ICC and SEIA partner to produce 2018 ISEP Commentary

Updated publication provides expert commentary to help understand solar energy provisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Code Council (ICC) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) announced a new partnership to produce the International Solar Energy Provisions (ISEP) Commentary. Under the agreement, SEIA will join the Code Council, the ICC Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to produce the updated 2018 edition.

ISEP, an easy-to-use reference tool, is a compilation of all the solar energy provisions in the International Codes as well as related electrical provisions from the National Electrical Code of NFPA. The ISEP also includes ICC-SRCC standards 100 and 300 as well as sample forms, checklists and plans that applicants can use for expedited permitting if allowed in the jurisdictions. In addition, ISEP is a single publication that states and local jurisdictions may choose to adopt as their solar energy code. The ISEP Commentary is a companion publication that features expert commentary about each ISEP code section to help fully understand the intent of the requirements.

“The new partnership strengthens available resources to ensure solar energy system designs comply with all applicable codes and standards,” said ICC-SRCC Executive Director Eileen Prado. “ICC and SEIA together can more effectively serve the primary users – solar industry officials, designers and installers.”

“This partnership is a natural fit given the solar industry’s strong commitment to high quality installations,” said SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “Through this process, we look forward to helping develop workable solutions to ultimately expand the solar footprint nationwide.”

Currently, the 2015 ISEP and ISEP Commentary are available online. The Code Council will release the 2018 ISEP in Fall 2017 and the 2018 ISEP Commentary in mid-2018.