3 Ways the International Code Council Evaluation Service Helps Reduce the Built Environment’s Carbon Footprint

There has been an increasing focus on sustainable construction practices and reducing the environmental impact of buildings over the past several years. The International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) plays a crucial role in this movement by offering a comprehensive suite of services focused on verifying environmental and other performance measures.

Through its expertise and collaboration with industry organizations, ICC-ES facilitates the verification of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) while simultaneously ensuring innovative materials and products meet compliance with building codes and standards. EPDs quantify the environmental attributes of a product across its life cycle, allowing for transparency and comparison within specific product types.

Here we explore three ways that ICC-ES is at the forefront of driving sustainable construction practices and providing valuable resources for jurisdictions to meet environmental goals.

1. ICC-ES Sustains a Level of Assurance

ICC-ES is the only accredited EPD Program Operator by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB), providing manufacturers a level of assurance that ICC-ES has the requisite expertise and technical competence to provide the tools necessary for the development of product category rules (PCRs) and verification of EPDs. 

This accreditation also provides third-party verification to ensure ICC-ES is operating within the confines of the standards to which they are accredited. 

2. ICC-ES Offers Evaluation of Innovative and Sustainable Products 

In addition to being an EPD Program Operator, ICC-ES evaluates products for their compliance with building codes and industry standards. Marrying EPDs with product evaluations offers a powerful tool to address multiple performance requirements, fostering sustainability across the construction industry. 

ICC-ES provides an online directory of products that demonstrate compliance with applicable building codes and standards and publishes a directory of PCRs, as well as EPD offerings, for building products.

Improved Environmental Criteria for Product Evaluation

ICC-ES has developed Environmental Criteria (formerly known as Evaluation Guidelines) for use in verifying manufacturers’ claims about the sustainable attributes of their products. These criteria are approved by the ICC-ES Environmental Committee and provide guidance when evaluating products to green codes, standards and rating systems.

Examples of these sustainable building products include those made of organic materials such as leaves, branches and other biobased materials, which after processing, can be shown to comply with minimum targets set by various codes and green standards such as the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) or International Green Construction Code® (IgCC).

Introduction of the SAVE Environmental Program

Through its Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation (SAVE) Environmental Program, ICC-ES offers independent evaluation and certification services to manufacturers striving to meet sustainability targets. The program includes the Verification of Attributes Reports (VAR) Environmental Reporting Program and certifications under the EPD Program.  

These reports, used by various stakeholders, provide independent, third-party assessments to certify products to the IgCC, ICC 700 National Green Building Standard®, ASHRAE 189.1, Green Building Initiative’s GBI-01, California Green Building Standards Code and U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). 

3. ICC-ES Focuses on Collaboration and Recognition of Best Practices

The Code Council has extensive knowledge and experience working alongside industry organizations to drive innovation across the industry and develop best practices from lessons learned.

Support of Manufacturers Using Alternative Green Materials

The Acceptance Criteria (AC) process can be used to help manufacturers of alternative building materials determine a path to demonstrate compliance with code requirements. As manufacturers innovate and develop new “green” materials, ICC-ES is well-positioned to provide Evaluation Reports that outline the proper use of the products in the built environment. 

Development of Acceptance Criteria of Low-Carbon Alternative Cements

ICC-ES recently developed an AC on the performance of low-carbon alternative cements for use in concrete (AC529) and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Concrete Institute to help advance the achievement of carbon neutrality in cement.

Development of Standard to Address GHG Emissions

The Code Council has begun the development process for an American National Standard with ASHRAE to assess GHG emissions across the entire building life cycle. ASHRAE/ICC Standard 240P – Evaluating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Building Design, Construction and Operation, will provide a whole-life greenhouse gas approach to support emissions reductions in buildings.  

The Code Council engaged subject matter experts both in the U.S. and internationally to assure the standards are broadly applicable and can support a global approach. The standard development process is well underway, with a target for completion in early 2025.

Support for Government Programs

ICC-ES is well-positioned to provide comprehensive conformity assessment services to support the Federal Government’s Buy Clean Act and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Low Embodied Carbon Materials programs. These initiatives will give the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) an opportunity to leverage the federal government’s purchasing power to drive markets for low embodied carbon products, meaning products that have fewer greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production, use, and disposal. GSA relies on the latest edition of the International Codes® (I-Codes), including the 2018 IgCC, as the basis for its P100 design requirements.

Several states and localities have also enacted provisions requiring focus on the greenhouse gas impacts of building products. ICC-ES supports manufacturer demonstration of compliance with these programs through EPDs.

Support Through the Code Council

As an independent conformity assessment body and standard development organization, the Code Council family of solutions has effectively implemented strategies to share its expertise in developing building codes and standards and delivering conformity assessment services to ensure that building products meet applicable requirements.

Learn more about ICC-ES offerings here.