Second Public Comment Period for NGBS ICC 700 2015 Update is Open

As part of the development of the 2015 edition of the National Green Building Standard ICC 700 (NGBS ICC 700) and in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) consensus process, Home Innovation Research Labs will commence a 45-day public comment period for the Second Draft Standard on Oct. 9. Home Innovation Research Labs, an ANSI Accredited Developer, is serving as secretariat, or administrator, of the standard development process.

A PDF version of the Draft Standard, which includes all changes approved by the Consensus Committee, and a web-based submittal form with instructions for submitting comments are both accessible from www.HomeInnovation.com/NGBS. All interested parties are eligible to submit comments on all changes shown on the draft version in underline/strikethrough text. Only the changes are open for comment. The deadline for submitting comments is November 23, 2015.

NGBS ICC 700 currently is referenced in the 2015 International Green Construction Code (IgCC). It is expected to be carried into the 2018 edition of the IgCC. The 2018 IgCC is being produced jointly by ASHRAE and the ICC, combining the technical provisions of the ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/IES/USGBC Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings189.1 and the administrative provisions of the IgCC. It is these provisions which currently reference ICC 700 for certain residential applications.

Initiated originally in 2007 by the International Code Council (ICC) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the 2008 National Green Building Standard ICC 700 was developed by a 42-member Consensus Committee and approved by ANSI in January 2009, making it the first point-based rating system for green residential construction, remodeling, and land development to be approved by ANSI. The 2015 NGBS Update is a joint development effort between NAHB, ICC, and ASHRAE. As an ANSI-approved standard, the document is subject to periodic updates as a way to ensure that advances in building codes, technology, and other developments can be considered for incorporation.

For additional information and all future updates on the 2015 NGBS development process, visit www.HomeInnovation.com/NGBS. Any questions regarding the public comment period or any part of the standards development process should be submitted online at http://www.homeinnovation.com/about/contact_us?drop=2015%20ngbs.