## Draft Proposal E-6

This concept has been developed by the DOE Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) as a possible code
change proposal to the Commercial provisions of the 2012 International Existing Buildings Code (IEBC).

Interested parties are asked to submit any and all comments on DOE's initial concepts and draft code
change proposals. For instructions on submitting comments, visit:

www.energycodes.gov/deve lopment/iebc_concepts



## Occupancy Change Requirements (E-6)

Objective: Require the building to either meet the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or have no increase in connected load or capacity when there is a change in occupancy. Two alternatives are presented for consideration.

Alternative 1:

Suggested Code Change Proposal

Add a new Section [B] 407.5 as follows:

[B] 407.5 Energy Efficiency.

Where a change in occupancy results in an increase in the connected lighting power, installed heating equipment capacity, or in stalled cooling equipment capacity of the building or portion thereof associated with the occupancy change, the building shall be brought into compliance with the IECC as if it were a new building or the building

modified so that there is no increase in the connected lighting power, installed heating equipment capacity, and insta lled cooling equipment capacity.

Reason: Forty percent of U.S. energy use and seventy percent of U.S. electrical use are associated with existing buildings. As such, existing buildings represent a significant opportunity to save energy, reduce operating costs, and enhance the environment. Some portion of commercial building space undergoes a change in occupancy each year. Health and life safety codes currently address those changes in occupancy such that the resultant building after the occupancy change provides the necessary capabilities to protect the public health and safety. A review of Chapter 10 of the International Existing Buildings Code (IEBC) on changes in occupancy indicated the chapter does not include a consideration of energy efficiency, nor does Section 407. The IEBC must address this issue in situations where a change in use would result in an increase in energy use.Consider, for instance, the change in use from a storage warehouse to retail space, a portion of an office building to food service, or any other number of situations where the energy use of the building or spaces associated with the occupancy change will be increased. There currently is no way in the IEBC to address those, presenting a lost opportunity and even a way to circumvent the 2012 IECC. The proposed change addr esses this by offering two options by which to achieve compliance. One is to bring the building after the occupancy change up to the 2012 IECC, and the other is to simply accomplish the change with no increase in connected

load.

Cost Impact: There will be an increase in cost to the degree that buildings that previously were not required to meet the energy code will now be required to either meet the energy code or be creative in implementing the change with no increase in connected load.

Alternative 2:

Suggested Code Change Proposal

Add a new Section [B] 407.5 as follows:

[B] 407.5 Energy Efficiency.

Where a change in occupancy results in an increase in the installed capacity of the building electrical and/or energy systems from non-renewable sources the building or portion thereof associated with the occupancy change shall be brought into compliance with the IECC as if it were a new building or the building modified so that there is no increase in the increase in installed capacity of the building electrical and/or energy systems from non-renewable sources of electrical power or energy.

Reason: Forty percent of U.S. energy use and seventy percent of U.S. electrical use are associated with existing buildings. As such, existing buildings represent a significant opportunity to save energy, reduce operating costs, and enhance the environment. Some portion of commercial building space undergoes a change in occupancy each year. Health and life safety codes currently address those changes in occupancy such that the resultant building after the occupancy change provides the necessary capabilities to protect the public health and safety. A review of Chapter 10 of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) on changes in occupancy indicated in the chapter does not incl ude a consideration of energy efficiency, nor does Section 407. The IEBC must address this issue where a change in use would result in an increase in energy use.

Consider, for instance, the change in use from a storage warehouse to retail space, a portion of an office building to food service, or any other number of situations where the energy use of the building or spaces associated with the occupancy change will be increased. There currently is no way in the IEBC to address those, presenting a lost opportunity and even a way to circumvent the 2012 IECC. The proposed change addr esses this by offering two options by which to achieve compliance. One is to bring the building after the occupancy change up to the 2012 IECC, and the other is to simply accomplish the change with no increase in connected

load.Cost Impact: There will be an increase in cost to the degree that buildings that previously were not required to meet the energy code will now be required to either meet the energy code or be creative in implementing the change with no increase in connected load.