A. The commercial provisions of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, as adopted, are hereby amended as follows:
1. Chapter 1 (CE) "Scope and Administration" is amended as follows:
C101.1 Title. Replace bracketed "[]" text with the following: "Ada County."
C101.5 Compliance. Add new subsection C101.5.2 as follows:
C101.5.2 Industrial, electronic, and manufacturing equipment. Buildings or portions thereof that are heated or cooled exclusively to maintain the required operating temperature of industrial, electronic, or manufacturing equipment shall be exempt from the provisions of this code. Such buildings or portions thereof shall be separated from connected conditioned space by building thermal envelope assemblies complying with this code.
C104.1 Fees. Delete sentence and replace with the following:
Fees and permits issued shall be part of a validly issued Ada County Building Code Permit.
C104.5 Refunds. Delete sentence and replace with the following:
Refunds may be issued as part of a refund of fees paid for an Ada County Building Code Permit.
C108.4 Failure to comply. Delete sentence and replace with the following:
Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 2.
C109 Board of Appeals. Delete section in its entirety and replace with new section C109 as follows:
SECTION C109 BOARD OF APPEALS
C109.1 General. Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 1 establishes the Ada County Building Board of Appeals. All appeals shall be heard pursuant to Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 1.
Add a new Section C110 Violations as follows:
SECTION C110 VIOLATIONS
C110.1 Violations. Violations of the provisions or requirements of this code shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 2.
2. Chapter 4 (CE) "Commercial Energy Efficiency" is amended as follows:
C4025 Air leakage - thermal envelope (Mandatory). Add the following exception:
Exception: For buildings having over fifty thousand (50,000) square feet of conditioned floor area, air leakage testing shall be permitted to be conducted on less than the whole weighted building, provided the following portions of the building are tested and their measured air leakage is area-weighted by the surface areas of the building envelope:
1. The entire floor area of all stories that have any spaces directly under a roof.
2. The entire floor area of all stories that have a building entrance or loading dock.
3. Representative above-grade wall sections of the building totaling at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the above-grade wall area enclosing the remaining conditioned space. Floor area tested under subparagraphs 1 or 2 of this exception shall not be included in the twenty-five percent (25%) of the above- grade wall sections tested under this subparagraph.
C403.5 Economizers (Prescriptive). Under Exceptions, add a new exception No. 7 as follows:
7. Unusual outdoor air contaminate conditions - Systems where special outside air filtration and treatment for the reduction and treatment of unusual outdoor contaminants, makes an air economizer infeasible.
Table C404.5.1 Piping volume and maximum piping lengths. Delete table and replace with the following Table:
Table C404.5.1 PIPING VOLUME AND MAXIMUM PIPING LENGTHS | |||
Nominal Pipe Size (inches) | Volume (liquid ounces per foot length) | Maximum Piping Length | |
Public lavatory faucets | Other fixtures and appliances | ||
Table C404.5.1 PIPING VOLUME AND MAXIMUM PIPING LENGTHS | |||
Nominal Pipe Size (inches) | Volume (liquid ounces per foot length) | Maximum Piping Length | |
Public lavatory faucets | Other fixtures and appliances | ||
1/4 | 0.33 | 31 | 50 |
5/16 | 0.5 | N/A - non- standard size | 50 |
3/8 | 0.75 | 17 | 50 |
1/2 | 1.5 | 10 | 43 |
5/8 | 2 | 7 | 32 |
3/4 | 3 | 5 | 21 |
7/8 | 4 | N/A - non- standard size | 16 |
1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
1 1/4 | 8 | 2 | 8 |
1 1/2 | 11 | 1 | 6 |
2 or larger | 18 | 1 | 4 |
B. The residential provisions of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, as adopted, are hereby amended as follows:
1. Chapter 1 (RE) "Scope and Administration" is amended as follows:
R101.1 Title. Replace bracketed "[]" text with the following: "Ada County."
R104.1 Fees. Delete sentence and replace with the following:
Fees and permits issued shall be part of a validly issued Ada County Building Code Permit.
R104.5 Refunds. Delete sentence and replace with the following:
Refunds may be issued as part of a refund of fees paid for an Ada County Building Code Permit.
R108.4 Failure to comply. Delete sentence and replace with the following:
Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 2.
R109 Board of Appeals. Delete section in its entirety and replace with new section R109 as follows:
SECTION R109 BOARD OF APPEALS
R109.1 General. Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 1 establishes the Ada County Building Board of Appeals. All appeals shall be heard pursuant to Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 1.
Add new section R110 Violations as follows:
SECTION R110 VIOLATIONS
R110.1 Violations. Violations of the provisions or requirements of this code shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in Ada County Code, Title 7, Chapter 2.
2. Chapter 4 (RE) "Residential Energy Efficiency" is amended as follows:
Table R402.1.2 Insulation and Fenestration Requirements by Component.
Delete the rows for climate zones “5 and Marine 4", and “6" of Table R402.1.1, and add new climate zone rows “5" and “6" and a new footnote k as follows:
TABLE R402.1.2
INSULATION AND FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS BY COMPONENTa,k
Climate Zone | Fenestration U-Factorb | Skylightb
U-Factor | Glazed Fenestration SHGCb,e |
Ceiling R-Value | Wood Frame Wall R-Value | Mass Wall R-Valuei |
Floor R-Value | Basementc
Wall R-Value | Slabd
R-Value & Depth | Crawl Spacec
Wall R-Value |
5 | 0.32 | 0.55 | NR | 38 | 20 or 13+5h | 13/17 | 30g | 15/19 | 10, 2 ft | 15/19 |
6 | 0.30 | 0.55 | NR | 49 | 20 or 13+5h | 15/20 | 30g | 15/19 | 10, 4 ft | 15/19 |
k. For residential log home building thermal envelope construction requirements see section R402.6.
Table R402.1.4 Equivalent U-Factors. Delete the rows for climate zones “5 and Marine 4" and “6" and replace with climate zones “5" and “6" as follows:
TABLE R402.1.4
EQUIVALENT U-FACTORSa
Climate Zone | Fenestration U-Factor | Skylight U-Factor | Ceiling U-Factor | Frame Wall U- Factor | Mass Wall U-Factorb |
Floor U- Factor | Basement Wall U- Factor | Crawlspace Wall U- Factor |
5 | 0.32 | 0.55 | 0.030 | 0.060 | 0.082 | 0.033 | 0.050 | 0.055 |
6 | 0.30 | 0.55 | 0.026 | 0.057 | 0.060 | 0.033 | 0.050 | 0.055 |
R402.4.1 Building thermal envelope. Delete the paragraph and replace with the following:
1. Until June 30, 2021, the building thermal envelope shall comply with Section R402.4.1.1 (Installation) and either Section R402.4.1.2 (Testing) or Section 402.4.1.3 (Visual Inspection).
2. Effective July 1, 2021, the building thermal envelope of a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of all new single-family homes constructed by each builder shall comply with Section R402.4.1.1 (Installation) and Section R402.4.1.2 (Testing). The authority having jurisdiction may:
2.1 Determine how to enforce this requirement, starting with the fifth house and continuing with each subsequent fifth house.
2.2 Waive this requirement if significant testing indicates the five (5) air changes per hour (ACH) requirement is consistently being met or exceeded (resulting in a lower ACH).
2.3 Grant exceptions to this requirement in rural areas where testing equipment is not available or cost effective.
3. Effective July 1, 2021, the building thermal envelope of eighty percent (80%) of all new single-family homes constructed by each builder shall comply with Section R402.4.1.1 (Installation) and either Section R402.4.1.2 (Testing) or Section 402.4.1.3 (Visual Inspection).
4. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.
R402.4.1.1 Installation. Delete paragraph and replace with the following:
The components of the building thermal envelope as listed in Table R402.4.1.1 shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the criteria listed in Table R402.4.1.1, as applicable to the method of construction.
R402.4.1.2 Testing. Delete paragraphs and replace with the following:
Testing building thermal envelope tightness and insulation installation shall be considered acceptable when tested air leakage is less than five (5) air changes per hour (ACH) when tested with a blower door at a pressure of 33.5psf (50 Pa). Testing shall occur after rough in and after installation of penetrations of the building envelope, including penetrations of utilities, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and combustion appliances. Testing shall be conducted in accordance with RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E 779 or ASTM E 1827 and reported at a pressure of 0.2-inch w.g. (50 Pascals). During testing:
1. Exterior windows and doors, fireplace and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed;
2. Dampers shall be closed, but not sealed, including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft and flue dampers;
3. Interior doors shall be open;
4. Exterior openings for continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be closed and sealed;
5. Heating and cooling system(s) shall be turned off;
6. HVAC ducts shall not be sealed; and
7. Supply and return registers shall not be sealed.
Add as a new Section R402.4.1.3 the following:
R402.4.1.3 Visual inspection. Building envelope tightness and insulation installation shall be considered acceptable when the items listed in Table R402.4.1.1, applicable to the method of construction, are verified. Where required by code official an approved party independent from the installer of the insulation shall inspect the air barrier and insulation.
Add a new Section 402.6 the following:
R402.6 Residential log home thermal envelope. Residential log home construction shall comply with Sections 401 (General), 402.4 (Air leakage), 402.5 (Maximum fenestration U-factor and SHGC), 403.1 (Controls), the mandatory sections of Sections R403.3 through R403.9, section R404 (Electrical Power and Lighting Systems), and either 1., 2., or 3. as follows:
1. Sections 402.2 through 402.3, Section 403.3.1 (Insulation), Section 404.1 (Lighting Equipment) and Table 402.6 (Log Home Prescriptive Thermal Envelope Requirements By Component);
2. Section 405 (Simulated Performance Alternative); or
3. REScheck (U.S. Department of Energy Building Codes Program).
Add a new Table R402.6 as follows:
TABLE R402.6
LOG HOME PRESCRIPTIVE THERMAL ENVELOPE REQUIREMENTS BY COMPONENT
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
Climate Zone | Fenestratin U-Factora |
Skylight U-Factor | Glazed Fenestration SHGC Value | Ceiling R-Value | Min. Average Log Size In Inches | Floor R-Value | Basement Wall R-Valued | Slab R-Value & Depthb |
Crawl Space Wall R-Valued |
5, 6 - High efficiency equipment pathc | 0.32 | 0.60 | NR | 49 | 5 | 30 | 15/19 | 10, 4 ft. | 10/13 |
5 | 0.32 | 0.60 | NR | 49 | 8 | 30 | 10/13 | 10, 2 ft. | 10/13 |
6 | 0.30 | 0.60 | NR | 49 | 8 | 30 | 15/19 | 10, 4 ft. | 10/13 |
a. The fenestration U-factor column excludes skylights. The SHGC column applies to all glazed fenestration. | |||||||||
b. R-5 shall be added to the required slab edge R-values for heated slabs. | |||||||||
c. 90% AFUE natural gas or propane, 84% AFUE oil, or 15 SEER heat pump heating equipment (zonal electric resistance heating equipment such as electric base board electric resistance heating equipment as the sole source for heating is considered compliant with the high efficiency equipment path). | |||||||||
d. "15/19" means R-15 continuous insulated sheathing on the interior or exterior of the home or R-19 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall. "15/19" shall be permitted to be met with R-13 cavity insulation on the interior of the basement wall plus R-5 continuous insulated sheathing on the interior or exterior of the home. "10/13" means R-10 continuous insulated sheathing on the interior or exterior of the home or R-13 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall. | |||||||||
R403.5.3 Hot water pipe insulation (Prescriptive). Delete the paragraph and replace with the following:
R403.5.3 Hot water pipe insulation (Prescriptive). Insulation for hot water piping with a thermal resistance, R-value, of not less than R-3 shall be applied to the following:
1. Piping serving more than one (1) dwelling unit.
2. Piping located outside the conditioned space.
3. Piping located under a floor slab.
4. Buried piping.
5. Supply and return piping in recirculation systems other than demand recirculation systems.
R404.1 (N1104.1) Lighting equipment (Mandatory). Delete the paragraph and replace with the following:
A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the lamps in permanently installed lighting fixtures shall be high-efficacy lamps or a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the lamps in permanently installed lighting fixtures shall contain only high efficacy lamps.
R406.3 Energy Rating Index. Delete the paragraphs and replace with the following:
The Energy Rating Index (ERI) shall be determined in accordance with RESNET/ICC 301. Energy used to recharge or refuel a vehicle used for transportation on roads that are not on the building site shall not be included in the ERI reference design or the rated design.
Delete Table R406.4 and replace with new Table R406.4 as follows:
Table R406.4 Maximum Energy Rating Index
Climate Zone | Energy Rating Indexa |
5 | 68 |
6 | 68 |
a Where on-site renewable energy is included for compliance using the ERI analysis of section R406.4, the building shall meet the mandatory requirements of section R406.2, and the building thermal envelope shall be greater than or equal to the levels of efficiency and SHGC in Table R402.1.2 or Table R402.1.4 of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code.
(Ord. 592, 8-2-2005; amd. Ord. 578, 11-13-2007; amd. Ord. 725, 5-5-2009; amd. Ord. 781, 5-17-2011; amd. Ord. 817, 1-7-2014; amd. Ord. 836, 1-6-2015; amd. Ord. 879, 2-13-2018; amd. Ord. 919, 2-16-2021)