The International Code Council (ICC) has announced that they have begun the process of developing a new set of green codes under the multi-year initiative called “IGCC: Safe and Sustainable by the Book.” This initiative is sponsored by the AIA and ASTM, and is supported by USGBC and Green Building Initiative. The new green building code will be created with input from thought-leaders in green building, ICC members, and the general public. The new Green Construction Code will apply to commercial and high performance buildings. It will also address residential construction by reference to the existing ICC 700 National Green Building Standard for Residential Construction. It will be applicable to new construction, structures and systems, and alterations. Compliance with the code will be based on measurement criteria. The code will be designed with many of the green building certification programs in mind. It will also reflect the AIA 2030 Carbon Neutrality Challenge. As such, the following subjects will be covered by the IGCC:
- Energy use efficiency
- Water use efficiency
- Materials and resource use
- Indoor environment quality
- Building impacts on the environment (“greenhouse gas”)
- Site Design
- Sustainable building owner/facility management education
- Existing buildings
ICC will use the “model code” approach to provide communities/states with the ability to modify the code for local conditions. It will include mandatory language for minimum and advanced levels of performance related to the above-mentioned subjects. The criteria will include prescriptive measures as well as performance options and pre-engineered solutions.
A first draft of the new code has already been written and the IGCC committee is being formed. The first set of meetings for the code development committee will take place on July 28-30 in Rosemont, IL.