Green Mechanical Contractor

WHAT UPCOMING GREEN
CODES MEAN TO YOU

The International Code Council, American Institute of Architects, and ASTM International have joined together to launch the first International Green Construction Code (IgCC) initiative, “IgCC:

Safe and Sustainable by the Book.”

The goal of the IgCC is to develop clear and enforceable mechanisms and criteria to measure compliance and drive green building into everyday practice. When complete, the IgCC will address sustainability in all aspects of the commercial built environment and set a minimum standard to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint of new and existing commercial buildings. Specific areas covered will include energy- and water-use efficiency, materials and resource use, indoor environmental quality, a building’s impact on the environment, site design, sustainable building owner/facility management education, and existing buildings. The code is being developed by a committee composed of manufacturers, engineers, architects, code officials, and green building advocates.

Of particular interest to mechanical and plumbing contractors will be the chapters on energy performance (Chapter 6), water conservation (Chapter 7), and indoor environmental quality (Chapter 8).

The energy-performance chapter emphasizes the need for monitoring and controlling building energy consumption, which naturally ties to HVAC controls. For instance, in the current draft, outdoor air supply and exhaust ducts will have to incorporate International Energy Conservation Code-compliant motorized dampers to control passive air flow. It also will define duct insulation values. For example, in the current draft, the minimum insulation value for ducts located in unconditioned spaces will be R-6 and, for ducts located outside of the building, R- 8. In some cases, depending on the Total Annual Net Energy Use (TANEU) of the building, the minimum duct insulation value for ducts located in unconditioned spaces may be R- 8 and, for ducts located outside of the building, R- 11.

In the current draft, ducts also will have to be tested for leakage in accordance with the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association HVAC Air Duct Leakage Test Manual. Other topics covered include the current requirement for captive card control access systems in all hotel and motel guest rooms that are tied to a structure’s energy-management system. As well, HVAC systems and water heaters must meet minimum efficiency standards mandated by the federal government.

The water resource-conservation chapter establishes the means of conserving indoor and outdoor water use as well

as wastewater conveyance. For example, in the current draft, plumbing fixtures and fittings must meet reduced flow rate specifications and must also achieve a 20% reduction in water use relative to the requirements of the 2009 International Plumbing Code. One of the most significant changes under development in this chapter is the requirement for the use of municipal-reclaimed water, rainwater, or greywater for toilet facilities, water-supplied trap primers, and greywater recycling systems when possible and where available. The use of potable water in these instances, as well as for landscape and landscape-irrigation systems, will not be allowed. Currently, a building will have to incorporate systems to collect and reuse cooling condensate for other purposes, such as irrigation or fixture flushing.

The indoor environmental quality chapter of the IgCC contains provisions for reducing the quantity of building indoor air contaminants and other pollutants. The chapter will outline requirements for the application of volatile organic compound-emitting materials such as paints and lacquers, building materials and furnishings, or office equipment. One section will deal specifically with the ventilation of buildings during the construction phase. In this case, the IgCC will define requirements for the protection of HVAC supply and return duct and equipment openings, as well as the need to flush out duct systems and replace return air filters at the conclusion of construction.

Keep in mind that while the general requirements defined for subject matter in each IgCC chapter are fairly set, the detailed content of the document is still under development. There’s still a lot of work to be done in the next several months. In all cases, the green codes will coordinate and integrate with the health and safety features of existing International Codes (I-Codes) and will be fully compatible with existing rating systems, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The IgCC also will be mindful of the AIA 2030 carbon neutrality goals.

The first draft of the IgCC is due to be published in March 2010 followed by a public comment period and a full code development cycle in 2011. The first edition of the IgCC will be the 2012 edition.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings. Additional information is available from the PMG Resource Center at 888/422-7233 ext. 4PMG (4764).