Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 17 - CONSTRUCTION › Part I - Uniform Construction Code › Chapter 1 - Adoption of the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code (Formerly LAC 55:VI.Chapter 3) › Section I-117 - International Energy Conservation Code (Formerly LAC 55:VI.301.A.7)

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A.
				International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2021 Edition and standards
				referenced in that code for regulation of construction in this state.
Amend
Section C301.2 Warm Humid counties
In Table C301.1, Warm Humid counties are identified
							 by an asterisk but East Carroll and West Carroll shall be listed as Climate
							 Zone 2A Hot Humid Climate
Amend
Section C402.1.3 Insulation component
R
-value-based method
Amend
Table C402.1.3 Opaque Thermal Envelope Insulation
							 Component Minimum Requirements,
R
-Value
Methoda
Adopt
Exception
For those following a prescriptive path the
							 requirement for slab insulation for unheated slabs Group R, Climate Zone 3,
							 shall not be required and the table shall be listed as NR under that
							 column.
Amend
Section C402.5.9 Vestibules
Amend
Exceptions
Amend
Item 1
Buildings in
Climate Zones
0 through
							 1.
Amend
Section C403.4.1
The supply of heating and cooling energy to each zone
							 shall be controlled by individual thermostatic controls capable of responding
							 to temperature within the zone. Where humidification or dehumidification or
							 both is provided, not fewer than one humidity control device shall be provided
							 for each humidity control system. Where cooling is provided, the system shall
							 be capable of limiting relative humidity levels to 60% relative humidity.
							 Supplemental dehumidification equipment may be used to meet this
							 requirement."
Amend
Section C403.5 Economizers
Amend
Item 2
Individual fan systems with cooling capacity greater
							 than or equal to 65,000 Btu/h (15.8 kW) in buildings having other than a
Group R
occupancy,
Amend
Exception
Amend
Item 1
Individual fan systems not served by chilled water
							 for buildings located in Climate Zones 0A, 0B, 1A,1B,2A and 3A
Amend
Item 6
Systems that include a heat recovery system in
							 accordance with Section C403.10.5 and Section C403.10.6
Amend
Section C403.5.3.3 High-limit shutoff
Amend
Table C403.5.3.3 High-Limit Shutoff Control Setting
							 For Air Economizersb
Remove Climate Zones 2A and 3A from the Fixed Dry
							 Bulb Device Type
Amend
Section C403.7.4.2 Spaces other than nontransient
							 dwelling units
Amend
Exception
Amend
Item 8
Where the total air exhausted from spaces served by
							 an outdoor air system is less than 60% of the design outdoor air flow
							 rate.
Amend
Section C403.7.6.1 Temperature setpoint
							 controls
Amend
Item 2
When the guestroom is unrented and unoccupied, the
							 controls shall automatically raise the cooling setpoint to not lower than
							 78°F (27°C) and lower the heating setpoint to not higher than 60°F
							 (16°C). Unrented and unoccupied guestroom mode shall be initiated within 16
							 hours of the guestroom being continuously occupied or where a networked
							 guestroom control system indicates that the guestroom is unrented and the
							 guestroom is unoccupied for more than 20 minutes. A networked guestroom control
							 system that is capable of returning the thermostat setpoints to default
							 occupied setpoints 60 minutes prior to the time a guestroom is scheduled to be
							 occupied is not precluded by this section. Cooling that is capable of limiting
							 relative humidity with a setpoint not lower than 65-percent relative humidity
							 during unoccupied periods is not precluded by this section.
Repeal
Section C405.5.3 Gas Lighting
Adopt
Residential Provisions
Amend
Section R102.1.1 Above code programs
The code official serving as the authority having
							 jurisdiction for building codes, shall be permitted to deem a national or state
							 energy-efficiency program to exceed the energy efficiency required by this
							 code. Buildings approved in writing by such an energy-efficiency program shall
							 be considered to be in compliance with this code. The requirements identified
							 in Table N1105.2, as applicable, shall be met and the building thermal envelope
							 is greater than or equal to levels of efficiency and solar heat gain
							 coefficients (SHGC) in Tables 402.1.1 and 402.1.3 of the 2009 International
							 Energy Conservation Code.
Adopt
Section R102.1.2 National Green Building
							 Standard
Buildings complying with ICC 700-2020 National Green
							 Building Standard and achieving an equivalent energy performance as
							 demonstrated by a third-party certification organization shall be deemed to
							 exceed the energy efficiency required by this code.
Adopt
Section R102.1.3 Energy Star Certification
Buildings receiving Energy Star Certification shall
							 be deemed to exceed the energy efficiency required by this code.
Repeal
Section R103.2 Information on Construction
							 Documents
Amend
Section R301.1 Climate Zones
Climate zones from Figure N1101.7 or Table N1101.7
							 shall be used for determining the applicable requirements in Sections N1101
							 through N1113. Locations not indicated in Table N1101.7 shall be assigned a
							 climate zone in accordance with Section N1101.7.2. However, for energy purposes
							 only, all of Louisiana shall be a climate zone 2A. East and West Carroll
							 parishes shall be assigned a warm humid climate zone.
Adopt
Section R401.3 Louisiana Insulation Certificate
							 requirement.
A State of Louisiana Insulation Certificate shall be
							 permanently posted in a utility area.
Adopt
Section R401.3.1 Louisiana Insulation Certificate
							 Template.
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				  view image
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				  view image
Amend
Section R402.2.1, Ceilings with attics
Adopt
Exception
Item (1.)
(1.) When the thermal covering at the roof line
							 creates an unvented attic:
(a.) Proper sizing or modification of the HVAC system
							 to the current code is required.
(b.) Any insulation between the sealed, conditioned
							 attic space and the living space must be
removed.
Adopt
Item (2.)
(2.)(a) The space under appliances located in a
							 sealed, conditioned attic may remain in place if sealed from the attic space,
							 it is less than 10% of the total conditioned attic floor, and the appliances
							 are approved for use in a sealed attic.
(b.) There shall be no outside attic ventilation and
							 all openings must be blocked with rigid material and are sealed, in accordance
							 with the ICC IRC Chapter 8 "Roof-Ceiling Construction
Amend
Section R402.2.3 Eave Baffle
For air-permeable insulation in vented attics, a
							 baffle shall be installed adjacent to soffit and eave vents. Baffles shall
							 maintain an opening equal to or greater than the size of the vent. The baffle
							 shall extend over the top of the attic insulation. The baffle shall be
							 permitted to be any solid material.
Amend
Section R402.2.7 Floors
Repeal
Subfloor insulation shall provide or be installed in
							 permanent contact with a rigid air barrier material. If the building is cooled
							 with air conditioning subfloors in any vented crawl space shall be insulated
							 with an airtight, class II vapor retarder insulation system (perm <
							 1.0).
Adopt
Exception
Adopt
Item (1.)
(1.) Plastic Spray Foam cannot be applied to finish
							 flooring where no subfloor exists.
Repeal
Section R402.4.1.1 Installation.
Amend
Section R402.4.1.2 Testing
The building or dwelling unit shall be tested for air
							 leakage. The maximum air leakage rate for any building or dwelling unit under
							 any compliance path shall not exceed 7.0 air changes per hour or 0.28 cubic
							 feet per minute (CFM) per square foot [0.0079 m3/(s x m2)] of dwelling unit
							 enclosure area. Testing shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI/RESNET/ICC
							 380, ASTM E779 or ASTM E1827 and reported at a pressure of 0.2 inch w.g. (50
							 Pascals).Effective July 1, 2024, blower door testing shall be performed by
							 individuals certified to perform blower door tests by a nationally recognized
							 organization that trains and provides certification exams for the proper
							 procedures to perform such tests. The responsible BCEO shall accept written
							 blower door test reports from these certified individuals to verify the minimum
							 requirements of Section N1102.4.1.2. A written report of the results of the
							 test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the code
							 official. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all
							 penetrations of the building thermal envelope have been sealed. Where multiple
							 dwelling units or other occupiable conditioned spaces are contained within one
							 building thermal envelope, each unit shall be considered an individual testing
							 unit, and the building air leakage shall be the weighted average of all testing
							 unit results, weighted by each testing unit's enclosure area. Units shall be
							 tested separately with an unguarded blower door test as follows:
Adopt
Item (1.)
(1).Where buildings have fewer than eight testing
							 units, each testing unit shall be tested.
Adopt
Item (2.)
(2) For buildings with eight or more testing units,
							 the greater of seven units or 20 percent of the testing units in the building
							 shall be tested, including a top floor unit, a ground floor unit and a unit
							 with the largest testing unit enclosure area. For each tested unit that exceeds
							 the maximum air leakage rate, an additional two units shall be tested,
							 including a mixture of testing unit types and locations.
Amend
Exception
When testing individual dwelling units, an air
							 leakage rate not exceeding 0.30 cubic feet per minute per square foot [0.008
							 m3/(s x m2)] of the dwelling unit enclosure area, tested in accordance with
							 ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E779 or ASTM E1827 and reported at a pressure of 0.2
							 inch water gauge (50 Pa), shall be permitted in all climate zones for:
1. Attached single- and multiple-family building
							 dwelling units.
2. Buildings or dwelling units that are 1,500 square
							 feet (139.4 m2) or smaller.
Effective July 1, 2024, when a blower door test is
							 performed, and the air infiltration rate of a dwelling unit is less than 3 air
							 changes per hour when tested in accordance with Section N1102.4.1.2, the
							 dwelling unit shall be provided with whole- house mechanical ventilation in
							 accordance with Section M1507.3
Amend
Section R402.4.1.3 Leakage Rate
Where complying with Section N1101.13.1, the building
							 or dwelling unit shall have an air leakage rate not exceeding 7.0 air changes
							 per hour in Climate Zones 0, 1 and 2, and 7.0 air changes per hour in Climate
							 Zones 3 through 8, when tested in accordance with Section N1102.4.1.2.
Amend
Section R402.4.4 Rooms containing fuel-burning
							 appliances.
In Climate Zones 2 through 8, where open combustion
							 air ducts provide combustion air to open combustion fuel-burning appliances,
							 the appliances and combustion air opening shall be located outside the building
							 thermal envelope or enclosed in a room that is isolated from inside the thermal
							 envelope. Such rooms shall be sealed and insulated in accordance with the
							 envelope requirements of Table N1102.1.3, where the walls, floors and ceilings
							 shall meet a minimum of the basement wall R-value requirement. The door into
							 the room shall be fully gasketed and any water lines and ducts in the room
							 insulated in accordance with Section N1103. The combustion air duct shall be
							 insulated where it passes through conditioned space to an R-value of not less
							 than R-8.
Repeal
Section R402.4.6 Electrical and communication outlet
							 boxes (air-sealed boxes)
Amend
Section R403.3.1 Ducts located outside conditioned
							 space
Supply and return ducts located outside conditioned
							 space shall be insulated to an R-value of not less than R-8.
Amend
Section 403.3.2 Ducts located
							 in conditioned space.
Amend
Item 3.3
A minimum 10 insulation installed in the cavity width
							 separating the duct from unconditioned space
Amend
Section R403.3.3 Ducts buried within ceiling
							 insulation.
In Climate zone 2A Supply and Return ductwork shall
							 not be buried in insulation
Repeal
Item 1
Repeal
Item 2
Repeal
Item 3
Amend
Section R403.3.5 Duct Testing
Duct leakage testing shall be performed by
							 individuals certified to perform duct leakage tests by a nationally recognized
							 organization that trains and provides certification exams for the proper
							 procedures to perform such tests. The responsible BCEO shall accept written
							 duct leakage test reports from these certified individuals to verify the
							 minimum sealing requirements of Section N1103.3.4. Ducts shall be pressure
							 tested in accordance with ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380 or ASTM E1554 to determine air
							 leakage by one of the following methods:
Amend
Exceptions
Repeal
A duct air-leakage test shall not be required for
							 ducts serving heating, cooling or ventilation systems that are not integrated
							 with ducts serving heating or cooling systems.
Adopt
Item (1.)
(1.) A duct air-leakage test shall not be required
							 where the ducts and air handlers are located entirely within the building
							 thermal envelope.
Adopt
Item (2.)
(2.) HVAC contractors, who are not certified to
							 perform duct leakage tests, may perform the test with the responsible BCEO
							 visually verifying test procedures and results on site.
Amend
Section R403.3.6 Duct Leakage
Amend
Item (1.)
(1.) Rough-in test: The total leakage shall be less
							 than or equal to 6.0 cubic feet per minute (113.3 L/min) per 100 square feet
							 (9.29 m2) of conditioned floor area where the air handler is installed at the
							 time of the test. Where the air handler is not installed at the time of the
							 test, the total leakage shall be less than or equal to 4.0 cubic feet per
							 minute (85 L/min) per 100 square feet (9.29 m2) of conditioned floor
							 area.
Amend
Item (2.)
(2.) Post construction test: Total leakage shall be
							 less than or equal to 8.0 cubic feet per minute (113.3 L/min) per 100 square
							 feet (9.29 m2) of conditioned floor area or leakage to outside shall be less
							 than or equal to 4 cfm per 100 sq feet of conditioned floor area.
Repeal
Item (3.)
Amend
Section R403.3.7 Building Cavities
Building framing cavities directly adjacent to and
							 within shall not be used as ducts or plenums.
Amend
Section R403.6 Mechanical Ventilation
The buildings complying with Section N1102.4.1
							 providing mechanical ventilation shall comply with the requirements of Section
							 M1505 or with other approved means of ventilation. Outdoor air intakes and
							 exhausts shall have automatic or gravity dampers that close when the
							 ventilation system is not operating.
Amend
Section R404.1 Lighting equipment
All permanently installed lighting fixtures,
							 excluding kitchen appliance lighting fixtures, shall contain only high-efficacy
							 lighting sources not less than 90 percent of the permanently installed lighting
							 fixture.
Repeal
Section R404.1.1 Exterior Lighting
Repeal
Section R404.2 Interior lighting controls
Repeal
Section R404.3 Exterior Lighting controls
Amend
Section R406.2ERI Compliance
Repeal
Item (1.)
(1.) The requirements of the sections indicated
							 within Table N1106.2
Amend
Section R406.3.2 On-site renewables are
							 included
Where on-site renewable energy is included for
							 compliance using the ERI analysis of Section N1106.4, the building thermal
							 envelope shall be greater than or equal to the levels of efficiency and SHGC in
							 Table R402.1.1 or R402.1.3 of the 2009 International Energy Conservation
							 Code.
Amend
Section R406.4 Energy Rating Index
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.
Amend
Section R406.5 HERS-based compliance
Compliance based on an HERS analysis requires that
							 the rated proposed design and confirmed built dwelling be shown to have an HERS
							 less than or equal to the value of 58.
Adopt
Exceptions
Adopt
Item (1.)
(1.)HERS calculation method shall be an equivalent to
							 the ERI analysis in calculating compliance
Adopt
Item (2.)
(2.)Other alternate means of home energy rating as
							 approved by the building official
AUTHORITY NOTE:
				  Promulgated in accordance with
				  R.S.
				  40:1730.22(C) and (D) and
				  40:1730.26(1).
The
				  amended version of this section by
				  LR
				  49, is not yet available.