ICC and SRCC Leadership Announce Solar Water Heating Standard Initiative

Call for Development Committee experts for ANSI Solar Water Heating Standards

The International Code Council has announced a call for Standards Development Committee members to develop two new ICC/Solar Rating & Certification Corporation standards through the ICC’s ANSI accredited standards development process. The standards will be dedicated to solar water heating systems and solar thermal collectors based on widely accepted industry consensus standards from the SRCC.

The projects titled ICC 900/SRCC 300, Minimum Standards for Solar Water Heating Systems and ICC 901/SRCC 100 Minimum Standards for Solar Thermal Collectors, began in June 2012 when ICC filed a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) with the American National Standards Institute. During the PINS phase, a public announcement notified all interested parties and stakeholders of SRCC and ICC’s plan to develop the standards based on SRCC’s long-standing 100 and 300 industry consensus standards. SRCC Standard 100 and 300, developed nearly 30 years ago, are widely cited in many incentive programs, regulations, legislation throughout the country, the federal tax code and ENERGY STAR® product specifications.

In light of the growing use and acceptance of these standards, SRCC now seeks to take the documents through the ICC standards development process to seek ANSI accreditation. ICC’s codes and standards have long incorporated provisions for solar heating and cooling particularly in the International Mechanical Code, International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and now the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). A Solar Task Group created under the ICC Sustainability/Energy/High Performance Code Action Committee, also has been reviewing solar provisions in the family of I-Codes and is proposing futher upgrades in the coming cycles.

“Given the increasing role of solar energy, widespread use, and the compelling return on investment of solar water heating and cooling, the time is certainly right to enhance the tools and guidance for these important systems to support our Members and others in the industry,” said ICC Board President Ronald Piester and CEO Dominic Sims in a joint statement. “We have tremendous respect for the expertise and legacy of excellence that is reflected in SRCC’s standards. We are very pleased SRCC has chosen to work with ICC on this next step in the development of their standards.”

“The Solar Ratings & Certification Corporation has worked with the industry, government sector, and technical experts to develop quality and efficiency standards that protect consumers as well as the industry for more than 30 years,” said SRCC’s Executive Director, Eileen Prado. “Working with the International Code Council on this project will ensure that our valued stakeholders continue to benefit from the standards they have adopted in this dynamic industry. I’m delighted that ICC has an interest in promoting solar heating and cooling initiatives. I couldn’t ask for a better organization to partner with.”

The call for committee member applications is on the ICC website, www.iccsafe.org/cc/Pages/calls.aspx. The deadline to apply Solar Thermal Standard Committee is May 17. The committee will develop of both ICC 900/SRCC 300 and ICC 901/SRCC 100 in tandem. The current SRCC Standard 100 and 300 documents are available for free download on the SRCC website. Those with an interest in serving on the committee are encouraged to apply. All meetings and calls of the standards committee and task groups will be open to the public.

Anyone interested in more information, should contact ICC’s Mike Pfeiffer; 888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 4338.

The ICC Evaluation Service PMG offers a listing program for products covered by the scope of SRCC Standard 100 and 300. Products are evaluated to the requirements of the Uniform Solar Energy Code, International Plumbing Code and IgCC for all solar thermal products and systems that are SRCC certified and rated.

The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation was incorporated in 1980 as a non-profit organization whose primary purpose was the development and implementation of national rating standards and certification programs for solar energy equipment. SRCC is unique in that it is the only national certification program established solely for solar heating and cooling products and is also the only national certification organization whose programs are the direct result of the combined efforts of state organizations and an industry association involved in the administration of standards.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.