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Residential Code Change Proposals for the 2015 IECC

DOE Concepts for the IECC

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by participating in the code development

processes administered by the International Code Council (ICC). As a participant in this process, DOE considers and evaluates concepts to be

submitted as proposed changes to the IECC (“code”).

DOE intends to participate in the IECC development process by:

1. Developing code change proposals for submission to the ICC

2. Gathering public input on DOE code change proposals from interested parties prior to submitting to the ICC

3. Conducting necessary technical analyses to document the validity of DOE code change proposals

DOE Proposal Development

DOE seeks to advance energy efficiency in the IECC by strengthening the code where cost-effective, and improving the criteria to be more easily

understood, applied, implemented and enforced. Prior to submitting code change proposals to the ICC, DOE will publish draft code change

proposals that it has developed, along with documentation of concepts, for public review and comment. DOE will not provide responses to

individual comments, but will consider any and all comments timely submitted in developing final code change proposals. DOE draft proposals,

along with additional concepts still under consideration, will be further developed based on the feedback received. Final proposals will be posted

for public viewing prior to submitting to the ICC.

Submitting Comments on DOE Concepts

In the current code cycle, the ICC will be considering proposed revisions to the 2012 IECC which will result in the 2015 IECC. In order to allow

adequate time to incorporate feedback prior to the ICC submission deadline of January 3, 2013, interested parties are asked to submit any

and all comments on DOE initial concepts and draft code change proposals by October 19, 2012. Early feedback is appreciated in order

to maximize the opportunity for revisions and enhancements.

DOE anticipates that it or its contractors may be contacted regarding code concepts, ideas or change proposals through phone, mail, or email.

While DOE code change proposals to the IECC are not regulations, DOE will follow ex parte communication policy for such communications.

Guidance on ex parte communications was published on January 21, 2009 (74 FR 4685). Note that such communications will be reflected in the

public docket consistent with the ex parte guidance.

DOE Technical Analysis

In developing concepts for submission to the ICC, DOE conducts a series of analyses to evaluate energy savings and economic impacts of

potential code change proposals. However, many proposals submitted to the ICC do not require analysis as they represent minor corrections or

alignments between the code itself, or referenced standards, changes to the format of the code, or have no cost impact. DOE is not able to

provide technical assistance at the request of outside parties, but reserves the right to conduct analysis in support of proposals DOE is considering

for submission to the ICC. While DOE cannot enter into joint code change proposals (outside of proposals submitted jointly with another federal

agency), DOE intends to support efficiency concepts from the perspective of its own analysis.

DOE will reference all analysis and supporting documentation as required by the ICC. Analysis performed by DOE or its contractors for the

purpose of developing code change proposals should be considered on a technical basis, and does not represent an endorsement of any

particular individual or organization. DOE will also publish the results of its analysis, along with supporting energy simulation models, for review and

use by outside parties. Any interested party wishing to review or build-upon the DOE analysis can access it via Development.

Timeline

Comments on DOE concepts and draft proposals are due October 19, 2012

DOE code change proposals will be posted for public viewing on or about December 1, 2012

The ICC deadline for submission of proposals for the 2015 IECC is January 3, 2013

Instructions

Comments on DOE concepts and draft code change proposals for the 2015 IECC can be submitted by email to

EnergyCodeDevelopment2012BC0030@ee.doe.gov .

All submissions received must include the agency name (U.S. DOE), docket number (EERE-2012-BT-BC-0030), and any/all applicable

concept numbers (see concept table below) in the subject line of the message. 

Residential Concepts for the 2015 IECC

To foster review, concepts are organized by type of change:

Concepts that increase energy efficiency (RA)

Concepts that extend flexibility and usability of the code (RB)

Commercial concepts DOE is considering for the 2015 IECC.

The order in which the concepts are presented should not be construed to represent any prioritization of the concepts. Draft and final

proposals, as well as supporting analysis files, will be added as they become available.
Draft proposals are available to view/download as separate individual files from the table below, or as a complete package:

iecc2015_Residential_draft.zip .

Concepts that increase energy efficiency (RA)

CONCEPT

#

CONCEPT NAME/DESCRIPTION DRAFT

PROPOSAL

FINAL

PROPOSAL

SUPPORTING

ANALYSIS

RA-1 Fenestration U-factor and SHGC.

U-0.40 to 0.35 (CZ 2), U-0.32 to 0.20 (CZ 4-8); SHGC-0.25 to 0.2 or 0.15 (CZ

1-3). The lower SHGC would not apply if the orientation is advantageous or

appropriate shading devices in place.

RA-1 Draft

Proposal

Pending Pending

RA-2 Roof/ceiling resistance to heat gain (R402.2).

Require either radiant barrier or cool roof in the hottest climate zones.

RA-2 Draft

Proposal

Pending Pending

RA-3 Heat recovery ventilation (R403.5).

Require heat recovery in colder climate zones when mechanical ventilation is

required.

RA-3 Draft

Proposal

Pending Pending

RA-4 Domestic water heating (R403.4).

Require a desuperheater, tankless water heater, heat pump water heater, solar

water heater, or improved energy factor on a standard water heater.

RA-4 Draft

Proposal

Pending Pending

RA-5 Lighting Controls (R404.1).

Require occupancy sensors or other automatic controls for lighting in selected

areas of the home (closets, bathrooms, garages, outdoor lighting, etc.).

RA-5 Draft

Proposal

Pending Pending

Concepts that extend the flexibility and usability of the code (RB)

CONCEPT

#

CONCEPT NAME/DESCRIPTION DRAFT

PROPOSAL

FINAL

PROPOSAL

RB-1 Direct performance compliance path.

This would be a pure performance metric not referenced to any prescriptive baseline (an energy use

intensity [EUI], a HERS rating, etc). Could replace the existing prescriptive and performance paths

or be an alternative compliance path.

Pending Pending

RB-2 Restoration of equipment tradeoffs (R405, R402).

To foster the use of systems-design concepts and whole-house analysis tools and in light of recently

increased Federal minimum equipment efficiencies, restore the ability to do equipment efficiency

trade-offs to the code in such a manner as to increase flexibility in compliance without compromising

overall efficiency.

Pending Pending

RB-3 Correct thermal distribution system specifications in performance-path [Table R405.5.2(1)].

Add standard reference design specification for thermal distribution systems.

RB-3 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-4 Addition of Broomfield County, Colorado, to county/zone list (Table R301.1).

Supply missing county.

RB-4 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-5 Elimination of ambiguity in 3⁄4-in hot water pipe insulation requirements (R403.4.2, Table

R403.4.2).

Modify code text to match 5-foot lower limit of Table R403.4.2.

RB-5 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-6 Correction of section reference in Heating Systems row of performance path [Table

R405.5.2(1)].

Change "R403 of the IECC–Commercial Provisions" to "C403...".

RB-6 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-7 Clarification of footnote “h” (Table R402.1.1).

Clarify its meaning and applicability, possibly by eliminating the footnote in favor of a more detailed

textual treatment in R402.2.

RB-7 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-8 Addition of lighting specifications to performance path [Table R405.5.2(1)].

Clarify the applicability of mandatory lighting requirements to the performance path.

RB-8 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-9 Addition of sunroom specifications to performance path [Table R405.5.2(1)].

Reference R402.2.12 and R402.3.5 to clarify tradeoff allowances.

RB-9 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-10 Elimination of gap in ventilation requirements (R403.5 vis-à-vis IRC M1507.1 and IRC

R303.4).

Clarify what is required when envelope leakage is exactly 5 ACH50.

RB-10 Draft

Proposal

Pending

RB-11 For envelope and duct leakage testing, re-categorize maximum allowable leakage rates

from mandatory to prescriptive (R402.4 and R403.2.2).

Allowing performance-path trade-offs for these would extend flexibility and mitigate risk associated

with unexpected post-construction pressure test failures.

RB-11a Draft

Proposal

RB-11b Draft

Proposal

Pending