Adoption of International Green Construction Code Spreads Across United States

Florida, North Carolina, Oregon and Scottsdale, Ariz., Join Growing List of Communities that Rely on IgCC to Adapt to Their Unique Needs

Safe and sustainable construction is gaining ground across the United States as more communities recognize the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) as a regulatory tool to increase energy efficiency and complement voluntary green building rating systems. Florida, North Carolina, Oregon and Scottsdale, Ariz., are the most recent jurisdictions to adopt the IgCC, according to the International Code Council.

“The International Green Construction Code provides state and local governments with a way to meet their needs for safe, sustainable, enforceable and affordable construction,” said ICC CEO Richard P. Weiland. “We are pleased to recognize the Florida Department of Management Services, the North Carolina Building Code Council, the State of Oregon Building Codes Division and the Scottsdale City Council for choosing the IgCC.”

Florida has adopted the IgCC as an option for the retrofitting and new construction of all state-owned facilities. Previously, Florida law did not recognize any kind of green construction code, only voluntary rating systems. The legislation specifically allows the IgCC to be used by the Department of Management Services and encourages state agencies to adopt the IgCC as a model green building code that will apply to buildings financed by the state, including county, municipal, school districts, water management districts, state universities, community colleges and state court buildings. When economically feasible, the legislation recommends retrofitting existing state-owned buildings in order to maximize building efficiency. The legislation notes that Florida lawmakers expect the IgCC to serve as a model for private sector adoption of sustainable building measures.

The North Carolina Building Code Council adopted the Rainwater Collection and Distribution Systems section of the International Green Construction Code Public Version 1.0 with amendments, which is expected to enhance the North Carolina Plumbing Code Appendix on Rainwater. The state’s plumbing code is based on the International Plumbing Code with North Carolina amendments and already in use throughout the state.

The 2011 Oregon Commercial Reach Code features energy-related provisions of the IgCC Version 2.0 with amendments. The IgCC was flexible enough to adapt to Oregon’s needs and integrate with the existing I-Codes that the state currently uses. The State of Oregon Building Codes Division developed the optional “reach code” that includes construction methods and technology to increase energy efficiency. Builders across the state can now use this optional code to develop high-performance new construction projects as well as retrofits. The Commercial Reach Code, which also incorporates components of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), took effect July 1.

In Scottsdale, the IgCC will replace and update the city’s voluntary commercial green-building program in an effort to encourage developers of commercial and multifamily buildings to pursue green development projects. The code also will replace Scottsdale’s previous voluntary commercial green building rating checklist program. The new code provides flexibility to adapt to Scottsdale’s geographic conditions and environmental quality of life. This change took effect Aug. 4.

About the IgCC

The IgCC applies to new and existing traditional and high-performance commercial buildings and includes ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 as a compliance option. Coordinated with the ICC family of codes, the IgCC is designed to go beyond traditional code requirements for communities that are pursuing safe and sustainable construction. For a list of communities that have adopted the IgCC, see the newsroom page at www.iccsafe.com/igcc.

Final code development hearings for the IgCC will be held this fall in Phoenix. The IgCC will be published in 2012.

The IgCC’s cooperating sponsors are the American Institute of Architects (AIA), ASTM International, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

About the ICC

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe, sustainable and affordable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.