The IRC and IECC
The International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family
Dwellings (IRC) and the International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC) are codes produced by the International Code Council
(ICC) to promote and
facilitate uniform quality in U.S. residential construction.
The ICC was founded by the three nonprofit organizations that
had developed code in the US up until the establishment of
the ICC in 1994. These are Building Officials and Code Administrators
International, Inc. (BOCA),
the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO),
and the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc.
(SBCCI) The IRC, last updated
in 2003, is a comprehensive building code covering all areas
of residential construction, including energy efficiency (IRC
Chapter 11). Energy efficiency is covered briefly in the IRC,
and refers to the IECC as one method of compliance. The IECC
is a much more detailed energy-efficiency code, covering requirements
for the building envelope, mechanical systems and equipment,
water heating, and electrical power and lighting. It provides
for both prescriptive and performance-based compliance methods.
There is an increasing trend in Colorado toward jurisdictions
adopting the IRC or the IECC as their energy code. Copies
of the codes can be obtained directly from the ICC in a number
of formats.
|
