Utah Energy Update
Utah Energy Conservation Coalition / Energy Rated Homes of Utah
March 2007
In this Issue – Contents:
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Residential Energy Code
Commercial Code
Utah Code Change Cycle
What’s New
2006 IECC Requrements
ASHRAE 90.1 2004 Changes &
Updates
 Utahenergy.org Web-Site Energy
Code Training Links
UECC/ERHU
112 S Mountain Way Drive
Orem, Utah 84058-5118
Phone: 801-765-0034
Or
800-550-8322
Email: info@utahenergy.org
Special “Energy Codes”
E-Newsletter
Residential Energy Code: The ICC 2006 IECC
(International Energy Conservation Code) is mandatory
statewide. To demonstrate initial compliance a plan review
using REScheck™ software (Section 402.1-3 Prescriptive
Compliance), or a Home Energy Rating (Section 404
Performance Compliance), may be used. All homes must
still show compliance with Section 403 (Systems) of the
code. A final site inspection to ensure on-site code
compliance is strongly recommended.
Commercial Code: ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1- 2004 (Energy
Standard for Buildings Except for Low-Rise Residential
Buildings) is mandatory statewide. Small commercial
projects may use Chapter 5 (Commercial Energy Efficiency)
of the ICC 2006 IECC at the discretion of the local
municipality and building departments. To demonstrate
compliance, COMcheck™ software (designed to simplify
compliance by offering a flexible computer based alternative
to manual calculations) may be used, as well as a ‘wet–
inked’ stamp from a qualified PE.
Utah Code Change Cycle: Code changes are ongoing with
new editions of codes adopted when they become available.
Utah is on a “three-year” code change cycle with the next
expected code change slated to occur in 2010.
What’s New?
Software Updates to REScheck™ & COMcheck™ Released:
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REScheck™ (Ver.4.0) was recently released by the DOE in December 2006. It now includes compliance
assistance (prescriptive compliance in accordance with Sections 402 & 403) for the 2006 International
Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as well as past editions of the IECC.
Recent releases of REScheck™ and COMcheck™ have reintroduced the capability to generate reports as
RTF’s (Rich Text Files) as needed.
COMcheck™ (Version. 3.3.1) was released by the DOE in October 2006. The DOE has recently
released a COMcheck™ Quick Reference Guide to take you, step-by-step through a typical plan review
and submittal. This can be obtained as a downloadable file:
http://www.energycodes.gov/comcheck/pdfs/com_review_guide.pdf
“Code Notes” Help Building Professionals:
In order to better assist building professionals to obtain and understand compliance
with all energy codes, the DOE has developed “Code Notes”. They are designed to
help builders obtain code compliance of energy-efficient technologies. They are
available to view and download as PDFs from the Building Energy Codes Program
(BECP) Resource Center at www.energycodes.gov/support/code_notes.stm. The
topics that are covered deal with both residential and commercial construction
practices and are not climate specific.
The topics addressed in these “Code Notes” are as follows:
Residential:
 Single Top Plates
 Details for Mechanically Vented Crawl Spaces
 Drywall Clips
 Header Hangers in Bearing Walls
 No Headers in Nonbearing Walls
 Open Spaces as Return-Air-Options
 Rigid Board Insulation Installed as Draft Stop in Attic Kneewall
 Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation, and
 Ventilation Requirements for Condensing Clothes Dryers
Commercial:
 Commercial Air Barrier Requirements for Insulated Ceilings, and
 Updated ANSI/ASHRAE Standard for Commercial Ventilation Rate Procedures
2006 International Energy Conservation Code – Requirements for Residential Buildings
The International Code Council (ICC) has recently issued the 2006 edition of the
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Internationally, code officials recognize
the need for a modern, up-to-date residential energy conservation code addressing the
design of energy efficient building envelopes and installation of energy efficient
mechanical, lighting, and power systems through performance based compliance. The
requirements for residential buildings in the 2006 IECC are largely the same as those in
the 2003 IECC. One of the biggest changes to the IECC is the simplification of the
climate zones (now only 3 climate zones – Zone 3, 5, & 6 for the state of Utah). Other
changes to the code are minor and may have little or no effect on code stringency.
The 2006 IECC is a comprehensive energy conservation code that establishes minimum design and construction
parameters for energy-efficient buildings using prescriptive and performance based provisions. The 2006 IECC
has been refined and simplified from past editions in response to recent comments and expressed needs of the
numerous building officials and the housing industry.
It establishes minimum thermal performance requirements for building envelopes including windows, and sets
minimum efficiencies for mechanical systems in buildings. As with previous editions of the IECC, the 2006
IECC continues to reference ASHRAE/IES 90.1 for high-rise residential and commercial buildings. The 2006
IECC even includes a chapter with user-friendly language that directly addresses simple commercial buildings
(Chapter 5).
As required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPAct), the US Department of Energy (DOE) certified
the 2006 IECC as the most cost-effective minimal residential energy-efficiency standard currently available.
True compliance with the 2006 IECC goes beyond that of a preliminary plan review. Site visits (energy specific
as well as inspections combined with other issues pertaining to the construction of the dwelling) and
performance testing work hand-in-hand to ensure that all homes built in the state of Utah are in compliance with
the 2006 IECC irregardless of climate zones. It is very important to understand that the 2006 IECC is a
minimum standard of energy efficiency. Compliance with the 2006 IECC does not automatically guarantee a
house to be ‘energy efficient.’
ASHRAE 90.1 (2004) Commercial Energy Code – Changes and Updates
ASHRAE 90.1-2004 is designed as a standard to guide engineers and facility executives
toward specifying a higher (but easily attainable) level of energy efficiency. ASHRAE
90.1-2004 incorporates all the latest upgrades (ASHRAE calls these “Addenda”), made
since the publication of ASHRAE 90.1-2001. ASHRAE 90.1 2004 has been written to
allow easy incorporation into specifications for new buildings and renovations while
laying out minimum requirements for a building’s envelope, electrical power systems and
equipment, lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, service, water heating, and
energy management.
Among the changes seen in ASHRAE 90.1-2004 are many clarifications of requirements as well as a major
reformatting of the text and a more consistent numbering scheme. One improvement has been a reduction in the
number of climate zones (which affect choices of equipment) from 26 to eight. Those zones are now specified
by county boundaries, eliminating difficulty where previous zone boundaries cut across political jurisdictions.
This reduction also reduced the number and complexity of tables in the standard. The new standard also lowers
lighting densities to reflect improvements in lighting systems and controls.
An initial energy analysis of ASHRAE 90.1 2004 has found that the new code is overall 5% to 15% more
stringent than the 1999 version. A major portion of this is the change in lighting densities and increased
clarification of lighting systems and controls. The lighting requirements are estimated to be 25% more stringent
than in past editions of the standard.
http://www.utahenergy.org Web-Site Energy Code Training Links
The Utah Energy Conservation Coalition has compiled a set of training
and educational resources and links to assist the residents of the state of
Utah in obtaining compliance with the 2006 IECC as well as ASHRAE
90.1 2004. These resources are available for direct download from
www.utahenergy.org. They are available in a variety of formats (MS
Word, Corel Word Perfect, Adobe Acrobat PDF, as well as MS Power
Point).
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The resources that are currently available are:
Fast Facts on the 2006 AC Standards
(Adobe PDF, MS Word)
2006 IECC Residential Training
(MS Power Point)
ASHRAE 90.1 2004
(Adobe PDF, MS Power Point)
ASHARE 90.1 2004 – Lighting Specific
(MS Power Point)
Guide to Sealing Air Leaks in Utah (IECC 2006)
(MS Word, Adobe PDF)
Guiding the Light – ASHRAE 90.1 2004
(MS Word)
New HVAC Standards – Impact on Building Codes
(MS Word, Adobe PDF)
Residential Compliance FAQ’s to IECC 2006
(MS Word)
Utah 2006 IECC Energy Code Tool Kit/Site Guide
(Corel Word Perfect)
CODES & HERS 2007
(MS Word)
Envision Utah Chapter 7 (Energy Efficiency)
(Adobe PDF)
Additional information regarding both the 2006 IECC as well as ASHRAE 90.1 2004 can be found on the
Internet on the following links:
 www.energycodes.gov
 http://www.energycodes.gov/news/sts/pdfs/standard_january07.pdf
 http://www.energycodes.gov/news/
 http://www.energycodes.gov/training/onlinetraining/residential_2006IECC.stm
 http://www.iccsafe.org/news/nr/2006/1130RPE-exam.html
 http://www.bcap-energy.org/home.php
 http://www.bcap-energy.org/energy_activity.php
 http://www.bcap-energy.org/code_status.php?STATE_AB=UT
 http://utahenergy.org/energy_codes.html
 http://utahenergy.org/links.html
 http://www.natresnet.org/ratings/codes/brochure/hers_benefits.pdf
 http://geology.utah.gov/sep/energy_efficiency/energycodes.htm
This is not an exhaustive list of web sites nor available information related to the 2006 IECC and ASHRAE
90.1 2004. As a brief disclaimer, the Utah Energy Conservation Coalition does not guarantee that these links
will remain active or applicable over time. At the time of the issuance of this e-newsletter, these links were all
active and accurate.