Insights
J.S. Held Releases Insights on Risks & Opportunities Expected to Impact Organizations in 2025
Read MoreGreen building and energy conservation are now more commonplace in the United States with State and Local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) adopting some version of the International Code Council’s (ICC) suite of building codes. Some jurisdictions are now adopting the ICC’s Green Construction Code (IgCC). The State of California has taken the International Green Construction Code a step further and implemented it across the state for all new building projects. Some existing buildings can be included in these requirements; however, they are exempt from compliance with the code when the cost of the work is below a threshold of $200,000. This can be a major concern due to the recent wildfires in the past four years, and all total constructive loss structures will need to comply. California is the only state to have implemented the IgCC in this way, all other adoptions can be found in a list below.
The intent of the IgCC is to establish and promote provisions consistent with green construction, and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is the baseline standard for the IgCC to build from. This article will discuss the history of these codes, what they cover, and where they apply, with some additional emphasis on California standards.
The IgCC was first developed by committee process by the International Code Council (ICC) in 2009 (Public Version 1.0). Currently the industry is on the fifth edition of the 2021 IgCC, the prior editions having been issued in 2012, 2015, and 2018. The 2018 version was co-developed by the ICC and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The ICC is responsible for Chapter 1 (Scope and Administration), and the remainder of the technical content is based on the provisions/standards developed by ASHRAE in ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings. This document follows the ICC formatting as utilized in other ICC codes with Standard 189.1 formatting in parentheses.
The current adoption of the IgCC addresses the following topics:
It is important to note that the 2018 IgCC does not apply to the following structures or building uses as identified in the wording of the code in sub-section 101.3.2(2.2):
Please note, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has developed with the ICC a similar non-mandatory document ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) to address and encourage green building practices for use on residential building projects. This document provides builders, renovators, developers and contractors different options to obtain (points) towards a certified NGBS building project. This system can apply to new construction and renovation / rehab work, the 2020 standard includes an option for both commercial and residential multi-family development to be certified as well. The standard has mandatory minimum points as well as elective points in six-categories (lot development, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and homeowner education) for a rating of Bronze, Silver, gold or Emerald.
The 2018 IgCC does apply to the following building projects as identified in the scoping of the code in sub-section 101.3.2(2.1):
The intent of the IgCC is to establish green construction minimum regulations for all new construction other than single-family residential that addresses buildings, systems and theirs sites while utilizing prescriptive and performance-based options for compliance.
As of the publication date of this paper, the IgCC is currently adopted in the following states/territories:1,2
Please note the ICC lists the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Tennessee as having a jurisdiction that has adopted the IgCC in some form or another. Check with the local AHJ to see what codes and standards apply to any building construction or repair.
The State of California has taken the IgCC as the model for its own California Green Building Standards Code (CGBSC) and modified it to be applicable to ALL building projects throughout the state. This code is mandatory as it was created, approved and adopted at the state level, the current California adoption addresses the topics listed below:
As aforementioned, some existing buildings can be included in these requirements; however, any construction project is exempt from compliance with the CGBSC when the cost of the work is below a threshold of $200,000. It is important to note that while the ICC IgCC does not include single family homes, the California standards does include them as required buildings which must comply with this code.
Major items to take note of include the following:
Additionally, items from The California Energy Conservation Code that one should also be aware of are as follows:
Energy
Another item of importance: in New York City, with the passage of Local Law 94 under the Cool Roofs requirement, where a building’s roof is replaced and the replaced area is greater than 50% of the roof surface or over 500 SF, the new roof will need to meet the reflectivity requirements of a minimum reflectance of 0.7 per ASTM C 1549 or E 1918 and a minimum emittance of 0.75 per ASTM C1371 or E408; or, it must have a minimum SRI of [78] 82 per ASTM E 1980 where the roof slope is equal to or less than 2:12 slope. Additionally, under Sustainable Roofs requirement, if the entire roof assembly or deck is replaced and the roof slope is equal to or less than 2:12 slope then a contiguous 200 SF or a 4kW photovoltaic array must be installed and comply with the requirements of the New York City Building and Fire Code.4
With the awareness created by the Green Building and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) movement stated in the early 2000’s the ICC and NHBA responded with the development of model green construction codes and standards. Various jurisdictions have adopted different versions of this code and or further developed and implemented their own green construction code for use statewide as in the case of California’s CGBSC. The intent of the IgCC and CGBSC is to create a built environment that uses less resources, creates less waste and uses less energy, while providing better indoor air quality for the inhabitants and minimizing stormwater runoff during and after construction. The NGBS standards developed by the ICC and NHBA offers stakeholders various options for certification and compliance while educating all on the importance and benefits of green construction practices.
We would like to thank Erik Fritzberg, RA, CBO, CPHC, CFM and Michael Rimoldi, MPA, CBO, CFM for providing insight and expertise that greatly assisted this research
Erik Fritzberg is a Professional Architect in J.S. Held’s Forensic Architecture and Engineering Practice and a professional mitigation, construction, and building code expert specializing in application of code required upgrades as they apply to existing buildings. Erik also assists with all aspect of building shell and assembly design and specification. Erik’s experience with numerous institutional, commercial, educational, industrial, and residential projects of various construction types and complexities, both new and existing, provides him with a broad range of expertise to assist owners and clients.
Erik can be reached at +1 412 293 3756 or [email protected].
Michael Rimoldi is a Senior Project Manager in J.S. Held’s Forensic Architecture and Engineering Practice. In addition to applying and interpreting the building codes, Michael is a licensed building contractor who has worked on both residential and commercial projects of various scopes. He is an ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager and a credited reviewer of several FEMA construction-related documents including the Coastal Construction Manual, the Local Officials Guide to Coastal Construction and Natural Hazards and Sustainability for Residential Buildings. He has appeared on several national media outlets discussing building codes and construction including CNN, Good Morning America, and The Weather Channel.
Mike can be reached at +1 813 676 1050 or [email protected].
1. Adoption Information from http://bcapcodes.org/code-status/local-adoptions/
2. ICC Fact Sheet – First International Green Construction (IgCC) Adoptions http://thegreendestination.com/resources/First%20International%20Green%20Construction%20Code%20Adoptions%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
3. City of Boynton Beach code of ordinances https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/boyntonbeach/latest/boyntonbeach_fl/0-0-0-97386
4. New York City – Department of Buildings – Local Laws (No.94) https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/local_laws/ll94of2019.pdf
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