*** UPDATE on September 1, 2020:
NCBPA staff attended the quarterly code meetings yesterday and today. Today, NCBPA’s Ryan Miller delivered a strong opposition statement to item C-23, which was presented by the NC Home Builders Association. This proposal seeks to create a new optional energy code compliance pathway without any minimum energy code or backstop requirements. This proposal will erode North Carolina’s energy code and allow builders to avoid using important energy efficiency and building performance measures such as air sealing, insulation, energy efficient windows and lights, and much more. Click on the file below to read our opposition letter that was presented to the Council yesterday and today in writing, and read in-person by Ryan Miller in today’s meeting. This proposal will be heard again at the December meeting for final discussion by the Committee. NCBPA encourages industry companies to communicate their opposition on this proposal to Building Code Council members prior to the meeting in early December.
*** UPDATE on July 14, 2020:
- The proposals for items B-2, B-3, B-4 and B-22 were pulled by the authors during today’s BCC meeting. They are expected to be amended and re-submitted on August 1st ahead of the next BCC meeting on September 15th.
- The B-23 proposal was approved for the next phase following extensive discussion and will be open for public comment as a C item at the Sep 15th meeting. NCBPA will organize opposition comments to this proposal.
- NCBPA will continue to monitor the content of these proposals and advocate in support of energy efficiency and building performance.
Provided below are two letters that NCBPA sent to members of the North Carolina Building Code Council on Saturday, July 11, 2020 ahead of the next quarterly meeting being held on Tuesday, July 14th. These letters were crafted by NCBPA staff with strong support from member and partner companies that participate in our Building & Energy Codes Committee.
In short, items B2, B3, B4 and B22 together contain numerous technical errors that will cause issues with our code and seek to provide an unlevel playing field for insulation types, favoring spray foam over fiberglass and cellulose. Item B23 seeks to create an entirely new performance-based residential energy code compliance pathway with zero minimum energy efficiency requirements, which goes far beyond exempting the current building envelope “backstop” requirements found in the existing Energy Rating Index (ERI) option.
The reason for these opposition letters is to ensure that the Building Code Council members understand the truth behind these complicated proposals, which we know are harmful to responsible minimum energy efficiency standards. Read the letters linked below and contact us for more information.
We will update this News post following Tuesday’s meeting, which we hope will result in the rejection of all five of the proposals.
