession who are committed to engaging with our membership and connecting communities with the best products, services and support in building safety,” said Dominic Sims, CBO, Chief Executive Officer of the International Code Council. “We look forward to continuing to benefit from their perspectives, knowledge and expertise as we work together to solve problems, foster connections, and broaden horizons in the building safety industry.”

The 2022 International Code Council’s annual event continues with the Public Comment Hearings, an opportunity for interested parties to participate in the development of the International Codes, the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the world. To view the free live webcast, visit https://www.iccsafe.org/content/webcast/.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council collaborated with the Tiny Home Industry Association (THIA), Modular Building Institute (MBI) and the Modular Home Builders Association (MHBA) to release the 2021 International Tiny House Provisions (ITHP). This innovative resource was created to provide a one-stop source for information on applicable codes and standards pertaining to tiny houses and how and when they may apply.

The ITHP includes provisions from the International Residential Code (IRC) with corresponding commentary; HUD manufactured housing standards that apply for movable tiny houses; ICC/MBI Standard 1200 and ICC/MBI Standard 1205 when tiny houses are constructed off-site; and model legislation for jurisdictions to ensure the safe and resilient deployment of tiny houses within their communities.

“As the popularity of tiny houses and the global demand for off-site construction rises, the Code Council recognizes the need for more guidance on the codes and standards needed to make sure tiny home communities are built to be safe, resilient and affordable,” says Ryan Colker, Vice President of Innovation for the Code Council. “We are proud of our collaborative efforts with THIA, MBI, and MHBA and will continue to aid the off-site construction industry by providing consistent and informative resources professionals can rely on.”

A wide variety of codes and standards can be used when it comes to the design and construction requirements for tiny houses. It is important that code officials, consumers and professionals within the building safety sector understand the differences between the codes and standards and can ensure that those applied will correspond with how the tiny house will be used.

“Working with the Code Council, the tiny house community has developed a suite of codes, standards and guidance that cover all aspects of the design, construction and certification of tiny houses. The ITHP brings all these resources together into a single reference document providing a valuable tool for builders and jurisdictions alike,” said Brad Wiseman, Chairman and CEO of THIA.

You can purchase the 2021 International Tiny House Provisions on shop.iccsafe.org.

To view the Code Council’s off-site construction resources and off-site construction standards, visit our webpage.

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About the International Code Council   
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide. 

About the Tiny Home Industry Association 
The Tiny Home Industry Association is a nonprofit organization on a mission to advocate for regulation changes, develop industry best practices and construction standards, all to increase widespread use of tiny homes as permissible and permanent housing.

About the Modular Building Institute
The Modular Building Institute is a non-profit trade association serving modular construction. MBI’s mission is to expand the use of offsite and modular construction through innovative construction practices, outreach and education to the construction community and customers, and recognition of high-quality modular designs and facilities.

About the Modular Home Builders Association
The Modular Home Builders Association strives to increase awareness of the value of modular construction by consumers, suppliers, builders, and government officials; it advocates public policies that make modular building systems available on a cost-effective basis.