PUBLIC CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL FORM 

FOR PUBLIC PROPOSALS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CODES 

2012-2014 CODE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE 

CLOSING DATES: Group A Codes: January 3, 2012 

Group B Codes: January 3, 2013 

Group C Codes: January 6, 2014 

*See Item 3 of these instructions for additional information concerning Group A and Group B Code 

 Development Committees Responsibilities* 

1)

Name: Date: 

Jurisdiction/Company: 

Submitted on Behalf of: 

Address: 

City: State: Zip Code: 

Phone: Ext. Fax: 

E-mail address (see # 4 below): 

2) Copyright Release: In accordance with Council Policy #28 Code Development, all Code Change Proposals, Floor Modifications and 

Public Comments are required to include a copyright release. A copy of the copyright release form is included at the end of this form. 

Please follow the directions on the form. This form as well as an alternative release form can also be downloaded from the ICC website 

at www.iccsafe.org. If you have previously executed the copyright release for this cycle, please check the below:

______2012-2014 Cycle copyright release on file 

3) Code: Indicate appropriate International Code(s) associated with this Public Proposal – Please use Acronym: ___IECC_____ 

 

If you have also submitted a separate coordination change to another I-Code, please indicate the code: ________ 

(See section below for list of names and acronyms for the International Codes). 

NOTE: Sections of the International Codes that have a letter designation in brackets in front of them are the responsibility of a 

different committee than the committee normally responsible for that code. For instance, Section 301.1.4 of the IEBC has a [B] in front 

of it, meaning that this section is the responsibility of one of the IBC Code Development Committees (in this case, IBC-S). Any

proposed changes to Section 301.1.4 will be heard by the IBC-Structural committee. 

Therefore, some code change proposals to Group B code text may be due by January 3, 2012, in order to be heard by Group A 

code development committees, and vice versa (proposed revision to a Group A code due January 3, 2013.) Please go to 

www.iccsafe.org/responsibilites for detailed information on Group A and Group B Code Development Committee 

responsibilities. 

4) Multiple Proposals: A proponent shall not submit multiple code change proposals to the same code section. When a proponent 

submits multiple code change proposals to the same section, the proposals shall be considered as incomplete proposals and not 

processed in accordance with Section 4.3 of CP #28. This restriction shall not apply to code change proposals that attempt to address 

differing subject matter within a code section. 

5) Referenced Standards: Check here if this code change proposal includes reference to a standard that is not currently referenced in 

one of the I-Codes. _____

 NOTE: If a new referenced standard is proposed, a copy of the standard must be provided by the proponent of the code change 

proposal. (This code change proposal will be considered incomplete and not processed if the new standard is not submitted in at least 

consensus draft form in accordance with Section 3.6 of Council Policy CP #28.) If you have forwarded a copy of the standard(s) to 

ICC please check below: 

 ______ Copy of new referenced standard(s) sent. (Please check: Electronic ___ or Hard Copy ___) 

6) E-mail address: Your email address will be published with your code change proposal unless you check here: ______

7) Information required: Be sure to format your proposal and include all information as indicated below and in the Code Change Proposal 

 Instructions’ section on Page 2 of this form. 
 

8) Format: Proposals should be sent to the office below via regular mail or email. An e-mail submittal is preferred, including an 

electronic version, in either WordPerfect or Word (see proposal formatting section on Page 2 of this form). 

Please use a separate form (see page 3) for each proposal submitted. Note: All code changes received will receive an acknowledgment 

by approximately two weeks after the code change deadline. Please contact the ICC staff listed below if you have not received an 

acknowledgment by two weeks after the code change deadline.

Group A Group B Group C Send to: 

IBC - International Building Code 

IFGC - International Fuel Gas Code 

IMC - International Mechanical 

Code 

IPC - International Plumbing Code 

IPSDC - International Private 

Sewage Disposal Code 

IADMIN – International Administrative Code 

(Chapter 1 of I-Codes except the IRC and the 

IECC, and Referenced Standards Updates) 

IEBC - International Existing Building Code 

IECC - International Energy Conservation 

Code 

IFC - International Fire Code 

ICC PC - ICC Performance Code 

IPMC - International Property Maintenance 

Code 

IRC - International Residential Code 

IWUIC - International Wildland-Urban 

Interface Code 

IZC - International Zoning Code

IgCC – International Green 

Construction Code 

ISPSC – International Swimming 

Pool and Spa Code 

International Code Council 

Chicago District Office 

Attn: Dynice Broadnax 

4051 West Flossmoor Road 

Country Club Hills, IL 60478-

5795 

Fax: 708/799-0320 

codechanges@iccsafe.org

CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS 

Please provide all of the following items in your code change proposal (see form on page 3). Your proposal should be entered on

page 3 as a separate file. However, please read the instructions provided below for each part of the code change proposal. The 

sections identified in parentheses are the applicable sections from CP #28 Code Development. The full procedures can be 

downloaded from www.iccsafe.org. 

PROPOSAL FORMATTING:

Show the proposal (see form on page 3) using strikeout, underline format. At the beginning of each section, one of the following instruction 

lines are also needed: 

 •Revise as follows 

 •Add new text as follows 

 •Delete and substitute as follows 

 •Delete without substitution 

The only formatting that is needed is BOLDING, STRIKEOUT AND UNDERLINING. Please do not provide additional formatting such 

as tabs, columns etc. as this will be done by ICC. DO NOT USE THE TRACKING CHANGES OPTION, AUTOMATIC 

NUMBERING, OR ANY OTHER ADVANCED FORMATTING TOOLS PROVIDED BY WORD. 

SEPARATE GRAPHIC FILES ARE REQUIRED FOR GRAPHIC MATERIALS. Graphic materials (Graphs, maps, drawings, charts, 

photographs, etc.) must be submitted as separate electronic files in .CDR, IA, TIF or .JPG format (300 DPI Minimum resolution; 600 DPI 

or more preferred) even though they may also be embedded in your Word or WordPerfect submittal. 

SUPPORTING INFORMATION: (3.3.4 & 3.4) 

The following items are required to be included in your proposal (see form on page 3): 

1. The proponent shall clearly state the purpose of the proposed code change 

2. The proponent shall provide a logical explanation which clearly shows why the current Code provisions are inadequate or overly

restrictive, specifies the shortcomings of the current Code provisions and explains how such proposals will improve the Code. 

3. The proponent shall substantiate the proposed code change based on technical information and substantiation. A minimum of two copies 

of all substantiating information shall be submitted. 

4. The proponent shall submit a bibliography of any substantiating material submitted with the code change proposal. 

REFERENCED STANDARDS: (3.4 & 3.6) 

List any new referenced standards that are proposed to be referenced in the code and provide a minimum of two copies. See also Item 5 on 

page 1 regarding proposed new referenced standards. Updates to currently referenced standards will be processed as a Group B proposal. 

For ICC rules on referenced standards, see Section 3.6 of CP #28. Additional copies will be required for committee members. ICC staff 

will provide you with a mailing list for the appropriate committees.

COST IMPACT: (3.3.5.6) 

The proponent shall indicate one of the following regarding the cost impact of the code change proposal: 

1) The code change proposal will increase the cost of construction; or 
 

2) The code change proposal will not increase the cost of construction.

The proponent should submit information that supports their claim. Any information submitted will be considered by the code development 

committee. This information will be included in the bibliography of the published code change proposal.

CODE CHANGE SUBMITTAL EXAMPLE

Code: IBC–12/13

705.1 

Proponent: John Doe, P.E., Acme Building Corporation, Inc, representing self

Revise as follows:

705.1 General. Each portion of a building separated by one or more a fire walls that comply

complies with the provisions of this section Section 705 shall be considered a separate building. 

Reason: A fire wall complying with Section 705 establishes the equivalent of separate buildings on either side of the fire 

wall. This proposal provides text that more succinctly states this purpose of a fire wall. 

Cost Impact: The code change proposal will not increase the cost of construction. 

Public Hearing: Committee: AS AM D 

 Assembly: ASF AMF DF 

CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL FORM 

(See instructions on page 2) 

Code: ____IECC____ –12-14

Code Sections/Tables/Figures Proposed for Revision (3.3.2); Note: If the proposal is for a new section, indicate (new). 

Table Section R103.2, Section R202, Table R402.1.1, Table R402.1.3.

Proponent: Name/Company/Representing (3.3.1): (NOTE: DO NOT USE ACRONYMS FOR YOUR COMPANY OR 

ORGANIZATIONAL NAME)

Modify Section R103.2 as follows:

R103.2 Information on construction documents. Construction documents shall be drawn to scale upon suitable 

material. Electronic media documents are permitted to be submitted when approved by the code official. Construction 

documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed, and show in 

sufficient detail pertinent data and features of the building, systems and equipment as herein governed. Details shall 

include, but are not limited to, as applicable, cardinal directions; insulation materials and their R-values; fenestration Ufactors and SHGCs; area-weighted U-factor and SHGC calculations; mechanical system design criteria; mechanical 

and service water heating system and equipment types, sizes and efficiencies; economizer description; equipment and 

systems controls; fan motor horsepower (hp) and controls; duct sealing, duct and pipe insulation and location; lighting 

fixture schedule with wattage and control narrative; and air sealing details. 

Add definitions to Section R202 as follows: 

VERTICAL GLAZING. Glazing other than skylights.

WEST-FACING GLAZING AREA. The area of vertical glazing facing between 45 degrees south of west and 30 

degrees north of west, inclusive.

Revise Table R402.1.1 as follows: 

CLIMATE 

ZONE 

FENESTRATION 

U-FACTORb

SKYLIGHTb

U-FACTOR 

GLAZED 

FENESTRATION 

(remainder of 

table unchanged) 
 

SHGCb,e,j

1 NR 0.75 0.20 / 0.25 

2 0.400.35 0.65 0.20 / 0.25 

3 0.35 0.55 0.20 / 0.25 

4 except 

Marine 

0.350.20 0.55 0.40 

5 and Marine 

4 

0.320.20 0.55 NR 

6 0.320.20 0.55 NR 

7 and 8 0.320.20 0.55 NR 

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. 

a. R-values are minimums. U-factors and SHGC are maximums. When insulation is installed in a cavity which is less than the label or design thickness of the 

insulation, the installed R-value of the insulation shall not be less than the R-value specified in the table. 

b. The fenestration U-factor column excludes skylights. The SHGC column applies to all glazed fenestration. Exception: Skylights may be excluded from glazed 

fenestration SHGC requirements in Climate Zones 1 through 3 where the SHGC for such skylights does not exceed 0.30. 

c. “15/19” means R-15 continuous insulation 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 insulation on the interior or exterior of the home. 

“10/13” means R-10 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home or R-13 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall. 

d. R-5 shall be added to the required slab edge R-values for heated slabs. Insulation depth shall be the depth of the footing or 2 feet, whichever is less in Climate 

Zones 1 through 3 for heated slabs. 

e. There are no SHGC requirements in the Marine Zone. 

f. Basement wall insulation is not required in warm-humid locations as defined by Figure R301.1 and Table R301.1. 

g. Or insulation sufficient to fill the framing cavity, R-19 minimum. 

h. First value is cavity insulation, second is continuous insulation or insulated siding, so “13+5” means R-13 cavity insulation plus R-5 continuous insulation or 

insulated siding. If structural sheathing covers 40 percent or less of the exterior, continuous insulation R-value shall be permitted to be reduced by no more 

than R-3 in the locations where structural sheathing is used – to maintain a consistent total sheathing thickness. 

i. The second R-value applies when more than half the insulation is on the interior of the mass wall. 

j. The second SHGC applies when the home’s west-facing glazing area is less than or equal to 10% of the home’s total glazed fenestration area.

Revise Table R402.1.3 as follows: 

CLIMATE 

ZONE 

FENESTRATION 

U-FACTORb (remainder of 

table unchanged) 

1 0.50 

2 0.400.35

3 0.35 

4 except 

Marine 

0.350.20

5 and Marine 

4 

0.320.20

6 0.320.20

7 and 8 0.320.20

Reason: 

The proposed U-factor and SHGC reductions are cost effective, as shown in the attached analysis. 

Cost Impact: 

The code change proposal will increase the cost of construction.

Public Hearing: Committee: AS AM D 

 Assembly: ASF AMF DF 
 

COPYRIGHT RELEASE FOR 

2012-2014 PROPOSALS, MODIFICATIONS and PUBLIC COMMENTS 

SUBMITTED ON 

ICC CODES 

PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY THE

INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL 

This form is required for all Proposals, Floor Modifications and Public Comments submitted to the 

International Code Council. Only one signed Copyright release form is required for the entire 2012-

2014 Cycle and will be kept on file and can be used for all Proposal, Floor Modification and Public 

Comment submittals you submit to ICC unless you represent multiple entities. An executed form is 

required for each entity represented. 

I hereby grant and assign to ICC all rights in copyright I may have in any authorship contributions I 

make to ICC in the 2012-2014 Cycle in connection with any proposal and public comment, in its 

original form submitted or revised form, including written and verbal modifications submitted in 

accordance with Section 5.5.2 of CP #28. I understand that I will have no rights in any ICC 

publications that use such contributions in the form submitted by me or another similar form and 

certify that such contributions are not protected by the copyright of any other person or entity. 

Signature: ________________________________________________________________ 

Please type or print full name: 

Jurisdiction/Company: _________________________________________________ 

Entity Represented: ___________________________________________________

Contact info: Phone: _________ Email: ___________________________________

Date signed: _________________________________________________________

PLEASE FAX OR MAIL THE SIGNED COPYRIGHT RELEASE TO:

Fax: ICC Codes & Standards Department - 708-799-0320 

Email: dbroadnax@iccsafe.org 

Mail: ICC Codes & Standards Development 

Chicago District Office 

4051 W. Flossmoor Road 

Country Club Hills, IL 60478-5795 
 

Window U-factor and SHGC 

Description 

Heat gain through windows is characterized by the Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient (SHGC) and the heat lost 

through windows is characterized by the heat transfer coefficient (U-factor). For this concept, U-factors 

lower than the 2012 IECC code requirements are simulated in the colder climate zones and SHGCs lower 

than the 2012 IECC code requirements are simulated in the warmer climate zones. 

IECC Climate Zone 2012 IECC window requirements 

U-factor|SHGC 

Windows considered in this 

concept U-factor|SHGC 

1 NR|0.25 NR|0.2 

2 0.40|0.25 0.35|0.2 

3 0.35|0.25 0.35|0.2 

4 except marine 0.35|0.40 0.20|0.40 

5 & 4-marine 0.32|NR 0.20|NR 

6 0.32|NR 0.20|NR 

7 & 8 0.32|NR 0.20|NR 

Energy Cost Savings 

Figure 1 below shows energy cost savings for each climate zone. 

Figure 1: Energy Cost Savings for the concept over the 2012 IECC code 
 

Cost Effectiveness 

The cost for windows with lower SHGC is based on the Building Component Community Cost database 

(BC3)1

. The cost for windows with SHGC 0.2 is extrapolated from cost for windows with SHGC 0.28 and 

0.25. The cost for R-5 (U=0.2 Btu/hr-ft2-F) windows is derived from DOE’s High Efficiency Windows 

Volume Purchase Initiative2

. This initiative has a target incremental cost of $4/ft2 for R-5 windows over 

EnergyStar windows. According to manufacturer data collected, two manufacturers had incremental costs 

of approximately $2/sf and two others had a cost of around $4/sf. It is expected that by the time the 2015 

IECC is adopted by states, market transformation will drive down the cost of R-5 windows. We have 

assumed an incremental cost of $2/sf for these reasons. EnergyStar requires a U of 0.32 in colder climates 

so the additional cost of going from U 0.35 in climate zone 4 to the EnergyStar level of U 0.32 is taken into 

account while calculating the incremental cost of R-5 windows. Table 1 below summarizes incremental 

costs used in this analysis. These costs are material costs alone and it is assumed that the installation cost 

will remain the same for all windows. 

The lifetime of windows is assumed to be equal to the period of analysis - 30 years. 

Table 1: Window costs used in this analysis 

SHGC Window Cost

($/ea)3

U‐factor Window Cost

($/sf)4

0.28 287.20 0.35 34.62

0.25 289.21 0.32 35.09

0.2 292.56* 0.32 ‐> 0.2 2.00

 *indicates extrapolated values 

These costs are adjusted using location multipliers specified in Table 2 below, to generate incremental 

costs by state. State specific fuel costs are used in this analysis as specified in Table 3. Figure 2 shows 

Life Cycle Cost for this measure, by Climate Zone. 

Additional Analysis and discussion 

Low SHGC windows are usually tinted and there are concerns that they may have limited acceptance 

among home owners on account of aesthetics. While we are unaware of any surveys or studies supporting 

this claim, we understand that this may be a valid concern. Additional analyses were conducted to 

evaluate an alternative of maintaining the SHGC at the 2012 IECC level and limiting the amount of glazing 

facing west to yield similar energy savings as would result from using windows with lower SHGC. 

Our analyses indicate that an appropriate limit on west facing glazing is 10% of the total glazed 

fenestration area of the home. There are multiple ways of achieving this limit: the extra glazing on the 

west facing wall can be moved to adjacent walls; west facing glazing area can be reduced; or the house 

can be re-oriented favorably. The cost for all the above approaches would be negligible if they are 

implemented at the design stage. Reducing glazing area may even reduce the first cost associated with the 

measure. As such, we have assumed that all these approaches are zero-cost fixes and hence, costeffective 

 

1 http://bc3.pnnl.gov/wiki/index.php/Main_Page 2

 DOE R-5 windows initiative. 

3

 For 24”x42” vinyl casement windows from the BC3 database 

4 http://bc3.pnnl.gov/wiki/images/f/fa/Residential_Report.pdf
 

Table 2: Cost multipliers by State 

Location State Climate

Zone

Moisture

Regime

multiplier

Miami FL 1 moist 0.884

Phoenix AZ 2 dry 0.928

Houston TX 2 moist 0.837

El Paso TX 3 dry 0.837

San Francisco CA 3 marine 1.142

Memphis TN 3 moist 0.863

Albuquerque NM 4 dry 0.903

Salem OR 4 marine 1.038

Baltimore MD 4 moist 0.956

Boise ID 5 dry 0.918

Chicago IL 5 moist 1.069

Helena MT 6 dry 0.936

Burlington VT 6 moist 0.933

Duluth MN 7 moist 1.06

Fairbanks AK 8 moist 1.336

Table 3: Fuel Costs by State 

Location State Climate

Zone

Moisture

Regime

Electricity‐

winter

($/kWh)

Electricity‐

summer

($/kWh)

Gas

($/thm)

Oil

($/MBtu)

Miami FL 1 moist 0.117 0.117 1.532 23.7

Phoenix AZ 2 dry 0.099 0.117 1.306 23.7

Houston TX 2 moist 0.11 0.12 0.814 23.7

El Paso TX 3 dry 0.11 0.12 0.814 23.7

San Francisco CA 3 marine 0.149 0.156 0.943 23.7

Memphis TN 3 moist 0.095 0.095 0.862 23.7

Albuquerque NM 4 dry 0.099 0.116 0.791 23.7

Salem OR 4 marine 0.091 0.092 1.174 23.7

Baltimore MD 4 moist 0.134 0.151 1.039 23.7

Boise ID 5 dry 0.078 0.084 0.869 23.7

Chicago IL 5 moist 0.108 0.122 0.717 23.7

Helena MT 6 dry 0.091 0.096 0.795 23.7

Burlington VT 6 moist 0.158 0.155 1.433 23.13

Duluth MN 7 moist 0.103 0.108 0.833 23.7

Fairbanks AK 8 moist 0.166 0.171 0.839 23.7
 

Figure 2: Life Cycle Cost for the concept over the 2012 IECC. Negative values indicate savings.